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    Recipes > Condiments

    Hummus without Tahini (Sunflower Seeds)

    Last updated: 05/20/2021 by: My Pure Plants - May contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    This is The Best Hummus Recipe Without Tahini. Why? We don’t just skip tahini and make a garlicky chickpea puree as most of the tahini-free hummus recipes would do. Nope. We found the perfect substitute which is roasted sunflower seeds (or sunflower butter). They add a nutty taste that you would need to wholeheartedly enjoy this dip as a proper hummus.

    White plate with light brown hummus sprinkled on top with sunflower seeds, chopped parsley and paprika powder. Crackers are scattered around it. A hand is holding a carrot stick and dips it in the hummus.

    We love hummus. Full stop. Our go-to hummus recipe is this 5-minute Oil-free Hummus, which is unbelievable fluffy and silky smooth. We add them to pasta, wraps, sandwiches and pizza. Check out this stunning Mediterranean Hummus Pizza! But we have even more ideas in our What to Eat Hummus With post, like 25+ delicious combinations. See for yourself!

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    ⇒ GET OUR FREE 7-DAY VEGAN MEAL PLAN NOW! OR CHECK OUT ALL OF THE VEGAN MEAL PLAN RECIPES HERE! ⇐

    Table of Contents hide
    1. The best substitute for tahini in hummus
    2. How to make Hummus without Tahini?
    3. Top tips if you don’t have a Vitamix
    4. FAQs and Substitutions
    5. What to eat with hummus?
    6. More condiment recipes
    7. Hummus without Tahini (but with Sunflower Seeds)

    The best substitute for tahini in hummus

    The short answer is roasted sunflower seeds or sunflower seed butter.

    Have you found this recipe because you were searching for the perfect hummus recipe without tahini? Did you so far end up short? Why? Because most tahini-free hummus recipes JUST SKIP TAHINI and they think that is all. You don’t want it so you don’t need it. Job well done. Well, we completely disagree. If you just skip it, you will end up making a nice and tasty chickpea puree instead of a proper hummus.

    Why do you need sunflower seeds?

    • Some might say that tahini is too bitter for their taste. By using sunflower seeds, you get the nutty flavor, but it is less bitter.
    • I saw some recipes with peanut butter. I don’t know about you, but peanut butter has a sweeter aroma which doesn’t sit well with hummus. Not to mention, it will not be nut-free anymore. Sunflower seeds are still seeds just like sesame seeds so your hummus remains allergy-friendly.
    • Last but not least, it is easy, cheap and available in most stores. It is much cheaper than buying tahini.
    White plate with light brown hummus sprinkled on top with sunflower seeds, chopped parsley and paprika powder. Crackers are scattered around it.

    How to make Hummus without Tahini?

    Prepare the ingredients

    You can time it, but you will need 3 minutes tops to prepare all the ingredients. I mean mostly just measure.

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    • Drain canned chickpeas
    • Peel the garlic cloves.
    • Squeeze one lemon.
    • Measure sunflower seeds.
    • Measure water.

    Blend until smooth

    Now, add all ingredients to your blender and blend it for 2 minutes until you get smooth and fluffy homemade hummus. Done! 5 minutes!

    2 photo collage of a blender from above showing how to make hummus without tahini.

    Top tips if you don’t have a Vitamix

    If you want a creamy hummus, but don’t have a high-power blender like Vitamix or Blendtec, follow our top tips.

    • Peel chickpeas – Take a bowl and fill it with water. Drop the drained chickpeas in it. Use your hands to rub the chickpeas together. You can see the peel are floating to the top. Take a fine mesh sieve and grab the peels from the top.
    • Use sunflower seed butter – If your blender or food processor is not strong enough, use sunflower seed butter. Choose one which is 100% sunflower seeds* and there are no sugar or salt or other funny ingredients. First, you puree the chickpeas until creamy and then add sunbutter and other ingredients.
    • Make sunflower butter – You can make sunflower butter with your food processor. Albeit if you have a large one, you may need too much to make it work. But it is totally doable. It is a similar method as making Homemade Peanut Butter. Start chopping the seeds with your food processor. Stop and scrape the sides time to time. Continue until you have a free-flowing paste.
    White plate with light brown hummus sprinkled on top with sunflower seeds, chopped parsley and paprika powder.

    FAQs and Substitutions

    Is it oil-free?

    Yes. Traditionally, they only serve it with a drizzle of oil and there is none involved while making the hummus. That being said, you need something to make it fluffy, light and smooth. You either use WATER or AQUAFABA. Check out our 5-minute Oil-free Hummus recipe our our Roasted Beet Hummus recipe where we specifically use aquafaba to make it extra fluffy and smooth. Water and aquafaba are interchangeable, choose whichever you like.

    Can I skip sunflower seeds?

