Sesame-Free Hummus (No Tahini Recipe)
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This sesame-free hummus is smooth, creamy, and made without tahini. If you need a hummus recipe without sesame—whether for allergies or preference—this version delivers all the flavor of traditional hummus with simple ingredients and no sesame seeds.
Get ready for one of our favorite recipes of all time–homemade sesame-free hummus. This homemade hummus is anything but ordinary. It's savory hummus, perfectly spiced, with a flavor-punch of spices that will make keep you coming back for more. And more.
I am always on the hunt for quick, easy, frugal, healthy (and tasty) meals and snack ideas and this homemade hummus fits the bill.
We've always loved hummus, but the price tag, especially for organic hummus, is something I don't love.
Years ago I saw a recipe in a Cooking Light Magazine that looked interesting to me. I changed it up and now it's a family staple. In fact, it's so good that we make at least 2 batches every time we make it and never lasts long!
Why Sesame-free Hummus?
Sesame is now a more common allergen. Our oldest has multiple life-threatening food allergies, and one of them is sesame.
So you can choose a sesame-free hummus due to having an allergy to sesame, but also hummus is so light when it's sesame-free. I personally prefer hummus without tahini now, but it does need to be made right with extra oil to make up for the loss of fat from the sesame seeds.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This hummus recipe is:
- Easy to make: comes together in just minutes
- Flavorful: the addition of spices is just perfect
- Light: using olive oil instead of tahini makes for a lighter feel and taste
- Frugal: like most homemade hummus recipes, it's so much cheaper than buying store-bought hummus.
Helpful Tips
- Make extra batches! Hummus may be frozen for a future quick and easy meal. The smooth texture can be restored by adding and stirring in some extra olive oil before serving. We always at least double this recipe and eat it over several days, especially when there is a potluck or other gathering where we will be sharing a dish to pass. One cup of dried beans equals approximately 3 cups of cooked, so you can judge how many cups of beans to start with.
- Keep extra soaked and cooked beans stored in your freezer so that you can whip this up at a moment's notice without needing to depend upon canned beans.
How to Serve
This hummus can of course be used in the traditional way as a dip, but you can also use it as:
- a spread on sandwiches, burgers, and wraps.
- as a topping for entrees or sides. Just add more oil and water to make it thinner.
- add to pizza or pasta sauce.
- add to or top soups and stews.
Recipe Notes
- For Easier Digestion: If you’re sensitive to beans, see my tips for how to de-gas beans before cooking.
- Oil Balance: Since this recipe doesn’t use tahini, olive oil helps create a smooth, creamy texture. You can adjust the amount slightly to suit your preference.
- Spice Options: Aleppo pepper is a great alternative to crushed red pepper and adds a slightly milder, more complex flavor.
Other Great Hummus Recipes to Try:
If you enjoy this sesame-free hummus, here are some more fantastic hummus recipes to try:
- Olive Hummus – rich and savory with briny olives
- Pumpkin Hummus – a nourishing and seasonal twist
- Pizza Hummus – a fun, flavorful option that happens to be dairy-free
Savory Sesame-Free Hummus
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups garbanzo beans (soaked, cooked, and drained)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 10 tablespoons water
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh squeezed, if possible)
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a heavy duty blender (aka Vitamix) and/ or food processor.
- Blend until of desired consistency. A typical food processor will need approximately 4 minutes to get it really smooth.
- Serve with chips, vegetables, Focaccia Flax Bread, or use as a spread.
Notes
- I highly recommend de-gassing the beans for this and all recipes using beans.
- You can use Aleppo peppers instead of the crushed red pepper, or use a combination of both.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and preparation methods. Optional ingredients are not included. Net carbs are typically calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols (such as erythritol) from total carbohydrates. This information should not be relied upon for medical or nutritional purposes.
Have you ever made your own hummus?
