Tag Archives: hummus

Nobody Asked Chickpeas to Do All This (But Here We Are) – Recipes for Busy Families & Athletes

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If there were an MVP award for pantry staples, chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) would be carrying home the trophy every year. Seriously, these humble little legumes have no business being this versatile.


One minute they’re blended into creamy hummus. The next they’re adding plant-based protein to pasta, turning into a crunchy snack for the trail, or somehow ending up in a chocolate peanut butter treat that tastes suspiciously like candy.
As an athlete, I’m always looking for foods that check multiple boxes: nutritious, affordable, satisfying, and easy to keep on hand. Chickpeas hit every single one.


They’re packed with fiber, provide plant-based protein, contain important minerals like iron and magnesium, and can be transformed into everything from savory meals to sweet snacks. Plus, a can costs less than most protein bars.
If you’ve got a few cans sitting in your pantry, here are some of my favorite ways to put them to work.


1. Add Chickpeas to Pasta for a Protein Boost

Creamy caramelized onion and mushroom pasta with chickpeas made with a lighter, high-protein cottage cheese Alfredo sauce. This vegetarian comfort food delivers big flavor with just 335 calories and 20g protein per serving.


Pasta night doesn’t have to be carb-only territory. In my Creamy Caramelized Onion Mushroom Pasta with Chickpeas, the chickpeas add texture, staying power, and extra protein to help make the meal more satisfying. Combined with sweet caramelized onions and earthy mushrooms, it’s comfort food that actually keeps you full. Perfect for:

  • Plant-based, vegetarian meals
  • Recovery meals after training
  • Cozy family dinners


2. Turn Chickpeas into a Crunchy Chocolate Treat

This easy 3-ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Chickpea Bark is a healthy, lower-sugar treat that’s crunchy, chocolatey, and delicious. Made with roasted chickpeas, sugar-free chocolate, and peanut butter, it's a high-fiber, protein-boosted snack you’ll love.


This might be the recipe that surprises people the most! Crunchy Chocolate Peanut Butter Chickpea Bark combines roasted chickpeas, chocolate, and peanut butter into a sweet treat that’s higher in fiber and lower in sugar than traditional candy options.
It’s proof that healthy snacks don’t have to taste healthy. This healthy dessert is perfect for:

  • Afternoon snack attacks
  • Post-workout treats
  • Healthier dessert cravings


3. Upgrade Your Hummus Game

Turmeric Curry Hummus

Classic hummus is great. But, Golden Turmeric Hummus is even better when you’re looking to shake things up. The turmeric adds a vibrant color and warm flavor while chickpeas create the creamy base everyone loves. Serve it with vegetables, crackers, sandwiches, wraps, or honestly just a spoon.

4. Roasted Chickpeas for the Ultimate Snack

Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Roasted Chickpeas – a yummy treat that isn’t so scary for the season. 10g of protein per serving (perfect for a snack), 4g fiber and 198 calories. Easy-peasy to make, using canned chickpeas and I even baked mine in the toaster oven!

If you’re spending money on fancy packaged crunchy snacks, your air fryer would like a word. Roasted chickpeas are one of the easiest, most affordable snacks you can make. They’re crunchy, customizable, portable, and surprisingly satisfying. These are perfect for tossing into gym bags, desk drawers, hiking packs, or your car for emergency snack situations. My favorites include:


5. Build Better Salads

chickpea salad in tomatoes


Chickpeas can instantly transform a side salad into an actual meal. My Chickpea Cucumber Kale Salad served in Tomato Bowls combines protein, fiber, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats into one colorful dish that’s substantial enough for lunch or a light dinner. The result is a salad that actually eats like a meal—not a punishment.  BTW.. this recipe goes back 12+ years in my archives – just proof of how I have long incorporated these in to my active lifestyle.


6. Sneak More Protein into Your Dips

Clean up your snacking game with Cottage Cheese Hummus – a creamy, protein-packed dip without added oil. Serve cold, drizzle with more salsa and enjoy with tortilla chips or veggie sticks. Also delicious heated as a hot dip or hearty ingredient in a burrito bowl, pasta toss or stuffed in


Classic hummus is great. While, Golden Turmeric Hummus was featured at the top of this post, but my Salsa Hummus is also epic and satisfying — just as good when you are looking to shake things up. The turmeric adds a vibrant color and warm flavor while chickpeas create the creamy base everyone loves. Serve it with vegetables, crackers, sandwiches, wraps, or honestly just a spoon.


 Why Athletes Should Keep Chickpeas in the Pantry

Whether you’re training for a marathon, lifting weights, tackling obstacle races, or simply trying to stay active and healthy as you age, chickpeas offer several benefits:

  • Plant-based protein to support recovery
  • Fiber to help keep you full
  • Complex carbohydrates for lasting energy
  • Budget-friendly nutrition
  • Long shelf life in the pantry
  • They’re one of the few foods that can legitimately pull double duty as a meal ingredient, snack food, and dessert component.

