Low Sodium Hummus Homemade - Tasty, Healthy Heart Recipes (2024)

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Recipe

This creamy, garlicy, lemon tanged homemade Low Sodium Hummus is a Mid-East favorite and will quickly become your new healthy dip. With so many things to use it with such as a dip, garnish, sandwich spread, you’re limited only to your imagination. Check out the list at the end of what to serve it with to get started on ideas. Store bought hummus can be high in sodium, so I needed a low sodium hummus. With my recipe and just a few ingredients it can be made with very low sodium!

Table of Contents

Typical sodium per serving = 2 Tbsp130+ mg
Sodium per serving for this recipe = 2 Tbsp34 mg
Sodium total for this recipe = 2 cups476 mg
Calories per serving74

For being an otherwise healthy dip hummus is unfortunately high sodium.Most store bought hummus averages around 130 mg of sodium per two tablespoons. Your sodium budget could quickly spiral out of control if you slather all over like me.

This recipe brings it down to 34 mg per two tablespoons. Or you could reduce it down to 6 mg per serving if you soak and boil your own raw beans or use a no salt added canned beans. Which: 1.) For a dip, cooking raw beans doesn’t interest me. And: 2.) No-salt added beans (so far) are not carried in my local store.

So I settled for a brand that has 120 mg of sodium even though it doesn’t advertise any sodium reduction on the label. You’ll have to check your local store.

SODIUM LEVELSIN CHICKPEAS?

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Sodium levels vary widely in the choice of chickpeas available. Here are some average typical sodium levels of fresh and canned chickpeas sodium levels for a serving size of 1/2 cup.

  1. Raw chickpeas boiled without salt…..6 mg
  2. Canned chickpeas no salt added…..30 mg
    (Not available near me, may be ordered)
  3. Simple Organic Truth canned……..120 mg
    (What I used from Kroger)
  4. Canned chickpeas reduced salt….240 mg
  5. Canned chickpeas standard………480 mg
    *Note: when beans are drained and rinsed a 30-40% reduction in sodium level may be attained.

WHAT EXACTLYIS HUMMUS?

Hummus is a dip or spread made primarily from cooked, mashed chickpeas. It is immensely popular in the Middle East and Mediterranean culture. There are only a few ingredients: chickpeas (garbanzo beans), garlic, lemon juice, tahini, cumin, and olive oil.

Tahini is mostly pureed sesame seeds in sesame oil that almost has a peanut buttery taste. Chickpeas contain fiber, iron and potassium a good source of protein and they’re cholesterol and gluten free. With just these few ingredients Low-Sodium Hummus is a breeze to blend up.

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MY TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST FLAVORFUL LOW SODIUM HUMMUS

You actually want mushy chickpeas
To get a smooth and wonderfully creamy hummus you need mushy beans to avoid a thick gritty texture. Cook canned or leftover cooked chickpeas until they are almost mushy and easily pinched between two fingers. This will take about 20-30 minutes, during which you can prepare the garlic and lemon and let rest. (See below). The chickpeas are ready to go after a quick rinse and cool down under cool running water.

Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Buy lemons and your humus will taste fresh and delicious. Add any additional lemon juice after tasting to the processed hummus for any extra flavor before you plate it, for a tang factor that you desire.

Use fresh garlic
I usually use pre-minced garlic when I am cooking with heat and will be mixed in with many other ingredients. But when using uncooked garlic I think it is essential to use fresh when combined with so few ingredients. In this instance the garlic will be pureed in the processor and takes very little time or mess. Just be sure to cut the tips off.

Mellow the garlic in lemon juice
While roasted garlic makes for the best tasting garlic in the interest of time you can mellow the garlic in the lemon juice. Mince the garlic in the food processor with the lemon juice and let that mixture sit for a few minutes before adding the other ingredients. The acid of the lemon reacts with garlic and the garlic will lose its harsh, raw bite or “mellow”.

