Wondering what to eat with hummus? Here are 21 Amazing Ideas for Authentic Middle Eastern Hummus Pairings. Take your homemade or store-bought dip to the next level. Build out a great mezze platter, change up your dipping ideas, and get creative in the kitchen.
If you’re going to make your own hummus, here are some tips to help you get the best results.
Use High-Quality Ingredients:
Chickpeas: The main ingredient. Opt for canned chickpeas or cook dried garbanzo beans until very tender for the best texture. I recommend just going with canned since that’s what’s easiest for most people, like I show in my Eggplant Hummus Recipe.
Tahini: Use good quality tahini paste made from roasted sesame seeds. Though you can find store-brand tahini at grocery stores like Trader Joe’s, I recommend getting tahini from your local Middle Eastern grocer. Tahini can be used in many other recipes like my Blistered Shishitos with Tahini Sauce and my Musabaha (Creamy Chickpea Stew).
Olive Oil: Choose extra virgin olive oil for its rich flavor. Now’s the time to use the good stuff!
Balancing Flavors:
Tahini and Lemon Juice: Balance the nutty flavor of tahini with the acidity of fresh lemon juice. Start with a little and adjust to taste. Don’t use bottled lemon juice.
Garlic: Use fresh garlic for a robust flavor. Roasting it beforehand can mellow the taste.
Get the Texture Right:
Use a food processor and process longer than you think you need to!
Hummus Topper Ideas
Think of hummus as a vehicle for other flavors and textures, especially if you’re using one from a grocery store. I like to enjoy hummus topped with vegetables, like in this Caramelized Eggplant Hummus recipe. But there are so many different toppings you can add to it. Here are some of the best things you can try:
Spiced ground beef, ground lamb or ground chicken
Vegan sausage
Caramelized onions
Roasted red pepper
Roasted fennel
Fresh herbs (parsley, basil, dill)
Confit garlic
Green or black olives
The following recipes showcase two of my favorite ways to level up your hummus game. Both recipes also include my basic hummus method (which uses canned chickpeas, because who has the time to soak and boil dry chickpeas!).
5 from 2 votes
Hummus with blistered tomatoes and Za’atar
Take your plain hummus to the next level with this blistered cherry tomato and za'atar hummus recipe.
A classic hummus base topped with caramelized eggplant, this eggplant hummus has a great rich flavor without losing the traditional hummus taste. Serve this with pita or flatbread, crackers, or crudité for a tasty snack or fun main.
No one is stopping you from eating creamy hummus dip by the spoonful, but there are many ways you can enjoy this hearty and delicious dip. Pita is traditional. In fact, in Arabic there’s a word used when we refer to dipping a piece of pita (Tagmees).
In addition to the easy recipes below, you can use the following as a vehicle for this gorgeous creamy spread and create your own hummus platter:
Palestinian Taboon flatbread is a Levantine yeasted bread that is traditionally prepared in clay ovens or on hot stones. This recipe adapts the technique and makes it easy for home cooks to enjoy the flavors and traditions without having to build an outdoor oven.
Turkish pide bread, or ramazan pidesi, is a traditional Turkish bread made with yeast that's typically served for iftar and sahur during Ramadan. This soft, round bread is topped with sesame seeds and features a distinctive basket-weave pattern on the top.
Steeped in history, Jerusalem Bagels are actually quite easy to make using standard pantry staples. Delicious and comforting, bake up a batch and enjoy them with za’atar, labneh, hummus, cream cheese, or with butter and jam.
What to Serve with Hummus to Complete a Mezze Table
Levantine or Middle Eastern communal dining, also known as Mezze, is a way to share and sample many recipes with friends and family. In Middle Eastern homes, this creamy dip is rarely served on its own. It’s usually served alongside other specialties like the ones listed below.
A Middle Eastern staple, this delicious, unctuous and smoky eggplant dip is a must-try. Serve it with pita with vegetables. A perfect summer appetizer when eggplants are in season.
