Harissa hummus is a flavorful and creamy dip that combines traditional hummus with the bold taste of harissa. The spicy chili flavor pairs well with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and other simple ingredients, making it suitable for everyday snacks and casual gatherings.
Making harissa hummus recipes at home also gives you plenty of choices. You can combine hummus with roasted vegetables, herbs, olives, avocado, or other simple ingredients depending on what you have in your kitchen.
These 4 harissa hummus recipes offer simple ingredients, easy steps, serving ideas, drink pairings, and useful substitutions for snacks, appetizers, sandwiches, and dips.
Harissa Hummus Recipes and Cooking Time
These harissa hummus recipes include preparation, cooking, and total times before each recipe. Check the time listed for each option, then choose the recipe that best fits your schedule and available time before you begin preparing your homemade hummus.
1. Classic Harissa Hummus
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
2. Roasted Red Pepper Harissa Hummus
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
3. Avocado Harissa Hummus
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
4. Herb and Olive Harissa Hummus
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Recipe 1. Classic Harissa Hummus
This classic harissa hummus combines creamy chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice, and spicy harissa. It is simple to prepare and makes a flavorful homemade dip.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- A small pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
1. Prepare the chickpeas
Drain and rinse the cooked chickpeas thoroughly. Remove any loose skins if desired for a smoother texture.
2. Add the ingredients
Place the chickpeas, tahini, harissa paste, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and salt in a food processor.
3. Blend the mixture
Blend the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Add water gradually while blending if the mixture feels too thick.
4. Check the texture
Continue blending until the hummus reaches your preferred smooth consistency.
5. Adjust the flavor
Taste the hummus and add a little more lemon juice, harissa, or salt if needed.
6. Transfer to a bowl
Spoon the prepared hummus into a serving bowl and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
7. Add a finishing touch
Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the top before serving.
Best Drinks
- Green tea
- Lemon water
- Iced tea
- Sparkling water
Serving Ideas
Serve this harissa hummus with pita bread, cucumber slices, carrots, or crackers. It can also be used as a spread for sandwiches and wraps.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Chickpeas | White beans |
| Tahini | Sunflower seed butter |
| Harissa paste | Chili paste |
| Lemon juice | Lime juice |
| Olive oil | Avocado oil |
Recipe 2. Roasted Red Pepper Harissa Hummus
This roasted red pepper harissa hummus combines creamy chickpeas with sweet roasted peppers and spicy harissa. It creates a colorful dip with a rich and slightly smoky flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1 roasted red pepper
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- A small pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Prepare the pepper
Remove the seeds and stem from the roasted red pepper. Cut it into smaller pieces.
2. Add the ingredients
Place the chickpeas, roasted pepper, tahini, harissa paste, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and salt into a food processor.
3. Blend everything
Process the mixture until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl if necessary.
4. Adjust the consistency
Add a tablespoon or two of water if the hummus is too thick and blend again.
5. Taste the hummus
Check the flavor and add more harissa or lemon juice according to your preference.
6. Prepare the serving bowl
Transfer the finished hummus to a shallow bowl and spread it evenly.
7. Garnish and serve
Drizzle olive oil over the top and add a few small pieces of roasted pepper as a simple garnish.
Best Drinks
- Iced tea
- Sparkling water
- Lemon water
- Fresh orange juice
Serving Ideas
Serve this roasted pepper hummus with warm pita, toasted bread, cucumber, bell pepper strips, or fresh carrots. It can also be added to vegetable wraps.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Roasted red pepper | Roasted yellow pepper |
| Chickpeas | Cannellini beans |
| Tahini | Sesame seed butter |
| Harissa paste | Mild chili sauce |
| Lemon juice | Lime juice |
Recipe 3. Avocado Harissa Hummus
This avocado harissa hummus combines creamy avocado with chickpeas, tahini, and spicy harissa. It is quick to prepare and makes a smooth dip for snacks and light meals.
Agar you want to learn about the health benefits of avocado, we’ll take you to the U.S.A-based Houston Methodist website. You can read their article Is Avocado Toast Actually Healthy? to learn more about the health benefits of avocado toast.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- A small pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Prepare the avocado
Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a bowl.
2. Add the ingredients
Place the avocado, chickpeas, tahini, harissa paste, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and salt into a food processor.
3. Blend until smooth
Process the ingredients until the mixture becomes creamy and evenly combined.
4. Check the texture
If the hummus is too thick, add a small amount of water and blend again.
5. Adjust the flavor
Taste the mixture and add more lemon juice or harissa if desired.