Small Batch Hummus to Serve One or Two

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Buying a big tub of hummus can seem like such a commitment, especially if you’re snacking solo or with a just friend or two.  My Small Batch Hummus recipe is perfectly proportioned so that you can finish it off in two sittings (or one snack session if super hungry) – or share it with a buddy and have no leftovers clogging up the fridge!   

Small Batch Hummus - Cooking for One

Exciting News:

This small batch dip (or spread) is featured in my upcoming cookbook, Cooking for One for Dummies (which can be pre-ordered now, ships on March 7, 2023)

Plus, when you make homemade hummus, you’re in total control of the ingredients – there’s no weird preservatives, additives, or yucky stuff.  Plus, you get all the benefits of chickpeas, they are abundant in dietary fiber and also a good source of plant protein, iron, folate and other essential nutrients.

It’s fast, it’s easy, there is no cooking – you start with a can of chickpeas. Of course, you can make your own chickpeas, but that adds a lot of time and hassle to what is an easy-peasy snack recipe for one or two.

skin on chickpeas
Gently rub any remaining skins off your chickpeas for smoother hummus.

After draining the chickpeas (a legume sometimes referred to as garbanzo beans), pour them out onto a clean dishcloth or paper towels and lightly rub dry. In addition to drying the chickpeas, the other goal here is to remove any lingering skins. The light patting dry will encourage stragglers to fall off, simply pick the skins out and discard. The skins will do no harm if they end up in your hummus, it will just be not quite as smooth and creamy.  

Then, it’s just a matter of whipping everything up in a food processor or blender. Since this is a small batch appetizer recipe, a mini food processor or personal sized blender will work best.

How to Serve Small Batch Hummus

  • Simply paired with raw veggies like carrots, celery, radishes, squash rounds are my favorite way to eat hummus.
  • Serve with pita wedges for dipping, smear on crackers, or spread on slices of toasted baguette.
  • Elevate sandwiches, wraps and quesadillas by spreading around as part of the filling.
  • Get creative and toss with hot pasta or zoodles for an instant chickpea sauce.
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Leftover Chickpeas in Can? While this homemade hummus for two uses just half a can of chickpeas, don’t throw the remainder out — you have options. First, you could easily double the homemade dip recipe, it scales up beautifully (however, do note the capacity of your mini food processor and use a bigger processor or blender, if needed). I also have another “1/2 can chickpea” recipe — Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas for One which also make a fabulous, heathy snack or salad topper.

Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas for One a=is a quick, easy and healthy snack with lots of dietary fiber plus protein, iron, and folate.

Make both the Small Batch Hummus and the Air-Fryer Crispy Chickpeas for Ones and kill off the whole can at once making healthy snacks.

This post contains affiliate links.

5 from 9 votes
Small Batch Hummus - Cooking for One
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Small Batch Hummus
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Make just enough homemade hummus to get your through a couple health snack sessions — or to share with a friend. Easy, healthy, and homemade, a fantastic snack and spread to add to your active lifestyle. Lots of dietary fiber and a good source of plant protein, dietary fiber, iron, folate and other important nutrients.

Course: appetizers, dips, snacks, spreads
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: appetizer, chickepeas, dip, garbanzo beans, snacks, spread
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup canned chickpeas drained and rinsed (about half a 15.5-ounce can)
  • 3 tbsp olive oil plus an additional 1 teaspoon for topping, if desired
  • 1½ tbsp tahini
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp garlic or garlic paste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a personal-sized blender or mini food processor; process until smooth. If the consistency seems too pasty or thick, blend in 1 teaspoon of water at a time until desired texture is achieved.
  2. Transfer the hummus to serving bowl and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika.
Recipe Notes

NOTE: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in fridge for up to 4 days.
VARY IT! Extra chickpeas from can be kept in an airtight container in fridge for a few days and added to salads, soups, and wraps

LEARN MORE! This small batch dip (or spread) is featured in my upcoming cookbook, Cooking for One for Dummies (which can be pre-ordered now, ships on March 7, 2023)

8 Golden, Good-For-You Turmeric Recipes

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Turmeric, turmeric, the golden root . . .the more you eat, the more you “whoot”! Pardon me, I’m in a silly mood, but turmeric is an easy-to-use spice ingredient that kicks up both the color and nutrition of your recipes.8 Golden Good For You Turmeric Recipes

You may already be on board with an all-access, fast-track pass to turmeric town. But, newbies and veterans alike will find the mild, earthy taste to complement many dishes – and the health benefits are the bomb. This spice is abundant in curcumin, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant powers that can help reduce the incidence of many diseases including some cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, depression and more.  I’m no doctor, just a fan — google Turmeric Health Benefits to learn more about fresh turmeric and turmeric supplements. Meanwhile, check out my roundup of 8 Golden, Good-for-You Turmeric Recipes. Continue reading →

Favorite Healthy Blender Recipes that aren’t Smoothies + Giveaway

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This post and giveaway are sponsored by Hamilton Beach. However, all content, comments, recipes and enthusiasm are my own.

