Easy 5-Minute Arugula Hummus: A Zesty, Peppery, and Healthy Green Dip Recipe

Are you looking for a quick, healthy, and incredibly flavorful dip that stands out from the crowd? Look no further than this Arugula Hummus recipe! This isn’t your average hummus. In just 5 minutes, you can whip up a vibrant green dip bursting with the peppery kick of fresh arugula, the subtle earthiness of baby spinach, the bright zest of lemon, and a hint of warmth from crushed red pepper flakes. It’s not only a delicious and healthy snack dip but also an amazing vegan sandwich spread that will elevate any meal.

This recipe transforms traditional chickpeas into a dazzling green creation that’s as visually appealing as it is tasty. Whether you’re a seasoned hummus enthusiast or new to the world of homemade dips, this easy-to-follow recipe promises a gourmet experience with minimal effort. It’s perfect for last-minute gatherings, meal prepping, or simply enjoying a nutritious snack.

*This post was originally published in July 2017. It has been thoroughly updated with new photos, expanded text, and even more helpful tips for readers. We’ve also made a few adjustments to the recipe to ensure it is completely dairy-free and vegan, making it accessible for everyone to enjoy.

It might surprise you to learn that this is currently the only chickpea hummus recipe featured on Crumb Top Baking! While we regularly enjoy hummus in our household, we often venture into more unique and non-traditional variations. If you’re keen to explore other exciting hummus creations, check out some of these favorites:

• Roasted Beet Hummus with White Beans: A vibrant, earthy, and sweet take on hummus.
• Black Bean Hummus Bowls: A smoky and robust alternative perfect for a hearty meal.
• Edamame Hummus with Jalapeño and Cilantro: A fresh, bright, and spicy twist using edamame as the base.

Even though this particular recipe uses traditional chickpeas, the generous addition of three cups of fresh greens and that distinctive peppery kick sets it apart. It’s a refreshing departure from standard hummus, offering a delightful balance of familiar creaminess with an exciting flavor profile.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Green Hummus Recipe

This Arugula Hummus isn’t just another dip; it’s a game-changer. Here’s why you’ll want to make it a staple in your kitchen:

• Effortlessly Easy to Make: Forget complicated recipes! Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, this hummus comes together in an impressive 5 minutes using just a food processor. It’s the perfect solution for busy weekdays or last-minute entertaining. Simply combine, blend, and enjoy!
• Incredibly Fresh and Nutritious: Packed with generous amounts of fresh arugula, baby spinach, and zingy lemon juice, this hummus is a powerhouse of flavor and nutrients. It’s a fantastic way to incorporate more greens into your diet, offering a vibrant, healthy boost in every spoonful.
• Highly Customizable to Your Taste: While the recipe provides a perfectly balanced flavor, it’s also incredibly flexible. You can easily adjust the types of greens, increase the garlic for a more pungent flavor, add extra salt, or amp up the heat with more crushed red pepper flakes to perfectly match your preferences.
• Unbelievably Versatile for Any Occasion: Beyond being a simply delicious dip for your favorite raw veggies, crackers, or pretzels, this green hummus excels as a spread. Imagine it elevating your sandwiches, wraps, or even as a unique topping for homemade burgers. Its rich texture and bold flavor make it suitable for almost any culinary use.

Deep Dive into the Ingredients: What Makes This Hummus Shine

Every ingredient plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and unforgettable flavor of this Arugula Hummus. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

Chickpeas – Also widely known as garbanzo beans, these legumes form the creamy, satisfying base of any traditional hummus. They are essential for achieving that signature smooth and rich texture. For convenience and consistency, I typically use no-salt-added canned chickpeas. If your canned chickpeas already contain salt, you might want to slightly reduce the amount of salt you add to the recipe to avoid over-seasoning. Rinsing them thoroughly before use is also key to removing excess sodium and improving digestibility.

Tahini – This rich, sesame seed paste is another absolutely essential component for authentic hummus flavor and the silky-smooth texture we all crave. It adds a wonderful depth and slightly nutty aroma. If you find the flavor of tahini to be too strong or bitter, a clever trick is to substitute a small portion of it with a mild sunflower seed butter. This maintains the creaminess while tempering the intensity, making it more palatable for some.