6. Transfer the hummus
Spoon the avocado hummus into a serving bowl and smooth the surface.
7. Serve fresh
Add a light drizzle of olive oil and serve immediately for the freshest avocado flavor.
Best Drinks
- Green tea
- Lemon water
- Iced herbal tea
- Sparkling water
Serving Ideas
Serve avocado harissa hummus with pita chips, cucumber slices, carrots, toast, or crackers. It also works well as a spread for sandwiches and wraps.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Avocado | Plain Greek yogurt |
| Chickpeas | White beans |
| Tahini | Cashew butter |
| Harissa paste | Chili paste |
| Lemon juice | Lime juice |
Recipe 4. Herb and Olive Harissa Hummus
This herb and olive harissa hummus combines creamy hummus with fresh herbs and chopped olives. The savory ingredients add extra flavor while keeping the recipe simple.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped olives
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- A small pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Prepare the herbs and olives
Wash and finely chop the fresh parsley. Roughly chop the olives into small pieces.
2. Blend the base
Add the chickpeas, tahini, harissa paste, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and salt to a food processor.
3. Process until creamy
Blend the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
4. Add the herbs
Add the chopped parsley and pulse briefly to combine without completely blending the herbs.
5. Add the olives
Fold the chopped olives into the hummus with a spoon.
6. Adjust the flavor
Taste the mixture and add a little lemon juice or harissa if needed.
7. Garnish and serve
Transfer the hummus to a bowl and top with a few chopped olives and fresh parsley.
Best Drinks
- Green tea
- Sparkling water
- Lemon water
- Iced tea
Serving Ideas
Serve this herb and olive hummus with pita bread, toasted flatbread, crackers, cucumber, or fresh vegetables. It can also be served as part of an appetizer platter.
Ingredient Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | You Can Use Instead |
| Olives | Chopped pickles |
| Parsley | Fresh cilantro |
| Chickpeas | White beans |
| Tahini | Sunflower seed butter |
| Harissa paste | Chili sauce |
Common Harissa Hummus Mistakes
Making harissa hummus recipes is simple, but common mistakes can affect the dip’s texture, flavor, and consistency. Using the right amounts of ingredients, blending properly, and storing hummus correctly helps achieve better results.
Harissa
Harissa can have a strong spicy flavor. Adding too much at once can overpower the other ingredients. Start with a small amount and adjust gradually.
Liquid
Hummus can become thick and difficult to blend if there is not enough liquid. Add water or lemon juice gradually until the desired consistency is reached.
Blending
Short blending can leave the hummus rough and uneven. Process the ingredients until they become smooth and creamy.
Toppings
Too many toppings can cover the flavor and texture of the hummus. Use a small amount of herbs, olives, or vegetables for a balanced finish.
Storage Tips for Harissa Hummus
Proper storage helps maintain the fresh flavor and creamy texture of homemade harissa hummus. Use clean airtight containers, keep the hummus refrigerated, and always use a clean spoon when serving to preserve its quality.
Classic
Store classic hummus in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stir it before serving if the texture becomes slightly thick.
Pepper
Keep roasted red pepper harissa hummus covered and refrigerated. Use a clean spoon when serving to help maintain freshness.
Avocado
Store avocado hummus in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best enjoyed fresh because avocado can change color over time.
Herb
Keep herb and olive harissa hummus refrigerated in a sealed container. Add a little fresh parsley before serving if desired.
FAQs
1. What can I eat with harissa hummus?
You can serve harissa hummus with pita bread, crackers, cucumber, carrots, bell peppers, toast, or other fresh vegetables.
2. Can I make harissa hummus less spicy?
Yes. Use a smaller amount of harissa paste and add more chickpeas, tahini, or lemon juice to create a milder flavor.
3. Can I prepare harissa hummus ahead of time?
Yes. Most hummus recipes can be prepared ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
4. Can I use canned chickpeas?
Yes. Canned chickpeas are convenient for homemade hummus. Drain and rinse them well before blending.
Conclusion
These 4 creative harissa hummus recipes offer easy ways to turn simple ingredients into flavorful homemade dips and snacks. From classic harissa hummus and roasted red pepper hummus to creamy avocado and herb olive versions, each recipe provides a different way to enjoy this spicy and delicious combination.
About the Author
I enjoy creating simple and delicious recipes that are easy to prepare at home. My goal is to share practical snack and dip ideas with clear ingredients, easy instructions, and helpful cooking tips so everyone can enjoy homemade food.