My engine is revving and I’m whirling with excitement to be sharing some of my favorite blender recipes today (including a special nut butter recipe) – you’ll notice there are no smoothies (it’s just too cold for me)! I’m also hosting a giveaway for a new Hamilton Beach ® Professional 1800 Watt Peak Power Blender (ARV $249), whoohoo! This versatile workhorse for your kitchen easily emulsifies oils into dressings, frapees fruit into frozen drinks, purees potatoes into porridge, chops veggies for your moire poux, and makes meat  . . .uh, well, minced meat It also makes child’s play of pulverizing the heartiest seeds and nuts into butter.

Sriracha Six Seed & Nut Butter delicious on wraps, as a dip, made into a sauce or by the spoon!

Check out my recipe for Smoky Sriracha Six Seed & Nut Butter featured today on Hamilton Beach’s Every Day Good Thinking blog. And then, come back to enter the blender giveaway and drool and pin my other favorite blender recipes.

Continue reading →

“Go For The Gold” Turmeric Hummus Served 3 Ways

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Turmeric Curry HummusWhen I want a satisfying snack that tastes super yummy, has loads of health benefits, and won’t have me hungry again in an hour, my “Go for Gold” Turmeric Curry Hummus with Minted Roast Chickpeas is a winner! It’s definitely what to bring to a football tailgate or sports watching party to show that you are the decided victor of dips and champion of chickpeas.Turmeric Hummus with Minty Roast Chickpeas is creamy and crunchy at the same time! A healthy snack with protein and fiber, perfect for post workout of for a party appetizer.

If you’re not familiar with turmeric, you need to get acquainted ASAP. I’ve featured it before in many recipes — my Turmeric Honey “Health” Shots have been popular! While it’s the primary spice in many Indian dishes (such as curry) and lends everything it touches (including hands) a golden yellow to orange hue, turmeric is consumed not just for its warm and mildly peppery taste, but also for the many purported health benefits.

For example, numerous studies suggest that turmeric’s active component, curcumin, helps alleviate or reduce the incidence of everything from certain cancers to depression – and it’s is highly touted as a natural pain-killer and anti-inflammatory. I take turmeric often to recover from hard workouts faster, I’m a fan of these Curcumin Capsules (from Turmeric Root Extract) sold by NOW Foods.

Turmeric.
I do advise using fresh turmeric along with the dried ground turmeric as directed in the recipe. The fresh has a more pleasingly distinctive aroma, flavor and health benefits in root form (technically a rhizome like ginger) than from the ground powder.  However, the ground turmeric helps distribute the golden-orange color evenly. If you’re looking for fresh turmeric, ask your produce manager to stock it from Frieda’s.
Turmeric Hummus Served 3 Ways - appetizer dip, pasta toss and veggie sandwich!

Make a big batch and portion into individual grab-and-go containers to stash in lunchboxes, backpacks and gym bags along with veggie sticks or crackers. However, dipping stuff INTO hummus isn’t the only way to enjoy it! My two other serving suggestions are to 1) pile up high on whole grain bread or a wrap along with other veggies to make a filling sandwich and 2) to toss with warm pasta or vegetable noodles (like “zoodles”) as a creative sauce.  I wasn’t sure if the sauce idea would work one night when fixing a “clear the fridge” dinner in a pinch — but it most certainly did!

roast chickpeas for a crunch healthy snackAlso, if you love a crunchy, salty snack the roasted mint chickpeas that I’ve used to garnish the top make a fantastic snack on their own.

Just double up that part of the recipe and keep the extra batch for snacking right off the pan – or to use as grain-free “croutons

By the way, I originally developed this recipe for Litehouse Foods using their Instantly Fresh Herbs! Check it out.

 

“Go for the Gold” Turmeric Hummis served 3 ways! WIN-WIN-WIN #fitfluential

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Do you use turmeric in your diet, what is a favorite recipe? If you’re at a party, do you go for the dips or the desserts? What’s on your upcoming fall season race season? Please share in the comments, XOXO — Jennifer  

Turmeric Curry Hummus
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"Go For The Gold" Turmeric Hummus Served 3 Ways
Prep Time
40 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
Cuisine: Indian, Mediterranean
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed, dried and “skinned” (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint or nstantly Fresh Mint
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (divided)
  • 1/2 cup tahini (sesame paste)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic or Instantly Fresh Garlic
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger or Instantly Fresh Ginger
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried, ground turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated turmeric root *if not available, substitute and additional 1 TBSP dried turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • additional olive oil for serving
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
  2. After draining and rinsing chickpeas, place them on a paper towel and fold over, gently rubbing them. This will remove any remaining “skins.”
  3. Toss mint and salt together in small bowl. Take ½ cup of chickpeas and toss around with olive oil until coated. Add chickpeas to bowl with mint and shake around until dusted.
  4. Place chickpeas in oven and bake, tossing occasionally, for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden and crunchy.  Remove from oven and set aside to cool on pan.
  5. Place remaining chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, ginger, curry powder, dried turmeric, fresh turmeric, remaining salt and pepper in a food processor and blend till smooth and creamy. If needed, add a bit of additional lime juice or water to adjust the consistency.
  6. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and roasted chickpeas.