# My hummus is bland... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200 "2012-02-17T23:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/1 "2012-02-17T23:57:27Z")
Is it because I couldn’t find the tahini? Anything I can sub? I used a little peanutbutter but still blah. (On a related note, where the hell did I put the tahini?) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/2 "2012-02-18T00:03:34Z")
You can add: chili powder (in great moderation) garlic (raw & chopped very fine) olive oil paprika parsley. I’m sure others can suggest other possibilities. But tahini is not optional: it’s essential, like tomato paste is essential for pizzas. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/3 "2012-02-18T00:10:11Z")
Yeah, you have to find the tahini. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/4 "2012-02-18T00:11:30Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > You can add: > chili powder (in great moderation) > garlic (raw & chopped very fine) > olive oil > paprika > parsley. > > I’m sure others can suggest other possibilities. But tahini is not optional: it’s essential, like tomato paste is essential for pizzas. Yeah, I feel it’s not hummus if it ain’t got tahini. The main culprits for blandness are: not enough acid, not enough salt, not enough garlic. Even the type of olive oil you use and how much of it could effect your perception of blandness. A lot of times, a little bit more salt will perk things right up. But that tahini really goes a long way to add the right body and “meatiness” to the hummus. (As an aside, tomato products are not necessary for a pizza. Some of my favorite pizzas are white pizzas.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/5 "2012-02-18T00:18:54Z")
> [@papergirl](#): > > Anything I can sub? Cashew butter but I’m guessing you don’t have any. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/6 "2012-02-18T00:20:21Z")
Try cayenne pepper, chipotle pepper or even more black pepper. And I make it without tahini all the time; I like it lighter. Often I use jarred roasted red peppers. It gives it a beautiful color and flavor. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/7 "2012-02-18T00:21:23Z")
Figures. I know I have an almost-full jar here somewhere, and I distinctly remember saying to myself, “self, remember yoy put the tahini riiiiight…there!” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@Johanna25](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna25)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/8 "2012-02-18T00:48:08Z")
Smoked Paprika adds some zing to hummus. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/9 "2012-02-18T01:02:06Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > You can add: > chili powder (in great moderation) > garlic (raw & chopped very fine) > olive oil > paprika > parsley. And lemon juice. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/10 "2012-02-18T01:03:28Z")
Lots and lots of freshly sqeezed lemon juice Cumin More garlic! **Tom Scud** swears by a bit of mint (fresh or dried), and everyone loves his hummus. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/11 "2012-02-18T01:18:47Z")
I’ve made hummus with PB as a sub for tahini. It got snarfed right down! Check the refrigerator door for your tahini. If it’s been opened, it’s a good idea to refrigerate it. Diced chiles or dried crushed red pepper flakes would give a nice zing. Really, hummus is just a transport device for flavorful ingredients. And you can use almost anything to dip into the hummus: chips, crackers, raw veggies…I’ve even seen folks using rice cakes. Probably the best thing in the world to ever happen to a rice cake! If you can locate a Middle Eastern or Indian/Pakistani market, look for garbanzo flour. That stuff makes the easiest, fastest, creamiest hummus in the world! Boil one cup of water in a pan on the stove. As soon as the water boils, whisk in 1/4 cup garbanzo flour, turn down the heat to a simmer, and cook for a few minutes until the mixture thickens. That’s IT. Add your tahini, salt, pepper, garlic and whatever else floats your boat. Scoop into the serving dish and drizzle olive oil on top. While everyone else is inhaling the hummus, YOU get to lick the pan! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/12 "2012-02-18T01:34:48Z")
Drain a jar of marinated artichoke hearts, blenderize into a puree, add to hummus. Dip and enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/13 "2012-02-18T01:37:15Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > drain a jar of marinated artichoke hearts, blenderize into a puree, add to hummus. Dip and enjoy. Damn! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/14 "2012-02-18T01:45:59Z")
Peel one full bulb of garlic. Wrap in foil with a tablespoon of olive oil, and roast in a toaster oven at 350 for 45 minutes. Cool and add to your hummus before processing. My recipe: one 29oz. can chick peas, drained one half cup olive oil one third cup lemon juice one teaspoon kosher salt one half teaspoon ground black pepper one bulb roasted garlic I don’t use any tahini. Sometimes I add roasted red peppers. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/15 "2012-02-18T01:47:17Z")
One thing I’ve noticed, Living in the Detroit area. After having lots of fancy, special Versions of Hummus, the Basic “Mom’s version” of it you get Lebanese restaurants always tastes a it bland. One more area where tradition can be screwed in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/16 "2012-02-18T02:05:00Z")
“The bird flies at midnight.” [passes secret papers to **papergirl**] ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/17 "2012-02-18T02:07:29Z")
I like hummus with sesame oil (replacing part of the olive oil) rather than tahini. Gives it that sesame nuttiness without that kind of bitter tang that tahini always seems to me to have. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hummus-is-bland/613200/18 "2012-02-18T02:09:20Z")
Gotta have tahini. Nut butters won’t substitute, because it needs that strong taste of sesame. If you don’t have tahini, try a few drops of sesame oil. I’m a bit of a purist: garbanzo beans and a little of their brine, tahini, cumin, lemon juice. That’s all I ever use (raw garlic doesn’t agree with me). ETA: I finish it with a drizzle of olive oil but NOT EVOO. Too overpowering a taste.