Creamy and smooth, this roasted red pepper hummus has a touch of sweet, smoky and spicy. Whip it up quickly using simple ingredients!
When it comes to hummus, homemade is where it's at! Whether you make a batch of classic homemade hummus, or something creative like black bean hummus, you are going to be wowed by how flavor it has.
Red pepper hummus is not only beautiful with that bright orange color, but delicious as well! With a subtle sweet and tangy flavor from the roasted red peppers, it gets a touch of smoky flavor from smoked paprika, and spice from cayenne.
Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
- it's vegan, gluten-free and packed full of healthy fats and protein
- our 3-step method ensures perfectly smooth hummus without having to peel the skins off your chickpeas
- it's gorgeous and perfect for an appetizer spread
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this hummus. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!
Ingredient notes
- chickpeas- you can use your own homemade chickpeas (I use this Instant Pot chickpeas recipe), or simply use canned chickpeas. Make sure you reserve the liquid from the can or from cooking as we use it in this recipe!
- roasted red pepper- again, you can roast your own red peppers (here's a good looking recipe), or simply purchase jarred roasted peppers. Discard the oil it comes in if using jarred.
- tahini- this is sesame seed paste; you should be able to find it near the nut butters or in the international foods section of your grocery store.
Step by step directions
For this recipe, we blend three times to get the perfect, smooth texture.
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1. Blend liquids + spices- To start, fit a 7 cup food processor with a steel S blade. Add two tablespoons of chickpea liquid to the processor along with the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika and cayenne. Blend on low for 1 minute, scraping sides as needed.
2. Add roasted red peppers- When the mixture becomes smooth and well mixed, add the roasted red peppers. Blend for 1 minute, until all the bell pepper is broken down.
Add the chickpeas last Add more chickpea liquid if you want to thin it out
3. Add the chickpeas last- Finally, add in the chickpeas. Blend for 2-3 minutes on high, stopping and scraping sides as needed. Assess the thickness of the hummus- if you want it thinner, drizzle some of the extra chickpea liquid through the chute of the processor while blending on low.
FAQ
This recipe is similar to classic hummus, with subtle sweet/tangy flavor from the red peppers, and a slight smoky/spicy flavor from the smoked paprika and cayenne.
With wholesome ingredients and healthy fats, I consider hummus to be a healthy snack. However, with 150 calories per ¼ cup, you should be mindful of portion sizes.
I know some people have successfully used blenders to make hummus, however I have not tried. I suspect you'd need a high powered brand like Vitamix, and would need to use the tamper to make sure all ingredients are properly blended.
I've owned this food processor for many years now and love it! It's a 'no bells and whistles' kind that just does what it's supposed to do.
How to serve it
- with veggies (carrot sticks, celery sticks, bell pepper slices, cucumber slices, cauliflower, broccoli, snap peas and more)
- pita bread or chips
- on sandwiches, wraps or pitas as a condiment
- as a salad dressing in macro bowls
- as part of a cheese plate or charcuterie board (see below!)
Storage
Here are some tips to safely store this recipe:
- fridge- store in an air tight meal prep container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- freezer- store in an air tight meal prep container, freeze in souper cubes, or in freezer bags (roll them flat for easiest storage) for up to 3 months.
- thaw- overnight in the fridge.
Check out my favorite meal prep containers!
More hummus recipes
- Classic Homemade Hummus
- Creamy Avocado Hummus
- Creamy Chocolate Dessert Hummus
- Roasted Garlic White Bean Hummus
- Savory Pumpkin Hummus
- Masala Spiced Lentil Hummus
- Smoky Sweet Potato Hummus
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Ingredients
- 15 oz can of chickpeas reserve liquid; see note 1
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne see note 2
- 285 mL jar of roasted red peppers around 10 oz; drain well
Instructions
- Blend liquids + spices- To start, fit a 7 cup food processor with a steel S blade. Add two tablespoons of chickpea liquid to the processor along with the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika and cayenne. Blend on low for 1 minute, scraping sides as needed.
- Add roasted red peppers- When the mixture becomes smooth and well mixed, add the roasted red peppers. Blend for 1 minute, until all the bell pepper is broken down.
- Add the chickpeas last- Finally, add in the chickpeas. Blend for 2-3 minutes on high, stopping and scraping sides as needed. Assess the thickness of the hummus- if you want it thinner, drizzle some of the extra chickpea liquid through the chute of the processor while blending on low.
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Tips:
- fridge- store in an air tight meal prep container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- freezer- store in an air tight meal prep container, freeze in souper cubes, or in freezer bags (roll them flat for easiest storage) for up to 3 months.
- thaw- overnight in the fridge.
Video
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Andrea Hart says
So I drained the peppers and it’s still super runny. Will it firm up after being in the fridge? 😬
Denise Bustard says
Hi Andrea! It should firm up a bit in the fridge, but this is a bit softer than a traditional hummus. In the future, you can reduce the chickpea liquid if you'd like it to be more firm.
Lisa says
I felt like the flavor was lackluster so i added some smoked paprika, zatar and a pinch of curry powder.
Denise Bustard says
Hi Lisa! Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Chris Simons says
I only have dry chickpeas and red peppers, would those worK?
Denise says
Hi Chris! You will need to cook your chickpeas first, but that should work! Here's my method for cooking chickpeas in the Instant Pot: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/instant-pot-chickpeas/
Simon says
tHANKS FOR THE ip recipe.