Peanut Butter Hummus

By
Saad Fayed
Saad Fayed
A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/15/23
Peanut butter hummus

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 44 servings
Yield: 2 3/4 cups

Hummus, the Arabic word for chickpea, is the most popular dip in Middle Eastern cuisine. The basic recipe calls for cooked and mashed chickpeas, blended together with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sesame paste and seasoning. It's thick and creamy with a great savory flavor. It can be a dip for pita bread or vegetables but also the base for roasted vegetables or even meats like ground lamb or beef shish kebobs.

For some people, nothing beats the taste and smoothness of homemade hummus. But for those who prefer a quicker method, there are several food brands that make and sell ready made hummus in almost all grocery stores in the United States.

Still, traditional hummus is not always the easiest taste for kids who did not grow up with it. Peanut butter hummus, however, is definitely a kid favorite. Naturally high in protein, it can also be helpful for picky eaters who don't eat a lot of meats. But, while we definitely would like children to eat more legumes, such as the chickpeas that form the base of all hummus, the fact is that most adults love peanut butter every bit as much as children do.

Most people, particularly in the United States, are fans of the paste made from dry roasted peanuts. And, in fact, the U.S. is the leading consumer and importer of peanut butter. There is a great variety to choose from on the store shelves including smooth, chunky, sweetened and all natural with either just peanuts and salt or peanuts alone with no other ingredients. And while it is true that neither peanuts nor peanut butter figure much into Middle Eastern cuisine, the popularity of peanut butter makes it a great addition to the cultural mash up dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 (15- to 19-ounce) can chickpeas

  • 1/3 cup warm water

  • 4 tablespoons natural-style peanut butter

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 1 lemon

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Combine the chickpeas, warm water, peanut butter, olive oil, lemon or lime juice, crushed garlic and salt to a food processor. Blend to a very smooth, dip-like consistency. If it is too thick, add a bit more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture has reached your desired level of thickness.

  3. Serve peanut butter hummus with fresh celery sticks, carrot sticks, and broccoli florets. Warm pita or French bread cubes also go very well for dipping.

  4. Many people sprinkle roasted chickpeas on top of traditional hummus, but you can sprinkle some roasted peanuts on top of this to add some texture and also indicate the flavor.

    Peanut butter hummus
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Tip

  • You can serve the peanut butter hummus immediately or store it, covered, in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Recipe Variation

  • Switch from lemon to lime juice if you prefer.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
28 Calories
2g Fat
3g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 44
Amount per serving
Calories 28
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 43mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 22mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)