Maple Sea Salt Hummus with Pomegranate

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(Note: this post was originally published on December 6, 2020. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)

An Unexpected Sweet/Salty Maple Hummus

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 surprising and festive pomegranate hummus comes in. Its non-traditional flavor profile is delightfully sweet and salty, bringing a unique twist to fall and winter meals.

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 friends 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.

I designed this maple hummus specifically to have a festive, seasonal vibe. It incorporates some iconic November and December ingredients and looks so special. This holiday hummus will be perfect for your next party!

Sweet and salty pomegranate hummus in a serving bowl

Sweet & Salty (& Easy!) Pomegranate Hummus

The magic of this recipe is the sweet/salty pairing achieved by combining maple syrup with sea salt. It makes this hummus so unique. Generous black pepper and herbaceous thyme keep things from getting too sweet, while juicy pomegranate arils add freshness and pop. The complex balance of flavors in this maple hummus will make you want to keep coming back for more.

This hummus definitely deserves a place at your holiday table. I'm a big fan of appetizers that have some protein since they keep everyone from getting hangry if the main meal takes a bit longer than expected. It's also incredibly fast to make and can be made ahead of time, which is always such a relief for holiday entertaining.

Make-Ahead Tips

To prepare this show-stopping holiday hummus ahead of time, make the hummus and store it in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to a couple 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 officially been solved!

Close-up of beautiful, colorful maple hummus with pomegranate

Tahini Love (+ a Discount)

As you guys probably know, part of my immense love of hummus comes from my immense love of tahini. I'm a huge fan 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 pomegranate hummus since there are so few ingredients.

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!

Wondering what else you can do with tahini? The options are endless! It's fabulous in salad dressings (check out my epic vegan salad dressing guide, which contains numerous tahini dressing recipes). It's also an excellent baking ingredient and works beautifully in banana bread, muffins, and blondies. And while this maple hummus is great for the holidays, I have loads of seasonal hummus variations on my blog including for spring, summer, and fall.

Holiday hummus with maple, sea salt, and pomegranate

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's what you'll need for this holiday hummus 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.

  • Chickpeas
  • Tahini. Get yourself some Seeds of Collaboration tahini, it's the absolute 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 pomegranate hummus for holiday entertaining, I highly suggest cleaning the beautiful (but annoying...) fruit a day or two beforehand.

Healthy and vegan maple hummus garnished with pomegranate

Closing Thoughts

If you're a fan of the sweet/salty combination (and really who isn't, it's awesome) then this holiday hummus is for you. The combination of sweet maple syrup, tangy sea salt, juicy pomegranate, and woodsy thyme is so special and festive. Plus the sweet/salty combination keeps this hummus feeling fresh and interesting, especially in contrast to the more classic heavy holiday appetizers.

What are you doing over the holidays? Are you hosting or going to some special meals? I hope you'll invite this pomegranate hummus to your festivities, it's all dressed up and ready to party!

Sweet and salty maple hummus with pomegranate, shown in a serving bowl for holiday parties

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

Kabocha Squash Dippers

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Waldorf Salad

Orange and Cinnamon Roasted Delicata Squash

Wild Rice Stuffed Delicata Squash

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 with Pomegranate

Loaded with sweet and salty flavors, this creamy maple 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 chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 0.25 c creamy tahini
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • Leaves from 4-6 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 Garnishing

  • Additional drizzle of maple syrup
  • 0.25 c 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 (chickpeas, 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 the 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 !!