Arugula – Often called rocket in other parts of the world, arugula is the star green in this recipe. It contributes a distinctive, delightfully peppery kick that perfectly balances the richness of the chickpeas and tahini, adding a layer of sophisticated flavor. To ensure the best possible taste and texture for your hummus, always opt for arugula that is fresh, vibrant, and crisp. Wilted arugula will compromise both the flavor and shelf-life of your dip.

Spinach – To complement the spicy bite of the arugula and boost the overall green content, I’ve incorporated fresh baby spinach. Spinach adds extra greens, a touch of mild sweetness, and helps achieve that beautiful verdant color. Feel free to use mature or regular spinach if baby spinach isn’t available; just be sure to stem it if the leaves are very large. You can even use a mix of both!

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – These tiny flakes are a simple yet effective way to introduce a pleasant, adjustable heat to your hummus. They are blended directly into the mixture for an even distribution of spice and then sprinkled on top as a garnish, offering an extra visual and textural pop of heat. Adjust the quantity to your preferred level of spiciness.

Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves provide an aromatic foundation and a pungent kick that is characteristic of good hummus. The recipe calls for two cloves, but for those who adore a bolder, more intense garlic flavor, don’t hesitate to add an extra clove or two. Freshly minced garlic makes all the difference here.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – A high-quality extra virgin olive oil is used both within the hummus for richness and emulsification, and then generously drizzled on top before serving. This drizzle adds a beautiful sheen, enhances the flavor, and contributes to the overall luxurious mouthfeel of the dip. Choose a good quality oil for the best results.

Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is absolutely crucial for brightness and acidity. Its tangy flavor cuts through the richness of the tahini and chickpeas, creating a perfectly balanced profile that harmonizes wonderfully with the peppery arugula. You’ll typically need one large lemon to yield the required quarter of a cup of juice.

Salt and Pepper – These fundamental seasonings are added to enhance and round out all the other flavors. Always taste and adjust to your personal preference; some may prefer more salt, while others like a bolder black pepper note.

Water – Just a few tablespoons of cold water are added incrementally to the food processor. This seemingly small addition is key to achieving that wonderfully light, airy, and creamy texture that separates good hummus from great hummus. It helps everything blend smoothly without making the hummus too heavy.

Simple Steps: How to Make Chickpea Hummus with Arugula

Making this vibrant green hummus is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a perfect batch every time:

• Prepare the Chickpeas: First, drain the canned chickpeas thoroughly and rinse them under cold running water. This step helps remove excess sodium and any residual liquid from the can, which can affect the flavor.
• Combine and Process: Add all the ingredients to your food processor bowl, except for the water. This includes the drained chickpeas, fresh arugula, baby spinach, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Begin processing on high speed. It’s important to stop the food processor a few times during this initial blending phase to scrape down the sides of the bowl. This ensures all the ingredients are fully incorporated and blended evenly, preventing any chunks from remaining.
• Achieve Creamy Perfection: With the food processor still running, gradually add the water, one tablespoon at a time. Observe the texture of the hummus as you add the water. Continue adding until the hummus reaches your desired level of creaminess and smoothness. Some prefer a thicker hummus, while others like it lighter and airier.
• Serve and Garnish: Once blended to perfection, scoop the hummus into a serving bowl. For an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal, drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over the top and sprinkle with additional crushed red pepper flakes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arugula Hummus

Here are answers to some common questions about making and storing your green hummus:

