Hummus bi tahini belongs to a Levantine food tradition shared across several countries; it should not be presented as the exclusive invention of one nation. This is a Lebanese-style version. Very soft chickpeas, well-stirred tahini and gradually added cold water create its texture. Most of the oil goes on top, collecting in the spoon-made swirls.
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Food · International
Lebanese-style hummus: chickpeas, tahini and a table to share
A smooth lemony chickpea dip with tahini and olive oil. Six small starter portions, with no cream or yogurt.
2026-10-27 · Editorial staff · Estimated reading time: 2 min
Queen of Queens · Food
The recipe
Lebanon · Levantine tradition
- Servings
- 6
- Preparation
- 15 min
- Cooking
- 10 min
- Rest / waiting
- 0 min
- Total time
- 25 min
- Estimated calories per serving
- 230 kcal
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients and quantities
- 480 g cooked, drained chickpeas
- 70 g sesame tahini
- 50 ml lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove (about 3 g)
- 20 g extra-virgin olive oil
- 60–100 ml very cold water
- Salt; a little parsley and sweet paprika to finish
Method
- Simmer the cooked chickpeas in water for 8–10 minutes to soften them further. Drain and reserve a spoonful for the top.
- Blend tahini, lemon juice, garlic and 60 ml cold water for one minute until pale and creamy.
- Add the warm chickpeas and blend for 2–3 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides. Add more water by the spoonful until smooth and season with salt.
- Spread in a shallow bowl and make a spiral with the back of a spoon. Add the measured oil, reserved chickpeas, parsley and paprika. Vegetables or bread for serving are additional to the calorie estimate.
Tips and variations
For a gentler garlic flavour, remove its central shoot and use half a clove. Refrigerate covered and use within 2 days.
Allergens
Sesame. Bread served alongside may contain gluten.
Sources and further reading
- Food Standards Agency — Hummus, tradizione levantina
- https://data.food.gov.uk/codes/foodtype/id/A03VN
Calories are estimates per serving and vary with ingredients, brands and actual quantities. Times are approximate; the total includes the stated resting time.
