Spicy Black Bean Hummus - This delicious hummus is a lower fat, lower calorie hummus recipe made with black beans instead of chickpeas. A modest amount of tahini and olive oil add a bit of traditional flavor, while cayenne and smoked paprika kick up the spice!
I love chickpea hummus, but, dare I say, I love black bean hummus even more?
When paired with certain spices, it takes on a Mexican food flair that is incomparable!
In this version, I use a combination of tahini and olive oil to give it a traditional hummus taste, along with cayenne pepper to give it some heat!
The result is a delicious and creamy bean-based dip that is sure to please!
Ingredients needed
Black beans - This recipe is based around black beans, but because of the Mexican flavors, pinto beans may be a good substitute.
Garlic - One large clove provides enough garlic flavor for our taste, but this can be increased to two if you really love it.
Olive oil - Sometimes, I use sesame oil to up the sesame flavor, but generally, olive oil is my primary choice.
Tahini - While some recipes really load up on the tahini, there's just one tablespoon needed here. Pumpkin seed butter is a good substitute, if you're allergic to sesame.
Cumin, sea salt, smoked paprika, cayenne - This combination of spices contributes to both flavor and heat. Cumin is also traditional to chickpea hummus.
Lemon juice - I like a light lemon flavor, so I add about 2 1/2 tablespoons. Lime juice would also work well!
Bean liquid - This helps smooth out the hummus without having to use extra oil.
Cilantro - Fresh cilantro makes a great addition and pairs well with black beans.
Recipe steps
First, mince the garlic. This step will help it blend better with the remaining ingredients so as to avoid getting a big bite of it!
Add in the rest, saving the cilantro at this time.
Process the ingredients until smooth and well combined.
Pulse in the cilantro last.
This is smooth and rich with just the right amount of kick!
What do you eat with hummus?
Hummus can be eaten any number of ways, here are a few of my favorites!
- As a dip with raw veggies, including carrot sticks, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers;
- With crunchy tortilla chips;
- As a spread in sandwiches, pitas, or wraps; One of my favorite meals is to spread some on a spelt flour tortilla with some muenster cheese, thin slices of cucumber, and alfalfa sprouts to make a very delicious lunch!
If you're looking for a chickpea-based hummus, try my Tahini-Free version!
Spicy Black Bean Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove
- 15-ounce can black beans rinsed and drained; reserve some of the bean liquid
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon tahini
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- 2-3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1-2 Tablespoons reserved bean liquid
- ¼ cup cilantro
Instructions
- Pulse the garlic first in a food processor until minced.
- Add the rest of the ingredients up to the cilantro and process until smooth.
- Pulse in the cilantro until mixed.
- Use enough lemon to suit your taste and bean liquid to make it as thin or thick as you like. I used about 2 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice and about 2 tablespoons of bean liquid.
- Serve as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Denisse
My favorite type of hummus is black bean hummus. My local grocery store sells it; can't believe it's so easy to make! I'm totally making it tonight 🙂 and don't listen to these party poopers, in SoCal blackbean dip is still considered hummus. I like how they were so dissatisfied that you called it hummus w/o the chickpeas.... who cares. Your blog, you can call it whatever the F you want. People are so ridiculous!
Lauren
Haha, thanks Denisse!
Linnie
Hi from the UK, can you confirm whether the 'T' in yr recipes is a Teaspoon or tablespoon please x
Lauren
Hi Linnie, sorry for the delay, T is tablespoon. 🙂
Maya
Hummus literally means "chickpeas" in Arabic. If your recipe doesn't have chickpeas, it's not actually hummus. Wish people would stop appropriating food and making it "trendy" only to completely change traditional recipes.
Lauren
Well Maya, we call this hummus in my home!
Brian
Hey Lauren,
Just starting to check out "southwestern" or black bean type hummuses (hummi?). I think I saw one that used lime juice instead of lemon, which I'm considering.
Regarding other hummus spin-offs, I have seen white bean varieties, but I have to admit the most off-the-wall variety is a green pea hummus with mint.