Galayet Bandora is a traditional Levantine side dish that is simple, delicious and light. Fresh ripe tomatoes are fried, or sauteed, with extra virgin olive oil, spicy hot peppers and pungent garlic. Enjoy it with warm pita bread and pair it with my caramelized eggplant hummus, labneh balls or roasted eggplant dip for your next get-together or party.
Whether you spell it tabbouleh or tabouli, this Lebanese tabbouleh is a refreshing, herby salad. Made with a base of fresh parsley, mint, and bulgur, it's also more filling than many salad recipes.
Lebanese pickles, or as I like to call them, shawarma pickles or pink pickles are a Middle Eastern staple that brings color and a sweet and sour touch to any dish. If you’ve ever had a shawarma or falafel wrap, chances are you have tried, and loved these pickled turnips!
These delicious and popular Middle Eastern pastries are filled with a flavorful mixture of cheese and herbs, and then fried or baked to perfection. The crispy exterior pairs perfectly with the gooey, cheesy filling, making Cheese Sambousek a crowd-pleasing snack that's perfect for any occasion.
A favorite side dish or appetizer in the Levant, beef sambousek or samboosa is a spiced meat-filled pastry that's fried for maximum flavor and the best texture. While this recipe needs a little time to make, more for the pastry, it's well worth it!
If you're looking for a great way to enjoy cherry tomatoes, pickling might just be the answer! Pickling is a traditional preservation method that involves immersing food in a solution of vinegar, salt, and spices. The result is a tangy, flavorful condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes.
Makali, which translates to "deep fried things" is a traditional mezze throughout the Middle East. I grew up with deep-fried cauliflower, eggplant and squash garnished with parsley and lemon juice. This recipe tastes like deep-fried without the guilt.
If you thought hummus was just for snacking, you’re wrong! Hummus can be enjoyed for breakfast too and is the basis for many popular Levantine breakfast dishes like Fattet Hummus and Musabaha. It is a delicious way to start the day and a great option for those needing more protein in their diet.
It’s often served with raw vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. But we’re past boring veggies so here are some creative ideas to try for your next breakfast or brunch.
5 from 10 votes
Labneh Balls
Labneh balls, or fresh shanklish, are a Levantine staple, very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. This yogurt-based cheese is made by straining Greek yogurt until thickened, then rolling into balls and coating with herbs and spices. They're delicious as a snack or part of a meze!
Simple and delicious, Turkish Eggs (Çılbır) is a breakfast dish of perfectly poached eggs served over garlic infused yogurt, drizzled with hot spiced chili olive oil and garnished with fresh dill. Served with crusty sourdough or soft pita. Guaranteed, this will become part of your breakfast and brunch repertoire.
Cheese Manakish is a Levantine flatbread topped with a mixture of melty and flavorful cheese and then baked in the oven. A Middle Eastern cuisine staple, it is comforting and incredibly delicious.
A flatbread by many names! Manakish (also spelled Manakeesh) is a Levantine flatbread topped with a mixture of za’atar and good quality olive oil and then baked in the oven. A Middle Eastern cuisine staple, it is fragrant and incredibly delicious.
Savory authentic spinach fatayer (savory hand pies) are a Levantine staple and popular throughout the Middle East and beyond. These portable pastries are delicious and can be enjoyed any time of day.
Savory authentic cheese fatayer (hand pies) are a Levantine staple and popular throughout the Middle East and beyond. They may look intimidating to prepare, but after you’ve made them once, you’ll be making them over and over again!
Musabaha is a popular Levantine breakfast dish of creamy warm chickpeas with tahini. It’s an affordable, comforting and hearty dish that will start your day off just right. My version is drizzled with a spiced Aleppo pepper oil and toasted pine nuts.
This truly authentic red and green Levantine shatta recipe is my go-to when I have an abundance of peppers from the garden. Serve it with eggs, labneh, grilled meats and vegetables. There's an optional fermentation step in this recipe which adds gorgeous flavor and balance to the finished condiment.