MAKE FLAVOREDLOW SODIUM HUMMUS WITH GARNISH

Now that you have the base hummus you can have itplain or add many different flavors to it. You can mix it up with either addedingredients like sundried tomatoes or roasted red peppers, crushed red pepperflakes, toasted sesame seeds, a drizzle of herbed olive oil or you can add yourfavorite spice blends and mix them in or sprinkle on top. I personally like smokedpaprika or no salt Za’atar sprinkled on top. Experiment and see what you like!

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10 SIMPLEIDEAS OF WHAT TO SERVE HUMMUS WITH

Hummus will go great with:

  • Sandwich spread with almost any meat (Hamburger? Yummy!)
  • Over chicken breast or pork chops
  • Any low sodium crackers
  • Low or no salt tortilla chips
  • Cut vegetables
  • As a garnish on baked or mashed potato
  • Toast, hummus and fried egg
  • Or my favorite of course my low sodium pita bread or toasted pita triangles!

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  • Find out how to make my Low Sodium Pita Bread Baked Triangles!
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Homemade Low Sodium Hummus

Author: Bill

This Mediterranean style Low Sodium Hummus recipe is a great, heart healthy snack made with beans, garlic, lemon and Tahini. For dips and spreads sandwiches.

4.75 from 8 votes

Print RecipeLeave a Comment

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 14 of 2 Tablespoons

Calories 74 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 can 15 oz. chickpeas, rinsed and drained, ( 15 oz. =1 ½ cups)
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon, more to taste)
  • 3 medium clove garlic (rough chop cut tips off)
  • 1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash Original Table Blend seasoning no salt
  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 2 to 4 Tbsp ice water (more as needed)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Place the drained and rinsed chickpeas in a medium saucepan and cover the chickpeas with several inches of water, then bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reducing heat a bit if needed to a low boil to prevent boil over, for about 20 minutes. Until the chickpeas look bloated maybe bursting and they’re quite mushy. Using a strainer, drain the chickpeas and run cool water over them till cooled. Let drain.

  • Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the lemon juice and garlic. Process until the garlic is very finely chopped, then let the mixture rest so the garlic flavor can mellow, ideally while the beans are cooking.

  • Add the tahini and 2 tablespoons ice water to the food processor and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down any tahini stuck to the sides and bottom of the processor as necessary. And more water in the next step if needed for creaminess.

  • Add the cumin, Mrs. Dash Table Blend and drained chickpeas to the food processor. While blending, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Blend until the mixture is super smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary, for about 2 minutes. Don’t worry it’s hard to over blend. Add more ice water by the tablespoon if necessary to achieve a really creamy texture.

  • Taste, and adjust as necessary—lemon, cumin, Mrs. Dash, olive oil for creamy richness.

  • Spatula the hummus into a serving bowl and top with a garnish of your choice if desired, and serve.

  • Hummus keeps in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 1 week.

Notes

I like to serve and eat hummus at room temperature.
One 15-ounce can of drained canned beans equals 1 1/2 cups of drained cooked dried beans.
Drained and rinsed beans reduce sodium generally by 30-40%.

Nutrition

Serving: 2TbspCalories: 74kcalCarbohydrates: 4.7gProtein: 2.2gFat: 5.8gSodium: 34mgFiber: 0.9gSugar: 1.2gCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

https://tastyhealthyheartrecipes.com/a-la-cart/sauces-dips-spices/low-sodium-hummus-homemade/

Did you enjoy this recipe?Leave a comment and let me know how it was!

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Nutrition InformationThe information shown is provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be substituted for a doctor’s or nutritionist’s advice. Please understand that not everyone’s sodium requirements are the same, therefore some recipes may be higher than you’re allowed. Always consult with your doctor for your recommended daily sodium allowance.

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As always, please let me know how you like this recipe in the comments! I get motivated when I hear from you and am interested to learn about how you liked and served your Low-Sodium Hummus dip. And please leave a comment or rating and share any tips you might have.

Similar low sodium recipes you should try!

