Easy Whole30 Hummus Perfect for Charcuterie Boards
Before there were charcuterie boards, Mediterranean cuisine had mezze. They are similar with lots of spreads, dips, meats and veggies made to share while socializing. A staple of the mezze and many charcuterie boards is hummus. This Whole30 Hummus will leave your most die-hard hummus fan none-the-wiser.
Why Make Hummus without Chickpeas?
For those following the paleo lifestyle or doing a round of Whole30, beans (AKA legumes) are a no-go. For those who love hummus, this is a major bummer! Since I tend to entertain a lot with charcuterie boards even while on Whole30, I had to come up with a solution. While I don't crave hummus, I like to have it as an option when I make a board.
How to Make Hummus without Beans
Chickpeas are the main ingredient in traditional hummus. To make a bean-free hummus, I had to find something that replicated the smooth texture of hummus with all the savory flavor. I tried zucchini, both peeled and unpeeled. It tasted ok, but still had a bit of the green flavor. With the peel, it even had a green hue. It was passable, but not 100% stand-in for traditional hummus. This summer, I had yellow squash hanging around and decided to just try it. It tasted EXACTLY like traditional hummus and had the same color. I love happy accidents!
What Are the Ingredients in Hummus?
The ingredients you will always find in hummus are garlic, lemon juice and tahini paste. Tahini paste is basically sesame seed butter. It's what gives hummus that really savory flavor. Depending on the region, or the cook for that matter, other seasonings may make an appearance. I like to use cumin and cayenne for a little extra flavor. Paprika, coriander and sumac may be used also.
Best Tool for Making Hummus
You can use a food processor for making hummus, but my favorite way to make it for the smoothest texture is a high speed blender. Vita-mix, BlendTec and Nutribullet are all great with the latter being the least expensive (and my fave.)
How to Serve Whole30 Hummus
Top your hummus with a big drizzle of really good extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of any of the spices you used. You can also sprinkle on a few toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds. Since bread is off limits during a Whole30, use Belgian endive, peppers, radishes, cucumbers or jicama as dippers. If you eat paleo, but are not doing a Whole30, your options are much more open. Use Simple Mills pita crackers
How to Make Whole30 Hummus into a Meal
Make a charcuterie board with Whole30 friendly meats and smoked salmon. Add in small bowls of hummus and your favorite creamy dressing. Use lots of fresh veggies, grapes and apple slices and even a little dried fruit. Fill in with olives and nuts. This, of course will qualify as a meal, but if you want something more substantial that feels like a main dish, try my Mediterranean Hummus Bowls or Chicken Shawarma Bowls.
Whole30 Hummus
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw yellow squash, cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced (about 3 cloves)
- 1/3 cup tahini paste
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (or to taste)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne for spicy or 1/2 tsp paprika for mild
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender, preferably high speed. Blend on high until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.