    As I mentioned above if you just skip it, you will end up making a nice and tasty chickpea puree. Sunflower seeds add a nutty taste that you would need to wholeheartedly enjoy this dip as a proper hummus. That being said there are other alternatives for tahini. Check out the Complete List of Tahini Substitutes and decide which suits you the best.

    How to store hummus?

    You can easily store it in the fridge for a week without any problem.

    Can you freeze hummus?

    Yes, you can. We recommend that you freeze them in smaller batches, so it can be easily thawed.

    White plate with light brown hummus sprinkled on top with sunflower seeds, chopped parsley and paprika powder. Crackers are scattered around it and there is a small plate in the corner with carrot and celery sticks.

    What to eat with hummus?

    Everything. You would be surprised how many ways you can enjoy hummus. Check out this gorgeous Mediterranean Hummus Pizza (pictured below)!

    We also collected 25 creative and delicious recipes using hummus in our What To Eat With Hummus roundup post. We covered all basis and included 4 appetizers, 4 breakfast sandwiches, 4 quick lunches, 4 salad bowls, 4 baked goods, and 4 dinner recipes so you can mix and match. If you want to you can eat hummus every day for every meal for a week. Happy browsing!

    Baked and sliced pizza from above on white parchment paper topped with hummus, cherry tomatoes, purple onion slices, green and black olives, melted cheese and fresh basil leaves.

    This Hummus recipe is suitable for a vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free diet. It is also WFPB-compliant (whole foods plant-based).

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    ⇒ GET OUR FREE 7-DAY VEGAN MEAL PLAN NOW! OR CHECK OUT ALL OF THE VEGAN MEAL PLAN RECIPES HERE! ⇐

    More condiment recipes

    You can browse through our Vegan Condiment Recipes or check out

    • Dairy-free Sour Cream
    • Homemade Peanut Butter
    • Vegan BBQ Sauce
    • No-Cook Pizza Sauce in 5 minutes!
    • Marinara Sauce
    White plate with light brown hummus sprinkled on top with sunflower seeds, chopped parsley and paprika powder. Crackers are scattered around it.

    Hummus without Tahini (but with Sunflower Seeds)

    My Pure Plants
    This is The Best Hummus Recipe Without Tahini. Why? We don't just skip tahini and make a garlicky chickpea puree as most of the tahini-free hummus recipes would do. Nope. We found the perfect substitute which is roasted sunflower seeds (or sunflower butter). They add a nutty taste that you would need to wholeheartedly enjoy this dip as a proper hummus.
    4.25 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Blending 2 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Condiment
    Servings 6 servings (½ cup)
    Calories 203

    Equipment

    • our Vitamix A2300
    • Lemon juicer
    • Silicone spatula

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cup Chickpeas (canned)
    • ½ cup Water or aquafaba
    • ½ cup Sunflower seeds half – if you use sunflower seed butter
    • 3 Tbsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed) it is almost 1 lemon
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • Pepper to taste
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    Instructions
     

    Prepare the ingredients

    • Drain canned chickpeas. Peel the garlic cloves. Squeeze the lemon. Measure sunflower seeds. Measure water.

    Blend until smooth

    • Now, add all ingredients to your blender and blend it for 2 minutes until you get smooth and fluffy homemade hummus. Done! 5 minutes!
      (If you have a don't have a Vitamix, check out the Notes for tips on how to make it in a food processor.)
    Tried this recipe? Can we see it?Please share a picture with us by uploading an image to Pinterest below ours.

    Notes

    Top tips if you don’t have a Vitamix

    If you want a creamy hummus, but don’t have a high-power blender like Vitamix or Blendtec, follow our top tips.
    • Peel chickpeas – Take a bowl and fill it with water. Drop the drained chickpeas in it. Use your hands to rub the chickpeas together. You can see the peel are floating to the top. Take a fine mesh sieve and grab the peels from the top.
    • Use sunflower seed butter – If your blender or food processor is not strong enough, use sunflower seed butter. Choose one which is 100% sunflower seeds* and there are no sugar or salt or other funny ingredients. First, you puree the chickpeas until creamy and then add sunbutter and other ingredients.
    • Make sunflower butter – You can make sunflower butter with your food processor. Albeit if you have a large one, you may need too much to make it work. But it is totally doable. It is a similar method as making Homemade Peanut Butter. Start chopping the seeds with your food processor. Stop and scrape the sides time to time. Continue until you have a free-flowing paste.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (½ cup)Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 10gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 399mgPotassium: 322mgFiber: 7gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 3mg
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    Comments

    1. Bettye M

      May 20, 2021 at 2:25 am

      Two (2) cups of water was way too much in this recipe. Could it be an error?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        May 20, 2021 at 11:12 am

        Yes you’re right. Oh I am so sorry. 1/2 cup. I corrected it now.

        Reply

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