Maple Sea Salt Hummus

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(Note: this post was originally published on December 6, 2020. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)

An Unexpected Holiday Dip

Do you ever suffer from dip burn-out? Regular hummus, salsa, guac, and the usual culprits are all wonderful... but sometimes you just need a change! That's where this Maple Sea Salt Hummus comes in. Its surprising flavor profile is delightfully sweet and salty, and goes perfectly with fall and winter foods.

As you've probably noticed, I have a major hummus obsession (just search "hummus" on this blog if you need evidence). I think it's because we love to entertain and do our own date nights with a bunch of small nibbles rather than a big formal meal. But whether you love nibbling meals or prefer hummus as an appetizer before a more traditional meal, it's a big winner in terms of both flavor and nutrition.

Although I love all hummus and fun hummus variations, it's not typically seen as a holiday food, at least not in the US. That all ends here! I designed this hummus specifically to have a festive, holiday vibe. It incorporates some classic holiday ingredients and looks so special!

Bowl of Maple Sea Salt Hummus, shown with maple syrup and pomegranate

Sweet & Salty (& Easy!)

The magic here is the sweet/salty pairing achieved by combining maple syrup with sea salt. It's addicting and makes this hummus so unique! It screams festive holiday dinner. Generous black pepper and herbaceous thyme keep things from getting too sweet, and juicy pomegranate arils add freshness and pop.

This hummus definitely deserves a place at your holiday table, or maybe as a festive appetizer before the main event. It's just so beautiful! And maybe the best part is that it's incredibly fast to make and can be made ahead, which is always such a relief for holiday entertaining. You can make the hummus up to a couple days ahead of time; just keep it in the fridge and garnish it right before serving.

Make-Ahead Tips

To prepare this ahead, make the hummus and store it in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to a few days. Don't garnish it yet! When you're ready to serve, transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish. Phew! Your holiday appetizer needs have been solved.

Close-up of Maple Sea Salt Hummus

Tahini Love (+ a Discount)

As you guys probably know, part of my immense hummus love comes from my immense tahini love. Or rather, my particular love of Seeds of Collaboration tahini. It's rich, nutty, and decadent, the perfect pairing for this hummus. And while I'd argue that it's always important to have a good tahini, I think it's especially important in this recipe since there are so few ingredients. The tahini, maple syrup, and sea salt are without a doubt the stars of the show.

Seeds of Collaboration is a long-time supporter of The Rogue Brussel Sprout and is offering a 20% discount to Rogue Brussel Sprout followers using the code ROGUE at check-out. Please get yourself some of this liquid gold! It changed my tahini perspective entirely, and I'm sure it will do the same for you.

Bowl of Maple Sea Salt Hummus, shown with maple syrup and tahini

Let's Talk Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

  • Chick peas
  • Tahini. Get yourself some Seeds of Collaboration tahini, it's the best! Remember to use the code ROGUE to save 20%.
  • Maple syrup
  • Fresh thyme
  • Flaky sea salt. I love fleur de sel!
  • Black pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Pomegranate arils. There are some good tutorials online for how to open and clean a pomegranate if you're unfamiliar. If you're making this hummus for holiday entertaining, I highly suggest cleaning the pomegranate a day or two beforehand.

Bowl of Maple Sea Salt Hummus

Closing Thoughts

One final argument for why hummus is your best friend while entertaining. It's nutritious and loaded with protein! Serving this beauty with some veggies or whole grain pita chips is so much better than letting everyone fill up on nutrient-devoid foods. Everyone will be happier in the long run if you have some hearty, nourishing nibbles.

What are you doing over the holidays? Are you having or going to some special meals? Regardless of what you're celebrating, I imagine pomegranate, maple syrup, and/or thyme might be involved. They're so iconic this time of year. I hope you'll invite this hummus to your festivities, it's all dressed up and ready to party!

Bowl of Maple Sea Salt Hummus, with tahini and pomegranate

Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

Suggested Pairings

Thanksgiving Eve Dark & Stormy

Snack Board Guide

Kabocha Squash Dippers

Harvest Wild Rice Salad

No-Bake Ginger Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Disclosure: Seeds of Collaboration is a long-term partner. I receive free product from Seeds of Collaboration and take a small commission on sales using the discount code. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.

Maple Sea Salt Hummus

Loaded with sweet and salty flavors, this creamy hummus is a festive holiday delight. It unites maple syrup with sea salt and juicy pomegranate seeds for a stunning yet unexpected winter-appropriate appetizer.

Author:
Lee

Ingredients

For the Hummus

  • Two 15-oz cans of chick peas, drained and rinsed
  • 0.25 c creamy tahini
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • Leaves from a few sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt, like fleur de sel
  • Generous grind of black pepper
  • Drizzle of olive oil or water as needed

For the Garnishes

  • Additional drizzle of maple syrup
  • Small handful of pomegranate arils
  • Additional fresh thyme leaves
  • Sprinkle of flaky sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, combine all the hummus ingredients (chick peas, tahini, maple syrup, thyme leaves, salt, and pepper). Process for several minutes until a smooth, creamy consistency develops, scraping down the sides as needed. If you have trouble getting a smooth hummus, add a little splash of olive oil or water (the former with yield a richer hummus). Repeat as needed.
  2. Transfer your hummus to a serving bowl and make a swirl in the top.
  3. Garnish with a drizzle of maple syrup, pomegranate arils, additional thyme leaves, more sea salt, and a grind of black pepper.

Leave a Comment

Please Share Your Thoughts!

Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.

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Dawn P
December 10, 2022
I love the idea of sweet & salty. I'm definitely going to try this 🤗
Julie
December 12, 2022
Such a delightful sweet and salty flavor combination, yum!
Anonymous
December 7, 2022
I’m planning a holiday cocktail party and looking for festive, different apps. I love this idea.
Triss D
October 26, 2022
Love the sweet+salty thing. This is so creative!
Mari
November 29, 2021
This hummus recipe sounds amazing! The perfect fall hummus recipe. I’m intrigued by the idea of adding maple syrup to the hummus. Sounds so delicious and flavorful. I’ll be trying this recipe!
Arisha
November 29, 2021
Wow this hummus is absolutely beautiful! I've tried a lot of different hummus recipes before but this one is definitely a winner! That creamy factor is just beyond words !!