Irresistible Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts: Your New Favorite Homemade Dip
There’s nothing quite like a dip that’s both incredibly simple to make and bursting with complex flavors. This **Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts** is exactly that – a culinary delight that delivers a perfect blend of smoky heat from spicy chipotles and a delightful crunch from perfectly roasted pine nuts. It’s not just an appetizer; it’s an experience that will elevate your snack game and quickly become a staple in your kitchen. Get ready to discover the unparalleled joy of homemade hummus!
This vibrant **Chipotle Hummus recipe**, generously topped with crunchy **Roasted Pine Nuts**, is poised to become your next obsession. For many years, I, like countless others, relied solely on store-bought hummus. I mistakenly believed that crafting it from scratch would be either too complicated or simply wouldn’t measure up to the creamy, flavorful standard I had grown accustomed to. That entire perception, however, dramatically shifted for me during a particularly memorable summer when I was living in the charming coastal town of Long Beach, NY. It was there that I unearthed the sheer ease and deliciousness of homemade hummus, and my journey began with a serendipitous visit to a local farmers market.
The Farmers Market Revelation: A Journey to Homemade Hummus Perfection
During my maternity leave, my normal daily routine often involved tranquil walks along the iconic boardwalk with my baby. We’d soak in the invigorating fresh ocean air, enjoy the calming rhythm of the waves, and get a bit of exercise before heading back home. But one specific afternoon, the lively atmosphere and the promise of local treasures at the farmers market, located just a stone’s throw from our usual path, irresistibly called my name. Little did I know, this seemingly ordinary detour would fundamentally transform my entire approach to one of my all-time favorite dips: hummus. From that pivotal day forward, I haven’t purchased a single container of hummus from any grocery store, utterly convinced that nothing compares to the freshness and flavor of a homemade version.
The Long Beach Farmers Market was a true community gem, an eagerly anticipated annual event that set up bi-weekly from early April right through to late November. It was a vibrant tapestry of local produce, offering an abundance of amazing fruits and vegetables, artisanal cheeses, crusty fresh breads, and an array of homemade pickles. Beyond the culinary delights, you could also browse organic soaps and a fascinating variety of different artisan stands, each presenting unique handcrafted goods. One item I found myself insatiably buying were the tomatoes – plump and bursting with flavor, especially when they reached their ripest in the middle of summer. I often made special weekend trips to the market just for those tomatoes, eager to transform them into delicious, home-cooked meals like my beloved Tomato Peppers Stew – Hungarian Lescho. However, it was on a random Wednesday afternoon that a completely new stand appeared, destined to change my hummus world forever. The friendly attendant looked at me with a confident smile and declared, “I have the best hummus you have ever tried.” Of course, I had to put that bold statement to the test. I tasted it… and I immediately agreed. It was, without a doubt, the most exquisite hummus I had ever tasted – incredibly creamy, perfectly seasoned, and utterly addictive. This discovery quickly evolved into a weekly ritual, a necessary pilgrimage to the market for my supply of this exceptional dip. Then, as all good things must, November arrived, and my beloved market packed up for the winter. Soon after, we moved from Long Beach, and I truly missed that particular farmer’s market, and more specifically, my weekly hummus fix.
Recreating the Magic: My Journey to Perfecting Chipotle Hummus
However, this rekindled addiction to sublime hummus didn’t simply fade away with the unfortunate loss of access to my favorite hummus dealer. Instead, its absence ignited a new and exciting passion: the determination to master the art of making my own batch at home. This culinary quest led me to extensive experimentation in my kitchen, drawing inspiration from various culinary maestros. For this particular **Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts** recipe, my initial guide and foundation came from none other than the legendary Ina Garten. Her recipes are widely celebrated for their unwavering reliability and their consistently delicious results, and her classic hummus recipe provided the perfect, trustworthy starting point for my own creative endeavors.
While Ina’s base recipe was undoubtedly excellent, I yearned to infuse it with a distinct personality, a unique flavor profile that would truly set it apart. That’s when the brilliant idea of incorporating the dynamic duo of chipotles and roasted pine nuts came to me. The smoky, subtly spicy kick provided by chipotles in adobo sauce, when thoughtfully combined with the rich, buttery crunch of perfectly toasted pine nuts, transformed what could have been a simple hummus into something truly extraordinary and unforgettable. Dare I say, with complete confidence, that I genuinely believe my homemade creation now surpasses even the incredible hummus I once adored from the farmers market! I wholeheartedly encourage each and every one of you to try this sensational **Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts** recipe and personally discover its heavenly taste for yourself. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts, comments, and how it turns out for you – I absolutely love hearing from fellow food enthusiasts and home cooks!
Why This Homemade Chipotle Hummus Stands Out
Making hummus from scratch right in your own kitchen offers a multitude of compelling advantages that often outweigh the convenience of store-bought alternatives. Firstly, you gain complete control over the quality and freshness of every single ingredient, ensuring that you’re using only the best and avoiding any unwanted preservatives, artificial flavors, or unnecessary additives that are frequently found in commercial varieties. Furthermore, the ability to customize the flavor profile to your exact preferences is a game-changer – whether you desire more garlic, a touch less lemon, or an extra robust kick of chipotle, it’s entirely in your hands. The texture, too, can be perfected to your individual liking, ranging from a rustic, chunky spread to an incredibly smooth, airy, and creamy dip. This specific recipe guarantees a lusciously smooth texture, deeply infused with a rich, smoky chipotle flavor, and crowned with a delightful, satisfying textural contrast from the pine nuts. It’s truly a wholesome and incredibly flavorful snack or appetizer.
