Hummus makes a great snack on the boat. I’ve often made it in remote places — the ingredients don’t require refrigeration!
However, basic hummus is made from chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) and if you don’t have a blender, it’s a real pain to get it smooth. For years, we just had chunky hummus. It tasted great but just wasn’t the texture we wanted.
One day I had an A-HA moment. What if I started with ground chickpeas . . . garbanzo flour? I had my answer! Perfectly smooth hummus that was dead easy and fast to make.
The trick is in the way you mix and add the ingredients. My first few attempts, using the recipe on the back of Bob’s Red Mill garbanzo flour, were lumpy. Then I discovered this technique and no more lumps.
Easy Smooth Hummus
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups water (divided)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
- 1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste)
- 3/4 cup garbanzo flour
- olive oil
Instructions
- Mix 1/2 cup of the water, garlic, cumin, salt, lemon/lime juice and tahini in a saucepan. Slowly add the garbanzo flour, mixing as you go.
- Slowly add the remaining water, again mixing as you go. Adding slowly and mixing well so there are no lumps is key.
- Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring and turn down to a simmer immediately when it begins to boil. Keep stirring (it can scorch if you don’t stir) and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
- Remove from the stove, pour into a lidded plastic bowl, cover with a thin coating of olive oil and either eat immediately or refrigerate.
- Serve with veggies, crackers or pita wedges.
Notes
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Anonymous says
Great idea! Another trick, ’cause I never had tahini, was to use toasted sesame oil instead of olive oil for the nice sesame taste.
The Boat Galley says
Great idea!
chieko says
I use sesame oil in that way also!
Victor Raymond says
Great idea. Thank you Carolyn.
Paul L Schroder says
Carolyn,
That’s brilliant!! I’ve been making my own hummus for years with a food processor and this eliminates the need for one when I move aboard.
michelle ihnot says
Great article! While my food processor and Blend-Tec blender made the cut to live aboard with me, not having cans/dried beans is great for this recipe as the flour takes up less space/saves time. As you noted, you HAVE to cook it!! I did this without cooking it, (my flour was in a different language, so no recipe there- I think) and it was so bitter I threw the whole bag away only to learn about cooking it later. The toasted sesame oil is also one of my signature tricks, with sesame seeds.
Judith Adams says
Sesame flour and sesame oil! Thanks!
Judith Adams says
Oops garbanzo flour!
Barbara Owens says
Very cool! I have dried garbanzo beans on board. Do you think this recipe would work if I ground them to make flour? I have a small Cuisinart food grinder attachment that came with ny Smart Stick. So I might try it. Will let you know!
Carolyn Shearlock says
Sure! I’d try it. I’ll bet it comes out well.
Elena, Sailing Kittiwake says
I never thought of garbanzo flour! Or peanut butter. Amazing.
When I can find tahini on shore, I make traditional hummus (or raw hummus with sprouted chickpeas) with a manual/mechanic blender. It looks like a normal small blender, but it has a handle on the top that you pull to turn the blades inside. It was £15 on Amazon and works perfect – it makes smooth hummus with 10/15 pulls. No electricity needed & good arm workout 🙂
Eric Jaeger says
Is there a way to stop it from becoming a meringue texture in the fridge?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Covering it with olive oil stops the top from getting dry and hard.
RB Miller says
I have been a vegetarian for over 40 years and have made many bowls of hummus but this one is just great. I added 1/4 cup of Tiger Sauce Try Me Brand because here in Texas we like a little bite. Thank you so much for sharing.
Kirsty says
Thank you for this simple but delicious recipe. It makes heaps, so I will have to test to see how well it survives if I leave some in the freezer for when I’m back on board in a week’s time. We’re almost managing week on/week off our boat at the moment, such a pity I have to teach occasionally to pay for radar and AIS before we really get out to sail away.
Tiffany says
Would you have to cook it, if your garbanzo flour has already been pre-cooked?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, for it to have the right consistency.
Tony grew says
Great idea, followed recipe but used GRAM flour and the humus set solid in the dish, returned to mixer and drizzled in extra water, hope it doesn’t set again or could use for a discus
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yeah, gram flour isn’t the same!
Melody Morris says
I live in Africa and have gram flour-a difference kind of chickpea. Any idea how to make that work?
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’d try the same technique but you might have to adjust the ratio of flour to water.
Adnil says
This recipe is EXCELLENT! I did not have any tahini or peanut butter so I added a couple tablespoons of toasted sesame oil. It was FANTASTIC!!! I added an extra tablespoon of the flour to account for consistency. I also blended the sesame oil with fresh garlic in my mini processor for freshness and a smooth texture. Thank you!!!
chieko says
I discovered this method about 26 years ago while looking at assorted flours at the local food co-op. I also had that “AHA!” moment. Saves a bit of work, they’re are no cans to get rid of, and no soaking and cooking dried garbanzos. Works for me!
Gayle Stevens says
Tahini can be made from sesame seeds, I buy a big bag of them from Amazon and keep them on hand. I add a little toasted sesame seed oil, or olive oil you don’t need very much until it’s the right consistency because that’s all there is to it simple
Gayle Stevens says
Tahini can be made from sesame seeds, I buy a big bag of them from Amazon and keep them on hand. Just put the sesame seeds in a food processor and add a little oil as it’s blending I add a little toasted sesame seed oil, or olive oil you don’t need very much until it’s the right consistency because that’s all there is to it simple