Hummus is a hearty, plant-based spread that is traditionally made from mashed chickpeas mixed with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. It’s long been considered a staple of the Mediterranean diet, consistently ranked as a top diet for the past several years. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, grains, olive oil, moderate amounts of fish, poultry, eggs and wine, and limits the amount of red meat, processed meat, dairy and sweets. The U.S. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends a Mediterranean-style eating pattern as one example of a healthy diet plan, primarily for its heart-health* benefits.
Making your own hummus is easy, and when you use California walnuts as the base, not only does it make for a richer, nuttier dish, but the omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz) found in walnuts also make walnut hummus the perfect addition to this centuries-old diet.
Making Walnut Hummus Is a Breeze
Your hummus can take many forms — with roasted red pepper or edamame, curried or toasted — but start with the simplest recipe, Fresh Walnut Hummus. Here’s how:
- In your food processor, pulse 2.5 cups of California walnuts until fine.
- Add one-half can drained garbanzo beans and 1.25 cups each of Italian dressing, lemon juice and cold water. Then add 3 tablespoons of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons of crushed red pepper.
- Blend for four minutes until creamy, scraping down the sides of the food processor once or twice.
- Refrigerate overnight so the flavors meld.
That’s it! Enjoy your walnut hummus all week long.
A Few Fun Hummus Recipes with California Walnuts
Make the simplest but tastiest Hummus and Veggie Wrap, destined to be your new favorite. Spread your hummus on a whole wheat tortilla, and add lettuce or spinach, chopped walnuts, roasted red bell peppers, carrots and cucumbers for a light, crunchy dish. Yum!
Greek Cucumber Walnut Bites make for amazing afternoon snacks or superb appetizers. Top crisp cucumber cups with Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Hummus. With juicy tomatoes, sharp feta and chopped California walnuts, this elegant dish is easy, refreshing and mighty delicious.
These Walnut-Lentil “Gyros” with Spiced Yogurt offer a wonderful blend of flavors. On a hearty flatbread and hummus base, slather on spiced yogurt (with lemon, garlic, cumin and za’atar/paprika), arugula and roasted red peppers for a complex flavor profile your taste buds will love. A sprinkling of the ultra-tasty walnut crumble (with jalapeños, spices, lentils, fresh parsley and lemon juice) elevates this recipe to an exotic and inventive creation!
What Pairs Well with Walnut Hummus?
The usual suspects work perfectly for this hearty snack: toasted pita bread and raw veggies. Or you could go outside the box a little and pair your walnut hummus with crispy apples or other fruit, nuts or chips. Explore adding it on top of pasta, salads, risotto, mashed potatoes and avocado toast. Try thinning it and using it as a salad dressing or marinade, or add it to deviled or scrambled eggs. You can even enrich your soups by adding a quick dollop.
These ideas are just to get you started. Be sure to experiment and have fun. In fact, did you know that hummus is not a savory dish only? This Chocolate Walnut Hummus is a great addition to brownies and cookie dough, going far to keep baked goods moist while adding a dose of hearty walnut hummus goodness! The possibilities are endless when you start with California walnut recipes.
