Kid Friendly Homemade Hummus without Tahini
Serve up this kid friendly hummus recipe as a tasty dip for picky eaters! With only 4 main ingredients and no tahini, it’s full of creamy, savory flavor without the bitterness that some picky eaters don’t enjoy. Learn how to make homemade hummus without tahini in minutes.
Hummus is a simple, versatile, nutritious dip that can make vegetables and other new foods more enticing. But, some kids or picky eaters may not enjoy the subtle, bitter flavor of tahini—a staple ingredient in traditional hummus recipes. If this is true in your household, try serving up this homemade hummus without tahini instead!
To make this a truly toddler and kid friendly hummus recipe, I’ve also nixed the garlic. (Of course, if your child does enjoy garlic, go ahead and include some!) Yes, that means this recipe is essentially a chickpea dip. But, if your child has disliked traditional hummus in the past, see how they like this milder, kid friendly version!
What is in hummus?
Traditionally, hummus is a creamy dip made with chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), garlic, olive oil, and salt. Different recipes may add additional seasonings, herbs, or flavorings. For a simplified kid friendly recipe, I’ve made my homemade hummus without tahini or garlic, for a more neutral and less intense flavor.
Is hummus better with or without tahini?
When it comes to tahini, it depends on your taste preference! Tahini is just sesame seed paste—meaning sesame seeds blended into a seed butter. Some love its potent, earthy, tangy flavor, while others find it too bitter and overpowering. It’s an essential ingredient in any classic hummus recipe, but kids and picky eaters may prefer a ‘chickpea dip’ with no tahini!
Kid Friendly Hummus Recipe Ingredients
- Garbanzo Beans—the protein-packed, fiber-rich main ingredient in hummus! Of course, since we’re making this homemade hummus without tahini or garlic, you could really use any beans you like to make a different creamy bean dip.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil—another classic hummus staple, adding rich texture, flavor, and anti-inflammatory fats! For a less flavorful option, try light or extra light olive oil.
- Lemon Juice—a source of bright citrus flavor that also helps to preserve your homemade hummus for longer. If your child dislikes lemon, you could try lime juice instead, or omit it altogether. (Just know that this will change the flavor and storage time.)
- Cumin, Salt & Pepper—for picky eaters, simple seasonings tend to be best! Of course, feel free to add any seasonings and flavorings that you know your eaters enjoy.
- Optional Garlic—I love garlic in my hummus, but not all kids or picky eaters do! Add if desired, or skip it if not.
What can I substitute for tahini in hummus?
The simplest solution for making a homemade hummus without tahini is just to omit the tahini altogether! That was my approach with this kid friendly hummus recipe, and it turned out totally tasty. But, if you’d rather replace the tahini to give your chickpea dip some added flair, you could try adding 3-4 Tbsp of any of these to the recipe below:
- peanut butter
- sunflower seed butter
- Greek yogurt
- pitted olives
- roasted sweet potato
How to Serve Homemade Hummus for Kids
This kid and toddler hummus recipe is the perfect combination of simple and versatile! You can have it ready in minutes, and it can be served in countless ways. My favorite way to serve this kids hummus is as a dip—either with a basic veggie tray or a vegetable crudite platter. Or, get creative serving it in new ways:
- As a dip with chips and crackers.
- Spread on a sandwich or toast.
- Mixed with water or oil for a salad dressing.
To see how this kid friendly hummus is made, watch my Back to School Bento Box Lunches video!
Kid Friendly Homemade Hummus without Tahini
Ingredients
- 15 oz canned garbanzo beans, drained/rinsed
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor, add drained and rinsed garbanzo beans, olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Blend until smooth and creamy, adding water to adjust consistency, if desired.
- Transfer to a jar to store and refrigerate.
- Serve with raw veggies, crackers, or your favorite dippers!
- Yields ~1½ cups kid friendly hummus.
