Instant Pot Hummus – Extra Creamy!

Instant Pot Hummus is creamy smooth beyond anything you can buy at a store and so EASY!  Dip it, spread it, marinate with it . . . the options are endless once you master this incredibly easy homemade hummus.

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I don't believe I even tried hummus until I was in my late 20s.  Even then, it was a “yeah, this is pretty good, but can I just eat a giant bowl of those pita chips.”

Then I tried my brother-in-law's homemade hummus . . .

“What is this dip?!  Care if I eat 90% of it?  How much is too much dip to put on one tiny cracker?”  (Anyone else think a 3:1 hummus to cracker ratio is just right?)

My fridge has been stocked with hummus ever since.  Problem is, as much as I love store-bought Sabra hummus (especially the pine nut flavor), it just doesn't compare to my BIL's homemade hummus that was like a warm, fluffy, cloud of creamy heaven.

Well, after conquering this sweet Cookie Dough Hummus, I decided it was time to master the savory side of things.

I did a ridiculous amount of research, spent hours peeling chickpeas to get maximum creaminess, tested four different brands of tahini, and adjusted seasonings more times than I can count to finally be able to bring you

THE BEST EVER HUMMUS RECIPE I'VE EVER DIPPED A PITA CHIP IN.

Ahhh!  I'm so excited to get this in your hands, let's do it!

Quick note:  Garbanzo Beans and Chickpeas are the same thing.  I just wanted to clarify that so no one is confused as I use the terms interchangeably.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE CREAMY INSTANT POT HUMMUS

• No peeling chickpeas.  I agree that removing that outer layer will get you super creamy hummus, but dang, I don't have time for such tedious activities.  Instead, cook your own garbanzo beans in the pressure cooker so you can overcook them until they are so soft that there is no need to peel them.  More on that below!
• Don't want to take the time to cook dried garbanzo beans?  I've got a trick for canned beans too!  See the tips below!
• Fluffy, light, and ultra creamy – store-bought hummus gonna need to take a back seat to this version ASAP!
• Soooo good for you!  Garbanzo beans are loaded with protein and fiber and if you choose to dip veggies in it instead of a bag of pita crisps, you've got yourself a super healthy snack/dinner.  I've lightened this version up a bit as well – 3 cheers for homemade food!

HOW TO MAKE HUMMUS IN THE PRESSURE COOKER

1. Add beans, water, and salt to the pressure cooker pot
2. Cook until very tender (about 50 minutes)
3. When done, give them a stir, strain, and rinse with cold water
4. Put chickpeas and other hummus ingredients in a food processor
5. Blend for 4-5 minutes, scraping down sides as needed
6. Smooth, creamy, fluffy hummus!

SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR DETAILED COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST HUMMUS

• Overcook dried chickpeas/garbanzos beans for the smoothest hummus.  After 50 minutes in the pressure cooker, they are so soft you can smash them with ease between your fingertips.  This softens the peels as well so there is no need to discard them.
• If you would prefer to use a can of garbanzo beans, but still don't want the task of peeling the skins off, strain and reserve the liquid of a can of beans, place the beans in the pressure cooker and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes with a full natural release.  At this point, they will be very soft and ready to make ultra-creamy hummus.  Use the reserved liquid from the can in place of the water written for in the recipe.
• This hummus recipe only needs 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans, but I like to cook a pound of beans at a time so I can freeze the extra for more batches of easy hummus another day.
• The brand of tahini matters, BIG TIME!  Some tahini is bitter and so thick it's impossible to stir once chilled.  Soom Tahini is hands down the best I've ever tried and will make your homemade hummus taste amazing.
• Add lemon juice!  Add a little or a lot, hummus really needs that bright note.
• Not all hummus recipes ask for olive oil, but I found that the addition makes it even creamier at room temperature and when chilled.
• I prefer roasted garlic to raw any day, and it tastes amazing in this hummus.  I buy big containers of it from the olive bar at grocery stores and freeze it so I always have roasted on hand.
• Use ice water for processing the hummus.  It really does make an impact on the texture of the final product.
• I prefer a food processor for this job, but a high-speed blender will work with a little patience.  You'll have to scrape it more often but it works!
• Hummus freezes so well!  Freeze it flat in a freezer-safe ziptop bag or freeze it in single-serving sizes so you can take out one chunk of hummus at a time (more on that below).

HOW TO STORE, REHEAT, AND FREEZE HUMMUS 

• Store: Hummus can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.
• Reheat:  Hummus is delicious when chilled, but tastes best at room temperature.  Let it sit on the cupboard for 30 minutes before eating if possible.  Hummus doesn't heat well in the microwave from my experience.
• Freeze:  Freeze hummus flat in a freezer-safe ziptop bag.  To freeze it in single servings, line a sheet pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper and put scoops of hummus on top.  Freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag.  When ready to eat, let sit at room temperature for an hour or two until soft.  For quicker thawing, place bag of hummus in warm water for 15 minutes or so.

WHAT TO DIP IN HOMEMADE HUMMUS

• Vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, celery, tomatoes, snap peas, etc
• Bread:  warm pita bread, naan bread, flat bread, all the bread!
• Crackers and chips:  pita chips, Wheat Thins, rice crackers, bagel chips, etc

MORE WAYS TO USE HUMMUS

• Hummus Sandwich Spread:  swap mayo for hummus for a healthier, more flavorful sandwich or wrap!
• Hummus Deviled Eggs:  Mix hummus into the egg yolk mixture – the ultimate secret ingredient.
• Hummus Salad Dressing: Thin it with warm water or olive oil, add a splash of lemon juice or vinegar and voila!  Salad dressing!
• Hummus Mashed Potatoes:  Add 2-3 spoonfuls of hummus to your mashed potatoes and mix as usual.
• Hummus Marinade:  Thin with a little oil and marinate chicken or pork.  When you grill or bake it, there will be a lovely hummus crust.

VARIATIONS OF HOMEMADE HUMMUS

• Caramelized Onion Hummus: Blend in these Instant Pot Caramelized Onions!
• Roasted Pine Nut Hummus:  Roast pine nuts (or any nut really) and stir in at the end.
• Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus:  Chop sun-dried tomatoes, mix with Italian seasoning, and swirl into hummus
• Spicy Hummus:  Add a big squeeze of Sriracha hot sauce (or your favorite hot sauce)

Homemade Hummus is just so cheap, cheerful, and simple – I hope you make it ASAP!  Your dipping, spreading, scooping future looks extremely bright and creamy.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!  If you have your own flavor mix-in favorites, let me know in the comments.  I can't wait to experiment even more.

INSTANT POT RECIPES TO USE HOMEMADE HUMMUS

• Instant Pot Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
• Instant Pot Smashed Hummus Potatoes 
• Instant Pot Whole Roasted Cauliflower on a bed of Hummus

TOOLS/INGREDIENTS USED TO MAKE INSTANT POT HUMMUS

• Instant Pot
• Food Processor or
• High Speed Blender
• Soom Tahini
• Dried Garbanzo Beans

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