Creamy Avocado Hummus Recipe

A twist on the classic hummus recipe, this avocado version makes a creamy dip that is healthy and full of flavor. Make it with or without garlic, it stays fresh for several days and is the perfect snack with pita chips (recipe also in the post), as a spread for sandwiches or in salads. 

Originally published in January 2018, this post has been updated with text and images to serve you better. The recipe remains the same.

Variations on the traditional hummus are always on my mind, probably because it is a great recipe that I eat a lot. And I mean a lot. The eggplant version is among the best hummus recipes I ever made, one of my favorite dips, but it was time to add new ones.

This avocado dip came to be a day the avocados I had were going to expire very soon. I tested and tweaked the recipe to get to this one, but there is room for personal taste. For me it's the perfect dip with pita chips, but it's also a great way to add some healthy fats to a sandwich or salad.

Whether you like it with or without garlic, more or less tahini, the idea is to let the avocado shine while maintaining that unique hummus flavor. 

What is hummus?

Hummus is a middle eastern wonder of an appetizer or dip that comes together in a few minutes. It has few ingredients, but chickpeas and tahini (a slightly bitter paste made from sesame seeds) are a must.  

Some say that the secret to creaminess is a good food processor and peeling the garbanzo beans, one by one, but I hardly ever do that. In this version the avocados add so much creaminess that you are safe in that area.

Ingredients

As I mentioned before, the ingredients are few and easily available. Some comments:

• Fresh avocados: Haas avocados, the small ones, are highly recommended as opposed to the large, greener avocados. Though it's a matter of personal taste, these small ugly things have the best flavor and less water content, and that really makes a difference imo. 
• Tahini: is a sesame paste that gives the hummus that distinct smoky flavor. It's found in many grocery stores, middle eastern markets and online.
• Chickpeas: also called garbanzo beans, they are used cooked. You can use canned or dried that have been hydrated and cooked until tender. I prefer the latter for flavors, but use both depending on the time I have.
• Lemon juice: it adds some necessary acidity and is used freshly squeezed.
• Olive oil: use the best brand you can afford as the flavor is a big part of this homemade hummus.
• Salt and black pepper: they add some flavoring and balance the rest of the ingredients.

Choosing avocados

It's essential to choose just-ripe avocados for the best result. 

• The stem at the top should come off easily and reveal a light spot. If the spot is brown the avocado is probably a little over-ripen (image left below). 
• An avocado that is ready to be eaten is slightly soft but not mushy; when you lightly press it barely gives.
• The skin might be black but not always completely, some dark green might still be there. If you open it, it has green and yellow parts, but not brown ones (image below, right).

The avocado, being the good oil that it is, adds a layer of unctuousness to this dip that is very welcomed. A collateral healthy benefit.

How to make it

• Mixing: I love the immersion blender and a bowl because it's fast and it quickly becomes super creamy. But you can use a blender (I don't like how part of the mixture is always so hard to take out from the bottom of the jar). And I sometimes put everything in the bowl of a food processor, when I'm making double this recipe, because processors tend to be large and need a certain amount of ingredients in order to produce really creamy mixtures.
• Storing: add a thin layer of olive oil (image 4) to prevent it from turning a brownish-green so fast.

How to cook garbanzo beans from scratch: hydrate overnight in a bowl with cold water. Drain and cook in salted water until very tender. Keep refrigerated with a little olive oil, covered. 

Vintage Kitchen Tip

Top tips

• Make it at the last moment possible to prevent the avocados from oxidizing and turning brownish. 
• Keeping it: I recommend a glass jar with a tight lid, not a plastic airtight container, because it will keep the flavors better. If kept for a few hours, you can use the same bowl where you made it with tight plastic wrap on top.
• Topping: Keep some garbanzo beans and chunks of avocado to put on top of the hummus bowl just before serving. Alternatively, serve with a sprinkling of smoked paprika, a drizzle of olive oil and sesame seeds.
• Variations: throwing in a garlic clove, or a few fresh cilantro leaves before processing can be a good addition. As is some minced jalapeno pepper for a little kick. Don't add too much as they can overpower the other flavors. I always use lemon, but know recipes that call for lime juice.

How to eat it

• Tortilla chips: the store-bought kind is a great way to make your life simpler, instead of making homemade pita chips.
• Pita chips: are a breeze to make in the oven with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Simply take some pita bread and cut it in triangles. If you take the time to bake at a slow oven they will keep for weeks in a tightly covered tin. But if in a hurry you can bake them faster, like you would toast, and eat them immediately. 
• In a salad: a few tablespoons of this creamy dip is great for adding to simple salads, or part of a healthy antipasto platter. You can add more oil and water and make it thinner, but be careful not to add too much and lose flavors.

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