1lb cooked peas, 1 jalapeno, 2 cloves garlic, 1 Tbsp minced ginger, 1/2 bunch mint leaves, 10 basil leaves, 5 sprigs cilantro, 1/2 lb silken tofu, 1/4 cup olive oil, and salt/pepper/hot sauce to taste
Dianne
Would you also be willing to give the Mexican spice version? I would love to try both.
Thank you so much
Lauren
Hi Dianne,
This is that version! 🙂 I didn't mean to be confusing there.
Miachel (Spiced Curiosity)
Yum! This looks like a tasty, party hor d'oeuvre.
Paula Monzo
Sweet potato hummus is my favorite. Second, would be roasted red bell pepper.
Lauren
I've not tried sweet potato hummus, but I've seen some killer recipes for it!
Jennifer Cote
Lauren, I hadn't thought of using black beans, but why not? (They'll cook faster than garbanzos, if you're starting from scratch.)
As for weddings, it's rare that I hear about anything but the latest, greatest big wedding- seems those get the most attention! My husband and I almost eloped (it can save a lot of grief, in some ways, right?). We ended up having a small wedding. But what's bigger than ANY wedding, is our commitment to love another human being, through thick and thin, right?!
Oh, and congrats on making the Top Nine!
Lauren
Thank you! I completely agree on the wedding idea. I was never one to envision a huge wedding, and what we ended up doing was so much more special to me than I ever imagined!...and less stressful... 😉
Heather
Hey Lauren! Thanks for your message. I just left you a reply, hopefully answering your question 🙂 Love the name of your blog!
Lauren
Thanks Heather, and thanks for visiting me! 🙂
Ellie@fitforthesoul
wow, that is a big big change!! but that's such a beautiful place~and it seems like you guys are handling it just the way you're supposed to. 🙂 I'll pray that you guys grow through this experience, and if you need anyone to listen to you, I'm here all ears. <33 ps: remember that sometimes God brings change into our lives to break us out of our comfort zones=increased faith and dependence on Him.
Lauren
Thanks Ellie, why do you not live here? I need your kind of influence and wisdom in my life!!
Min
Wow! Prescott is gorgeous! I don't handle change very well either! Two of the lowest points in my life happened right when I went off to college and right after I got married. While those are the two moments in life that most people love and remember the most, for me it's quite the opposite. I either want to completely erase from my memory...or get the chance to do it all over again..this time, much differently. I live with a lot of regrets bc of it.
I LOVE hummus..well, I love anything I can spread onto bread crackers, fingers..what have you :). I'll be praying for you, girl! It's all going to work out. Just keep looking at that gorgeous picture hehe
Lauren
Gosh, that stinks! My marriage was difficult as well, due to a close family member's disapproval. That's why we eloped! 🙂 Perhaps our misery during those times will lead to even greater happiness in the future!
freshlifefindings
I hope that your visit goes well! We just moved for my husbands job 3 months ago and it's still an adjustment 🙂 I hate change but am trying to get better at it! And I can't keep hummus in the house long enough to try it because my husband eats it all so I'm definitely going to make a big batch of this! I've never had it with black beans! Yum 🙂
Lauren
Haha! I actually have to hide certain foods that I want to eat, otherwise my husband will eat it all and not tell me! We have some serious food wars here.
Amanda (@PicklesNHoney)
Chickpeas will always have my heart, but I love black bean dips too. 🙂 I bet your recipe would be great with pinto beans!
My husband and I also eloped - it was just the two of us and the town clerk! We had just moved back to Boston from CA and there was no place else I would have rather been. It was so, so good to be back home.
Wishing you lots of luck with the potential move!
Lauren
That's awesome to know! Most bloggers have a 'wedding' tab, and I always feel a bit left out.
Gabby @ the veggie nook
I love black bean dips too- feels a little like refried beans that you didn't have to cook!
Good luck with the move! Prescott looks amazing!
Lauren
Thank you! It definitely suits me more than Tucson!
Alex @ therunwithin
oh man love this. I am not a huge chickpea fan so this is a great twist on the traditional hummus.
Lauren
Thanks Alex! I hope you try it! It will be good post-run fuel... 😉