• How long will arugula hummus last in the refrigerator? For optimal freshness and flavor, this arugula hummus should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoyed within 3-4 days. The longevity largely depends on the freshness of your greens. If your arugula and spinach were already slightly wilted or nearing their expiry date when you made the hummus, this will naturally shorten its shelf life. Always use the freshest produce for the best results.
• Should you remove chickpea skins for smoother hummus? This is a common question among hummus aficionados! Some recipes suggest removing the thin skins from the chickpeas to achieve an incredibly smooth, almost ethereal texture. While it certainly contributes to a silkier dip, it can be a time-consuming step. I personally don’t usually do this for a quick 5-minute recipe like this. However, if you have the extra time and desire an ultra-smooth consistency, you can easily remove the skins by gently rubbing the cooked chickpeas between two clean dish towels. The skins will loosen and can then be picked out before adding the chickpeas to your food processor.
• Can you use dried chickpeas for this recipe instead of canned? For the sake of speed and convenience, this recipe was developed and tested using canned chickpeas, which significantly cuts down on preparation time. However, if you prefer to cook from scratch or only have dried chickpeas on hand, you can absolutely use them! Just remember that dried chickpeas require pre-soaking overnight and then cooking until very tender before they can be used in this recipe. Ensure they are fully cooked and soft to achieve the desired creamy hummus texture.
• Can I experiment with other greens in this recipe? Absolutely! This recipe is wonderfully adaptable. While arugula and spinach create a fantastic flavor profile, feel free to get creative with other leafy greens. You can use all spinach for a milder green hummus, or incorporate more robust greens like kale or Swiss chard (you might want to lightly blanch tougher greens like kale first). Adding fresh herbs such as a handful of parsley or cilantro can also introduce new layers of flavor and freshness.
• Can Arugula Hummus be frozen for later? While hummus can technically be frozen, the texture might change slightly upon thawing. It can become a bit grainy or watery. If you plan to freeze it, store it in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then give it a good stir or a quick blend with a splash of water or olive oil to restore its creamy texture before serving.
• What if my hummus is too thick or too thin? Adjusting the consistency is simple. If your hummus is too thick, gradually add more water (or a touch more lemon juice or olive oil) one tablespoon at a time while the food processor is running until it reaches your desired creaminess. If it turns out too thin, you can try adding a few more chickpeas or a tablespoon of tahini and blend again. Keep in mind that hummus will thicken slightly as it chills in the refrigerator.

Additional Recipe Tips and Clever Substitutions

Fine-tune your Arugula Hummus with these expert tips and easy substitutions:

• Greens Ratio: I’ve found that a blend of arugula and spinach works beautifully, largely because I often buy them pre-mixed at the grocery store. However, feel free to use all arugula if you love its intense peppery flavor, or substitute with more spinach for a milder, sweeter green hummus. You can also experiment with other greens like watercress for an even spicier kick!
• Achieving Desired Consistency: The amount of water you add is key to your hummus’s texture. For a lighter, airier, and creamier hummus, don’t be shy about adding a little more water than the recipe specifies, especially if you prefer a very smooth dip. Conversely, if you prefer a thicker, more spreadable hummus, simply reduce the amount of water you incorporate.
• Amping Up the Lemon: If you’re a fan of super bright, zesty flavors, try replacing some of the water in the recipe with additional freshly squeezed lemon juice. This will give your hummus an extra tangy burst that pairs wonderfully with the peppery arugula.
• Spice Level Control: This recipe delivers a moderate level of spice from the crushed red pepper flakes. If you’re sensitive to heat, start with half the recommended amount or omit them entirely. If, however, you like things fiery, feel free to add more until you reach your perfect level of spicy bliss.
• Equipment Choice: While I consistently use a food processor to achieve the ideal creamy texture for my hummus, you can also achieve good results using a high-speed blender. Just be sure to stop and scrape down the sides frequently to ensure all ingredients are evenly blended.
• Make Ahead Magic: Hummus is a fantastic make-ahead dish! Prepare it a day or two in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors often meld and deepen over time, making it even more delicious. Just give it a good stir before serving, and perhaps a fresh drizzle of olive oil.

Creative Ways to Serve Your Arugula Hummus

This versatile green hummus is perfect for so many occasions. Here are some of our favorite serving suggestions:

• The Ultimate Dip Platter: Serve it as a delightful dip with an abundant array of crisp raw vegetables (cucumber slices, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, celery), crunchy crackers, or salty pretzels on the side. It’s a crowd-pleaser for any gathering.
• Textural Delight with Crispy Chickpeas: Elevate your hummus experience by topping it with a handful of crispy chickpeas. The contrast in texture, from the creamy hummus to the crunchy chickpeas, is simply irresistible.
• Homemade Tortilla Chip Companion: Pair your arugula hummus with a big bowl of homemade tortilla chips for a fresh and satisfying snack. The saltiness of the chips perfectly complements the hummus.
• Vegan Sandwich and Wrap Spread: Ditch the mayo and use this vibrant hummus as a flavorful, healthy, and entirely vegan spread for your sandwiches, wraps, or even as a unique condiment for burgers. It adds a wonderful depth of flavor and creamy texture.
• Savory Bowl Base: Use a generous dollop as a base for your favorite healthy bowls, topped with roasted vegetables, grains, and a protein source for a complete and balanced meal.
• Creative Crostini Topping: Spread it on toasted baguette slices and garnish with a sprinkle of pine nuts or fresh herbs for an elegant appetizer.

If you give this easy Arugula Spinach Hummus a try, I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below! Your insights and experience are incredibly valuable.

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