Hummus isn’t just a dip, it’s a lifestyle! This silky blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic, and olive oil has been enjoyed for centuries across the Middle East (hummus b’tahini) and now lives happily on tables around the world. Thanks to its protein, fiber, and healthy fats, hummus makes a smart snack from morning until late-night noshing.
Fun fact: May 13th is International Hummus Day. If you needed an excuse to make a platter…
If you love our How To Eat Hummus post, you will also love this Skordalia Dip, Authentic Tzatziki or Whipped Spicy Feta Dip!
What Is Hummus?
Hummus is a creamy, savory dip made with:
- Chickpeas
- Tahini (sesame paste)
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Extra-virgin olive oil
You can absolutely buy it at the grocery store, but homemade hummus hits differently — creamier, fresher, and infinitely customizable.
How to Eat Hummus: The Ultimate Guide
Most people stop at “carrots and pita.” That’s cute, but hummus deserves a little Hollywood treatment. Below are all the best ways to eat, serve, pair, and enjoy hummus, whether you’re feeding a crowd or making a quick lunch.
1. Build the Perfect Hummus Platter
Start with two bowls of hummus
Drizzle both with olive oil. One classic. One fun.
Variation ideas:
- Mix in diced smoked bacon (a genius trick from Jenny’s favorite taverna in Athens).
- Stir in roasted sweet peppers or spicy chiles.
- Swirl in harissa, smoked paprika, za’atar, or a spoon of olive tapenade.
- Add toasted pine nuts for crunch.
Add fresh vegetables
Cut and pile generously:
- carrots
- celery
- cucumbers
- bell peppers
- radishes
- snap peas
- cauliflower
- broccoli
Add breads + crunchy sides
- Greek pita bread (warm it!)
- pita chips
- crostini
- crackers
- Spanish tortas
- small Greek rusks
Add salty + fresh extras
- cherry tomatoes
- olives
- feta cubes
- pickled veggies
- capers
Add protein & meze-style bites
- simple Greek-style shrimp
- smoked trout, haddock, or anchovies (SO good with hummus)
- small Greek meatballs
- falafel
- crispy fried eggplant or zucchini
- tabbouleh
2. Make Hummus Bowls
These make an easy lunch or light dinner. Build them with:
- 2–3 heaping tablespoons hummus
- rice, quinoa, or orzo
- grilled chicken skewers
- crunchy veggies
- olives
- fresh herbs
- warm pita for scooping
3. Use Hummus as the Base of a Dish
Restaurant move. So chic! Spread hummus on a plate, then pile on:
- roasted vegetables (briam works beautifully)
- grilled mushrooms
- feta crumbles
- a drizzle of olive oil or herb pesto
Serve with pita and fresh greens.
4. Make Pita Sandwiches
Slice open a Lebanese pita and stuff it with:
- hummus
- tomato
- cucumber
- diced feta
- olives
- sliced salami or grilled chicken
- onions
- drizzle of olive oil
5. Use It as a Spread
Try this for a simple lunch:
- spread a thick layer of hummus on bread
- top with thin cucumber slices
- add tomato, pepper, or fresh herbs
It’s creamy, healthy, and ridiculously satisfying.
6. Serve Hummus Family-Style with Greek Favorites
Perfect for a Friday night dinner or a mezze party spread. Pair hummus with:
Entrées that love hummus:
Creative Ways to Eat Hummus (Because Why Not?)
- Add a spoonful to a baked potato instead of sour cream.
- Use as a healthy pasta sauce base with a splash of pasta water and lemon.
- Add to smoothies? No. Don’t do that. Unless you hate yourself.
- Add to a charcuterie board — it handles salty meats beautifully.
FAQs
More Mediterranean dips
How to eat hummus
Ingredients
- 2 cups hummus classic recipe and/or the one of your choosing
Hummus toppings
- ½ cup thick bacon small diced and fried—optional topping to classic hummus
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for drizzling on top
Vegetables for dipping
- carrots cut into sticks
- cucumbers cut into sticks
- celery cut into sticks
- bell peppers sliced
- radishes sliced or whole if small
- broccoli florets
- cauliflower florets
- snap peas or snow peas
Breads/crackers/chips for dipping
- pita bread
- pita chips
- crackers almond crackers, sesame crackers, rice crackers, lentil crackers, Spanish tortas, etc
- chips tortilla, salt and pepper, salt and vinegar, etc
Additional ingredients
- kalamata olives
- smoked fish trout, haddock, etc
- anchovies
- meatballs chicken, beef, or vegan like falafel, etc
- tabbouleh salad
Instructions
- Divide the hummus into 2-3 small bowls and place on a large serving platter.
- Add some cubed fried bacon to each hummus bowl. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Arrange the hummus bowls, surrounded with vegetables, crackers, smoked fish, bowls of salads, pitas, cauliflower florets, olives, meatballs, etc.Enjoy!
Notes
- Serve with fresh vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, radishes, snap peas, cauliflower, broccoli.
- Add breads for dipping: warm Greek pita, pita chips, crostini, crackers, Greek rusks.
- Top with olive oil, smoked paprika, za’atar, roasted peppers, chili flakes, or toasted pine nuts.
- For a fun variation, mix in diced smoked bacon, roasted peppers, or a swirl of harissa.
- Use two bowls: one classic, one flavored.
- Add olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cubes, pickles, or capers.
- Include proteins like smoked trout, anchovies, falafel, or small Greek meatballs.
- Spread on pita sandwiches with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta.
- Make hummus bowls with rice or orzo, grilled chicken, crunchy veggies, and pita.
- Use as a creamy base under roasted vegetables (like briam) or grilled meats.
- Swap for mayo or whipped feta in sandwiches for a healthier spread.
- Serve alongside Greek salad, dolmadakia, spanakopita, tiropitakia, gigantes beans, crispy potatoes, or grilled fish, chicken, or steak.