Essential Ingredients for Your Chipotle Hummus Masterpiece
To whip up this truly amazing **Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts**, you’ll only need a handful of readily available and simple ingredients. The magic happens when these humble components come together:
- Canned Chickpeas: These are the undisputed cornerstone of any great hummus. We’ll be using both the chickpeas themselves and a bit of their aquafaba (the canning liquid) to achieve that perfect, silky-smooth consistency. One small 15 oz. can, rinsed and drained, is usually the ideal amount.
- Tahini Paste: This rich sesame paste is absolutely crucial for imparting that authentic, deep, nutty flavor and a wonderfully creamy texture that defines classic hummus. You can easily find high-quality, often organic, tahini at most well-stocked grocery stores, including popular options like Trader Joe’s.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is vital as it provides a bright, zesty counterpoint that expertly balances the richer, earthier flavors of the chickpeas and tahini. Always opt for fresh-squeezed for the most vibrant taste.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: The absolute star of the show for that signature smoky and spicy kick! For this recipe, I highly recommend using just the sauce from the can rather than the whole peppers. This approach offers a milder, more controlled heat that’s much easier to distribute evenly throughout the hummus, allowing you to adjust the spice level to your exact preference.
- Garlic: A few cloves of fresh garlic are fundamental; they add a pungent, aromatic depth that is essential to the overall flavor profile of good hummus.
- Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper: These are crucial for seasoning and enhancing all the other beautiful flavors, bringing them into perfect harmony.
- Pine Nuts: These delicate, buttery nuts, when lightly roasted, provide a wonderful additional layer of flavor and a supremely satisfying crunch that makes this particular hummus truly special and unique.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This is used generously for drizzling on top of the finished hummus, adding a silky-smooth finish, an extra layer of flavor, and enhancing the overall richness.
- Fresh Italian Parsley: A final flourish of chopped fresh Italian parsley not only adds a beautiful pop of vibrant color but also a fresh, herbaceous note that perfectly complements the smoky and nutty flavors, serving as an excellent garnish.
The Simple Art of Making Perfect Hummus
The true beauty of this **Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts** recipe lies in its incredible simplicity and speed. Your trusty food processor will be your best friend, doing almost all of the heavy lifting for you and transforming these humble ingredients into a gourmet-quality dip in mere minutes. The key to achieving that coveted, ultra-silky-smooth texture is to allow the machine to run long enough, scraping down the sides as needed, until the mixture is perfectly creamy and uniform.
Once your hummus is flawlessly blended and seasoned to perfection, the serving possibilities are truly endless and exciting. It’s absolutely fantastic served in the classic manner with warm, fluffy pita bread, but please don’t limit yourself to just that! Consider spreading it generously on a thick slice of Homemade Dutch Oven Crusty Bread for a satisfying and hearty snack, or get creative and build a nutritious and incredibly delicious Mediterranean Hummus Bowl featuring your favorite fresh vegetables, grains, and perhaps some grilled chicken. The choice of how to enjoy this delightful homemade hummus is entirely yours, but one thing is absolutely certain: this creamy, smoky, and crunchy dip will be an undeniable crowd-pleaser every single time you make it.
Chipotle Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts
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Ingredients
- 1.5 cup chickpeas (from 1 small 15 oz. can, rinsed and drained, reserve liquid)
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup Tahini paste
- 2-3 tbsp lemon juice, fresh-squeezed
- 4-5 tbsp water (from the chickpeas can, aquafaba, adjust as needed)
- 2-3 teaspoon chipotle sauce (from a can of chipotles in adobo, adjust to taste)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted for garnish
- 1 teaspoon parsley (fresh Italian, chopped for garnish)
- 2 teaspoon olive oil (extra virgin, for drizzling)
Instructions
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In a food processor, add the garlic cloves. Process briefly until finely minced. Stop the motor.
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Add the rinsed chickpeas, tahini, fresh lemon juice, 4-5 tablespoons of chickpea liquid (aquafaba), chipotle sauce, and salt to the food processor. Process until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
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While the hummus is processing, heat a small non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and toast for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently, until they are beautifully golden brown and fragrant. Be sure to watch them carefully as they can burn very quickly. Remove from heat immediately and set aside.
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Taste the hummus and adjust the seasoning as necessary. You may want to add a bit more salt, lemon juice for brightness, or additional chipotle sauce to achieve your desired level of spice and smokiness. If the hummus is too thick for your preference, add more chickpea liquid, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your preferred creamy consistency.
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Transfer the finished Chipotle Hummus to a beautiful serving bowl. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil, then proudly sprinkle with the freshly toasted pine nuts and finely chopped fresh Italian parsley. Serve immediately with warm pita bread, an assortment of fresh vegetable sticks, or your favorite crusty bread. Enjoy every delicious bite!
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 135
More Mediterranean Delights You’ll Love
This post was originally published on May 16, 2014, and has since been updated to provide even more delicious details and information. If you’ve fallen in love with the vibrant, bold flavors of this Chipotle Hummus, you’ll surely enjoy these other delightful Mediterranean dishes from my cherished collection. They are perfect for expanding your culinary horizons!
- Shakshouka – Classic Mediterranean Breakfast
- Mediterranean Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes, Beans and Olives
- Summer Panzanella Salad with Garlic Butter Bread
- Penne alla Vecchia Bettola
