Spicy Harissa Hummus

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Jump to Recipe

This Spicy Hummus is flavored with Harissa Powder and can be served with fresh veggies and pita bread or used as a base in a veggie wrap.

spicy hummus flavored with harissa powder in a bowl next to fresh veggies.

😋 Why this recipe works

Harissa powder adds an aromatic note that is slightly sweet and smoky and has the right amount of spicy while not being too hot. We love adding a pinch of cayenne powder to make this hummus a bit spicier, but it’s optional. When seasoned with lemon, the citrus balances out the flavor of harissa, making this a delicious and flavorful hummus.  

🫘 Ingredients

This hummus is made with simple ingredients but flavored with Harissa and Cayenne powder for a delicious combination.

ingredients for harissa hummus laying on a counter.

Here are some of our recommendations/tips with the ingredients for the recipe:

  • We recommend Extra-Virgin Olive Oil for depth of flavor and taste.
  • Substitute Harissa Powder with Chili Paste or Berbere Spice or omit it altogether for a traditional hummus. If you substitute with either of the two ingredients, taste the hummus first before adding cayenne powder for heat.
  • Add water to help make the dip creamier. Adding water to hummus gives it a nice light and fluffy texture. Substitute with the cooking liquid if you use dried chickpeas.

See the recipe card for full ingredient information and quantities.

🥣 How to Make

This hummus is easy to make; you’ll need a blender, food processor, or chopper grinder to make it. The key to making creamy hummus is by adding water at the end.

all ingredients for hummus laying in a food processor.

Blend it up.

Add the chickpeas, tahini, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and harissa powder to a blender or food processor. Blend on low speed, add 1/4-1/2 cup water, and blend until smooth or as needed to reach your desired consistency.

blended hummus in a food processor on a counter.

Taste and season.

Taste the hummus and determine if you need more salt, lemon juice, harissa powder, or cayenne powder for spice.

spicy hummus flavored with harissa powder in a bowl next to fresh veggies.

Serve and enjoy!

Transfer to a serving plate, top with desired garnishes (i.e., olive oil, spices, etc.), and serve with warm pita and veggies.

📋 Recipe FAQs

Is Harissa Humms Spicy?


Adding harissa to hummus makes it a tad spicy. Depending on how much harissa is added, the dip may have more smokiness and flavor than heat.

We always recommend starting off with 2 teaspoons of harissa and then seasoning to taste per your liking.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

  • Season to Taste. We recommend making this recipe and tasting the hummus before adding more salt, lemon juice for acidity, or even more harissa powder or a pinch of cayenne for heat.
  • Use a high-speed blender or a food processor to make hummus. A blender will make this dip faster than a food processor. But if you only have a food processor, you may need to let it run for a few minutes to make this hummus super creamy.
  • Add garnishes on top before serving. We love to drizzle more extra-virgin olive oil on top, along with some extra spices (cayenne, black pepper, sea salt, or harissa) before we serve the hummus.
  • If using dried chickpeas, soak them overnight, and then boil the chickpeas in water in a medium pot until tender, about 1-2 hours. Drain chickpeas, reserving the cooking liquid to replace the water in the recipe.
scooping some hummus with a sweet bell pepper.

🗒️ Related Recipes

Looking for something similar to this recipe? Check out our other recipes before you go.

🗒️ Pairing Recipes

Looking to pair this recipe with something else? Check out our other recipes before you go.

Serve this dip with warm pita bread and fresh-cut veggies, or serve it with Veggie Wraps or Roasted Cauliflower Wraps.

We hope you all love our recipe. Enjoy! ♡

Did you try our Spicy Harissa Hummus recipe? Please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! ♡

Spicy Harissa Hummus

5 from 1 vote
This Harissa Hummus is slightly sweet and smoky and has the right amount of spicy. Serve with Pita and Veggies or as a base for a wrap.
spicy hummus flavored with harissa powder in a bowl next to fresh veggies.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Yields 6 people
Ingredients
  • 2 cup chickpeas pre-cooked, drained and rinsed
  • ¼ cup tahini
  • 2-4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4-1/2 cup water or substitute cooking liquid *
  • 2 tsp harissa powder plus more to taste
  • 1 tsp salt plus more to taste
  • ¼ tsp cayenne powder optional
Instructions
  • Blend it up.
    Add the chickpeas, tahini, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and harissa powder to a blender or food processor. Blend on low speed and add 1/4-1/2 cup water to blend until very smooth or as needed to reach your desired consistency.
  • Taste and season.
    Taste the hummus and determine if you need more salt, lemon juice, harissa powder, or cayenne powder for spice.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    Transfer to a serving plate, top with desired garnishes (i.e., a drizzle of olive oil, spices, etc.), and serve with warm pita and veggies.
Notes
* If using dried chickpeas, soak them overnight, and then boil the chickpeas in water in a medium pot until tender, about 1-2 hours. Drain chickpeas, reserving the cooking liquid to replace the water in the recipe.
Store hummus in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Tips:
  • Season to Taste. We recommend making this recipe as is and tasting the hummus before adding more salt, lemon juice for acidity, or even more harissa powder or a pinch of cayenne for heat.
  • Use a high-speed blender or a food processor to make hummus.
  • Add garnishes on top before serving. Drizzle more extra-virgin olive oil and some extra spices (cayenne, black pepper, sea salt, or harissa) before serving hummus.
Course: Dip, Snack
Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition Facts
Serving1gCalories211.13kcalCarbohydrates14.61gProtein5.54gFat15.4gSaturated Fat2.1gPolyunsaturated Fat3.76gMonounsaturated Fat8.81gSodium417.29mgPotassium184.39mgFiber3.7gSugar2.34gVitamin A64.21IUVitamin C3.69mgCalcium38.29mgIron1.73mg
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