  • Low Sodium Mayonnaise Plain or Chipotle
  • Low Sodium Thousand Island Salad Dressing
  • Low Sodium Caesar Dressing for Salad
Low Sodium Hummus Homemade - Tasty, Healthy Heart Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is homemade hummus high in sodium? ›

The fact is, hummus is not a low sodium food. According to the FDA regulations, only foods with 5mgs per serving fit within that category, and hummus generally contains anywhere from 40-200mg per serving. Obviously home-made hummus can go as low as you like—you can even whip up a salt free hummus!

Is store bought hummus as healthy as homemade? ›

A: Many packaged hummus brands are pretty healthy – the basic ingredients are chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), olive oil, garlic and lemond juice. But making it at home allows you to control the sodium, calories and nutrients. It means you can also play with the taste.

Is red pepper hummus good for you? ›

Red pepper hummus is exquisite and, at the same time, it's one of the most nutritious snack options around. If you incorporate red peppers into your hummus, you not only enhance its flavor but also give your immune system a boost. Why? Because they are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

What brand of hummus is low sodium? ›

Esti Foods Original Hummus

This hummus is very low in sugar at less than one gram, and with lower sodium levels than other brands, Esti is a great option for those who are concerned about their heart health (as we all should be, right?).

Is hummus good for heart disease? ›

Hummus is a versatile ingredient and a good source of fiber, along with vitamins and minerals like manganese, copper, folate, and iron. Thanks to its impressive nutrient profile, it may help ease inflammation, promote heart health, and support blood sugar management.

Why do you have to eat hummus within 3 days? ›

For starters, homemade humus will almost always spoil faster because store-bought, which is prepared in sterile and contamination-controlled environments. Homemade varieties will generally last anywhere from 3-4 days, whereas store-bought brands generally lasts 6-7 days after opening.

Is it worth making homemade hummus? ›

Store-bought flavor and texture disappointments aside, the math in favor of making my own hummus is reason enough. (Put simply: it's cheaper.) Learning how to make hummus is so easy, delicious, and well worth it. You can get very serious about making hummus from scratch.

How long does hummus last in the fridge? ›

As a general rule, it will last about a week in your fridge once you open it. So although you can keep hummus refrigerated for a couple months unopened, you only have seven days from opening to finish it off. (Or you can easily freeze your humus for up to 4 months if you want to store it for longer periods!)

What protein goes best with hummus? ›

Hummus and eggs are an oddly great combo. “Whether you love eggs or go for the vegan, 'tofu scramble' option, a dollop of hummus can make the classic breakfast dish even more delicious,” says Dixon.

Is it okay to eat an entire container of hummus? ›

Though hummus is packed with healthful ingredients, you still shouldn't eat a whole tub in a sitting.

How much sodium is in red pepper hummus? ›

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
CaloriesTotal FatSodium
705 g135 mg

Is hummus good for high blood pressure? ›

In fact, a review of clinical trials found that eating one serving of pulses every day can reduce systolic blood pressure by 2.25 mm Hg. Add these tasty and versatile foods to your meals by including them in soups, stews,or salads or by making a delicious dip such as hummus.

Is garlic hummus heart healthy? ›

This incredible dip contains chickpeas, which have been shown to help protect against heart disease, as well as garlic, which are both known to reduce inflammation in the body.

How do you reduce salt in hummus? ›

You could try adding more mashed chickpeas or if this is not on, adding a little vinegar. If the oversalting is mild then sundried tomatoes, mushrooms blended and fried in light oil until dark or other salt-loving vegetables blended in could be an option.

Can you eat hummus if you have high blood pressure? ›

Veggies Dipped in Hummus

They are also rich in water, which can help you stay hydrated, another important measure for managing high blood pressure. Veggies are great dipped in hummus. Not only is the combo satisfying, but hummus offers some protein, fiber and a little fat, making this a well-rounded snack.

How much sodium is in original hummus? ›

Traditional Hummus
CaloriesTotal FatSodium
907 g160 mg

Are chickpeas naturally high in sodium? ›

“Dried chickpeas are essentially sodium-free.” They naturally contain only a very small amount of sodium, 11 milligrams per cup. There are workarounds to the sodium content of canned chickpeas. For starters, always rinse and drain your canned chickpeas to remove some of the sodium.

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