Hummus Platter with Fresh Vegetables (Printable Version)
Vibrant platter of creamy homemade hummus surrounded by crisp, colorful vegetables. Ready in 15 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Hummus
01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1/4 cup tahini
03 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 2-3 tablespoons cold water
→ Fresh Vegetables
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
11 - 1 cup baby carrots
12 - 1 cup bell pepper strips (red, yellow, or orange)
13 - 1 cup sugar snap peas
14 - 1/2 cup radishes, sliced
→ Garnishes
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
16 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
17 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - In a food processor, combine chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and salt. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add cold water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
02 - Spoon the hummus onto a large serving plate or shallow bowl. Use the back of a spoon to create a decorative swirl pattern in the hummus.
03 - Drizzle with extra olive oil and sprinkle with smoked paprika, chopped parsley, and toasted pine nuts if using.
04 - Surround the hummus with the prepared vegetables arranged in sections for an attractive, colorful presentation.
05 - Serve immediately as a fresh, healthy appetizer.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The hummus is silky smooth with a secret technique I learned that takes literally 30 seconds but makes it restaurant quality.
- You can prep everything while catching up on a phone call, and still have a gorgeous platter that makes everyone think you spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
- After making this dozens of times, Ive learned that room temperature chickpeas blend much more smoothly than cold ones straight from the refrigerator.
- The hummus will thicken slightly when refrigerated, so make it a touch thinner than your desired final consistency if preparing ahead.
03 -
- If you have an extra five minutes, remove the skins from the chickpeas by gently pinching them between your fingers for the smoothest, most luxurious hummus texture imaginable.
- When choosing vegetables, include at least one unexpected option like watermelon radishes or endive leaves to spark conversation and encourage adventurous eating.