Tahini is what gives hummus its creamy texture and if you need to substitute, you could try peanut butter. It works well and tastes similar. Cheaper brands of tahini will taste bitter and you might need some honey to off-set the taste. I add both tahini and olive oil in my own. I also use the cooking water rather than add water, but that’s just me. Hummus is one of my favorite dishes!
Hi Melissa. I know – I love the creaminess of tahini, but the olive oil does nicely as a substitute. And my son is deathly allergic to peanuts as well :-(/
As a side note on the water, you will be not be degassing the beans as much if you use the cooking water, but if that doesn’t bother you then great! Hope you enjoy this!
Awesome recipe, I made this with your flax bread recipe and my family and I are hooked!!!
So glad to hear you like it as much as we do! We were invited to an appetizer dinner for Valentines -might just have to take both :-).
I love Hummus. Thanks, Adrienne. Another great post.
You’re welcome! Hope you like it!
Yes, I do follow a “typical” hummus recipe. Mine calls for tinned beans which makes it very fast to make. I will be interested to pursue your suggestions for de-gassing the beans, however. Unlike your recipe, I do not add the cumin,corriander or red pepper although the combination sounds delicious. Garbanzo beans
apparently… “contain a lectin that can cause a decrease in insulin production” in the A blood type according to Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo in Eat Right For Your Blood Type. When I was diagnosed with a yeast overgrowth several years ago, my diet was adjusted, i.e., no sugar, yeast, fermented foods etc., and then the doctor recommended I follow the diet for my blood type. When I follow the diet carefully, I feel 100% better, all physical ailments that plagued me for years clear up and the bonus is that I lose weight. I have felt pretty much alone for many years while working with this so I am delighted that I have found a community of people in cyberspace that understand and are exploring new options. Thanks for your sharings, Adrienne and please keep them coming.
Hi Martie! Thanks for sharing. I am familiar w/ this diet. I haven’t really tried it, but I am interested. I wonder if you’ve seen my post on adrenal fatigue. I am going to be sharing more, but I have found that there is a big connection between candida and heavy metals. So I am now working on the metals. I assume that I am going to be on a special diet the rest of my life, but I am doing a lot better.
Look forward to seeing you around more. I hope this blog really grows into a community where we can help each other. Thanks for the encouragement.
I am going to make this in the morning…my husband is not exactly fond of hummus…and I am, so hopefully, this recipe will do the trick! Thanks so much! 🙂 Cheeryshirley
Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Oh, Adrienne! I made this today and we cannot stay out of it!!! Both of us! Thank you so much for this incredible recipe! Before, my hubby thoroughly disliked hummus and…now? He wants this “wonderful hummus” to be on the regular weekly menu! He dished up bowls for each of us at lunch time…just in case we wanted to “dip” anything in addition to our regular lunch! Hahahaha! Thank you! 🙂 Cheeryshirley
Thanks, Shirley – you’ve made my evening! We’re having a bit of a rough nite here with our youngest, so thanks for blessing me this way! :-).
Following the blood-type diet for an A blood-type, I do my best to avoid garbanzo beans. I make my hummus with pinto beans instead and often add a bit of fresh mint as well – very refreshing.
How interesting. Do you follow a typical hummus recipe? So I assume that garbanzos are bad for Type A according to the blood type diets?
Homemade hummus is one of our favorite snacks. My youngest son actually eats it by the spoonful. thanks for sharing your sesame free option with the HnS Hop.
Thanks, Alea! Ours too! My husband just asked for it again today! Take care!
Humus is one of my favorite snacks. Thanks for sharing at Allergy-free Wednesday!
I can’t wait to try this! I love hummus, but not buying those ridiculously priced little plastic cups, and I have yet to figure out where I can get tahini locally. This sounds perfect!
Hi Karen – I agree with you on the “ridiculously priced little plastic cups.” Expensive and wasteful and often filled w/ preservatives and unsoaked beans. Hope you like it!
I like that this doesn’t have tahini, as we avoid sesame also. Thanks for linking up to H2W; come back next week to see if you were featured!