Chipotle Hummus

This spicy chipotle hummus is made with canned chickpeas, tahini, and chipotle peppers (or hot sauce), and is a thick, creamy, and easy party food!

What's your favorite snack food?

What do you reach for when the mid-afternoon munchies hit?  

Do you grab a piece of fruit?

Nuts?

Or are you more of a chip and dip kind of person?

At my house, I generally go for the fruit on the counter, and my husband LOVES dip.

All kinds of dip.

His favorites are caramelized onion dip, roasted red pepper dip, and of course-- this chipotle hummus.

I used to buy my hummus at the store, but my absolute favorite hummus (clearly, it's chipotle hummus) is sometimes a little difficult to find.

And so I tried making it myself.

And guys, homemade hummus is SO CREAMY! It's light, spreadable, and swoon-worthy.

It is worth it to make hummus at home, because the flavor is worth the extra (tiny) bit of effort.

This easy chipotle hummus is ready in about 30 minutes, and is a perfect party dip or late-night snack, and it's even yummy as a sandwich spread.

Where Can I Find Canned Chickpeas?

Look for canned chickpeas along with the other canned beans at your regular grocery store.

They might be labeled garbanzo beans. Garbanzo beans and chickpeas are the same thing.

You can also buy canned chickpeas online.

Where Can I Find Chipotle Peppers for Chipotle Hummus?

They should have chipotle peppers in adobo at your regular grocery store. If there's a Latin American food section, look there.

I prefer the diced chipotle peppers in adobo instead of whole peppers, because it's easier for me to scoop out with a spoon.

If you prefer, you can swap out the chipotle peppers for your favorite chipotle hot sauce. I love both Tabasco chipotle sauce and Cholula chipotle sauce.

What is Tahini?

Tahini is sesame seed paste.

Tahini should also be at your regular grocery store. Look near the nut butters.

Or, of course, you can buy tahini online.

Why Cook the Chickpeas in Baking Soda?

When I started making homemade hummus, I skipped the baking soda, and simply blended all the ingredients together.

I still thought my hummus was tasty, and it always disappeared at parties.

But somewhat recently, I learned a tip from an interview with a "hummus-master" on the Bon Appetit podcast.

Cooking the (already cooked) chickpeas with baking soda will help the chickpeas break down more completely, leaving you with an extra creamy dip.

Who knew.

Well, he did, apparently.

So I tried it. He was right.

I had the flavors right before, but the texture changed dramatically when I used baking soda. I recommend using baking soda.

How to Make Chipotle Hummus

After you boil the chickpeas with a little baking soda, strain them and rinse them off.

The chickpea skins will have separated from the bean while cooking, so go ahead and discard them. Discarding the skins will also help create a creamy texture.

Next, use a food processor to blend together some lemon or lime juice with the tahini, a little salt, and some cold water.

Add the chipotle peppers (or hot sauce), and blend again.

Finally, add the chickpeas and a little oil. Blend until it's smooth and creamy.

Taste the hummus, and add more salt or chipotle peppers if you want.

That's it! You're ready to serve your dip!

Can I Make This With a Blender Instead of a Food Processor?

Yes, but you might have to add more oil or a little water to keep the blender from jamming up.  

If you're shopping for a food processor, I love my Cuisinart mini food processor.

5-Minute Chipotle Hummus Option

If you're in a hurry, and you're not worried about making this the creamiest hummus ever, you can skip the baking soda.

Simply blend all the ingredients together in a food processor and enjoy!