Roasted red pepper hummus gets dressed up with chopped cucumber and feta cheese for an easy, but fancy, holiday appetizer!
I’m a bit of a hummus fanatic. I can’t think of an occasion where hummus is not appropriate. Every gathering, every party, every celebration needs some hummus.
You can change up the flavors, dress it up and it’s different every time. Which means that maybe no one will catch on to my compulsion to always have hummus set out.
I seriously have made hundreds of batches of hummus over the years. (Lightened-up hummus is my go-to, while my kids eat beet hummus for lunch on a weekly basis. I know, seems a little weird, but I really kind-of love it.)
I especially love that it’s so fast and easy to go homemade – it seriously takes 5 minutes to mix up some hummus. Just throw everything in a food processor and turn it on. Bam! Plus, you get to control the ingredients and it’s a great, healthy dip to serve. Crowd pleaser every time.
And particularly at this time of year, I like to know I’ve got one healthy option on the table, whether I’m hosting or I’m taking a dish to a party. I can’t control what other people will bring, but my years of nutrition editing have taught me to ensure my own healthy snack at gatherings. (Also, never skip meals or go hungry!) This way, I can feel good about going back for seconds (and thirds) of this.
I’ve taken roasted red pepper hummus as a base (and it’s fabulous all on its own, too!) and layered it with some chopped cucumber — which brings some crunch — and sprinkled it with feta cheese — which adds a great salty kick and a little chopped parsley.
And I also top it with a little more roasted red pepper so everyone knows what they’re getting into. I kind-of like a spoiler alert with my food.
So let this be your easy go-to this holiday season when everything is pulling us in a million directions and we really just want to slow down and enjoy the moments. Fuss-free, festive and fun, this hummus will help you keep your sanity in check.
If you need more cocktail party inspiration, stay tuned. I’ve got a super fun round-up coming your way this week with lots of great dishes. (You can sign up for my free newsletter here, so you never miss a recipe!) Cheers to a happy, healthy, hummus-filled holiday season!
P.S. And if you love easy, make-ahead, veggie-loaded appetizers, these easy vegetable squares are a classic I remember from growing up that I now make with my kiddos. Crescent rolls are spread with a cream cheese mixture and topped with a ton of finely chopped veggies. Serious deliciousness!
Holiday hummus
Roasted red pepper hummus gets dressed up with chopped cucumber and feta cheese for an easy, but fancy, holiday appetizer!
Ingredients
For the hummus
- 1 1/2 cups chick peas, rinsed and drained (homemade in a slow cooker or store bought)
- 1 8oz. jar roasted red peppers, drained, divided
- 2 tablespoons water (or reserved liquid from chick peas)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (use less or more, to your liking)
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
For serving
- 1 cucumber, mostly peeled, chopped
- 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
- 1/4 cup diced roasted red peppers (reserved from jar)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1-2 teaspoons olive oil, to drizzle for serving (optional)
- Pita chips or crackers
Instructions
- Combine all of the hummus ingredients in a food processor, reserving about 1/4 cup of the roasted red peppers to chop and top the hummus with.
- Process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Transfer the hummus to your serving bowl. Add chopped cucumber, then feta, then reserved roasted red pepper. Sprinkle with parsley and drizzle with olive oil, if desired.
- Serve with pita chips, crackers or cut veggies.
Recipe Notes
If you make this more than a few hours ahead, wait until close to serving time to add the toppings to the hummus. The natural water in the cucumber and from the roasted red peppers can make the hummus watery if it sits all day.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 824kcal Calories from fat 231 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol 33mg | 11% |
| Sodium 883mg | 37% |
| Carbohydrate 116g | 39% |
| Dietary Fiber 22g | 88% |
| Sugars 26g | |
| Protein 41g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
I’ve only made hummus a very limited amount of times but this gave me a bit of confidence to try soon. I’ve been trying to change up my meals lately. Thank you for sharing another wonderful recipe, Kathryn. 🙂
Yay, I hope you do try homemade hummus again! It’s super simple and I love having it on hand – definitely makes both snacking and meals more interesting 🙂
I LOVE this variation on hummus 🙂 Especially at this time of year when sometimes all you want is a healthy snack or something to nibble on that doesn’t involve pumpkin or turkey.
Haha, exactly Nancy! Sometimes you just need something a little lighter, a little healthier, before diving back into the holiday goodness. This is the perfect retreat 🙂
Hummus fanatics unite! I’m a huge lover of all flavors of hummus, so you KNOW I’m digging this one! Love the color and the flavors! Plus I’m a toppings freak so the cucumber, feta, and roasted peppers are totally doing it for me! This looks divine! Cheers my dear! P.s. Umm how awesome is it your kids love hummus!! So awesome!
Yes! I’m up for pretty much any flavor of hummus and I’m with you – bring on the toppings! Haha, they are little hummus addicts just like their mother. Except they prefer it with a spoon instead of a scoop of some description. That’s OK, I’ll take it 😉
This is my kind of party food! What a delicious addition to any gathering! I love roasted pepper hummus, and I can’t wait to bring this to our next family gathering – or whip up a batch for a quick and healthy ‘snack’ dinner to eat while watching Christmas movies 🙂
Thanks Amy! It’s great for parties and just for snacking! Happy holidays to you!!
This makes me laugh because I have literally just made a batch of roast pumpkin hummus. I am definitely trying your recipe next time. It sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks so much for linking up with our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party! xx
Oooh, roast pumpkin hummus! That sounds good, too! Hope you love this version, Lucy!
It is always the right time for hummus – this looks sensational, love the colour
YES! It is always the right time for hummus – so glad you’re on board with this plan 🙂
I love hummus too but never have tried making it myself but you make it sound so easy (and look so tasty!)
Thanks Dani! I hope you’ll give it a go – it really is SO easy to make yourself!
This looks so pretty and festive! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thanks Karly! I love a festive little snack this time of year 🙂
Oh this looks amazing! I love making my own hummus but I have never made roasted red pepper hummus, and now I must. Your photos are really beautiful! Pinning!
Thanks so much Meghan! It’s so easy and you can’t beat the flavor of roasted red pepper hummus! Hope you love it!
I love hummus and I love this version of yours. Thanks for sharing, Kathryn!
I’m a hummus fanatic, too. Thanks for stopping by!