Raise your hand if you love hummus. Yes, yes, lots of folks out there. Me too! Ok. How many of you pay big bucks for one of those tiny tubs of hummus at the store? A few, yes. How many have this little problem of keeping food and snacks stocked in your house? Me too!
Well, I’m here to share my way of saving big bucks in the hummus economy. Thinking of how I batch cooked black-eyed peas in the slow cooker, I figured I could surely batch cook chickpeas. Yes. An entire bag in the slow cooker.
Following the directions on the bag, I soaked the 12 oz. of chickpeas in the slow cooker for 8 hrs. Then I drained the water. Put new water back in the slow cooker with the peas. Next, I cooked them on high for 7 hours. I did this during the day so I could check on things. This being the first time I’d ever batch cooked chickpeas.
Next, I used Nana’s recipe to make the hummus but feel free to use any of the following:
- Nana’s Homemade Hummus
- Erin’s Homemade Hummus
- Another variation using the pressure cooker at Summer Tomato via The Thrifty Mama
- Homemade Hummus at All Recipes
You can freeze half of the cooked chickpeas if it is too much for your family. Already cooked chickpeas in your freezer for future hummus!
Hummus is not only a snack food, it’s an allergy-friendly alternative in our house. Used often in the place of mayonnaise because of egg allergy. Tucked easily into a tortilla. Slathered on a sandwich. But guess what else? It’s also a treat. See what I recently found on Pinterest?
Guacamole Hummus. The above made with Nana’s hummus, avocado and this recipe from Shutter Bean. Two fine foods in harmonious flavor.
See the savings.
- 1 store-bought pre-made tub of hummus dip = $3.99 for 10 oz, $5.29 for 14 oz!!!
- 1 can of chickpeas (will make 1 recipe of hummus) = $1.19 for 15.5oz can
- 1 bag of dried chickpeas (makes double the amount of one can chickpeas) $1.29 for 16oz (bigger than my bag)
Basically, the cooked, dried chickpeas make twice the amount for a little over a dollar. Or close to 16 oz of hummus for around half a dollar. Yes, this southern gal has indeed seen the many benefits of homemade hummus in large amounts. Cheap and healthy hummus spreads far and makes folks happy at Hodgepodge.
And sure scoops well on homemade wheat thins!
Absolutely love hummus. Thank you so much for the reminder that it can be made for a fraction of the cost! i am going to go to the store in the dried bran section and look for chick peas. Looking forward to trying this recipe. Blessings~ Tammy
My husband and eldest son love hummus, so I know we will be using this recipe. Thanks so much for the info and the savings!!! :O)
Tammy and LuAnn – So glad to know fellow frugal hummus fans!
I love my own hummus – it’s so easy and yummy! Here’s a link if you’re interested in a roasted red pepper hummus (great way to use up all the garden peppers!): http://frontierkitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/roasted-garlic-and-red-pepper-hummus.html
Oh, hummus also freezes really well so you can make a ton and have some on hand all the time. If you like to pack hummus in your lunch, just freeze single portions in an ice cube tray, store in a ziploc, pop one out in the morning and it should thaw in time for lunch. 🙂
Great tips Sarah! Thanks. Roasted red pepper sounds yummy too.
I recently tried cooking dried beans for various recipes and was surprised at how easy (and economical) a process it is! I froze the cooked chickpeas in 15-oz. can equivalents in plastic bags so I always know how many bags to pull out for a recipe. I’ve already made homemade falafel and Mediterranean stew and used them in salad. I am eager to try one of these hummus recipes as I have not found a “winner” yet (and I LOVE hummus).
I don’t think I’ll ever buy a can of beans again!
Cooking dried beans makes so much more! (I LOVE hummus too)
I have yet to try homemade hummus, but have wanted to. Your post inspired me! 🙂 I do, however, make my own pita chips. I buy the whole wheat pita bread. Then I separate it and slice it into triangles with my pizza cutter. I brush each triangle with olive oil and sprinkle some sea or kosher salt on it. Then I bake it for 10 minutes @ 400 degrees. Delicious and cheaper than store bought pita chips. 🙂
Love, love, love this! I do the same thing with tortillas! I am going to save so much money making my own hummus now!
Awesome Shelley! Love to hear it!
I love hummus (especially the South Beach Diet recipe)! I had no idea you could freeze it! Allen and I could eat one recipe in one sitting. I wish my kids liked it.
@Joy! Homemade pita chips – that is smart. Thanks for sharing your recipe so I can try it too! @Jenny – Yes, the cooked beans freeze well. I’ve never tried to actually freeze hummus. Not sure about that 🙂 I’m sure with your example of hummus love that the kids will come around one day!
So, help me with the slow cooker thing. you said you kept an eye on it, but did you have to stir it, etc. throughout the day? Or could a person just leave it if they were out for the day?
Melissa – yes, you don’t have to touch it at all. Definitely you can leave it. They need to cook for at least 7 hours and could go longer. You could even soak them during the day while you were away and then cook them overnight. I’ve done that recently with some navy beans. Easy! Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Stumbled upon this post from the Super Bowl recipe round-up. The avocado hummus looks amazing. Saving money on our hummus habit will definitely be good. Even our 1 year-old likes hummus so we will definitely be trying this. I’m even planning to try the homemade wheat thins recipe that is at the bottom of the page. Thanks!
Awesome!! I was just cooking chickpeas earlier this week for the same. Saving money on hummus is huge. Enjoy!