Try butter bean hummus for a twist on your usual hummus! This protein-packed, silky-smooth recipe combines creamy butter beans with zesty lemons, rich tahini, and bold spices. It’s perfect as a dip, spread on toast, or dolloped on your favorite salad!
If you love hummus without chickpeas, you’ll love this creamy black bean hummus — it’s smoky, bold, and just as easy to whip up in 10 minutes.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Nutrient-rich: Tahini, lemon, and beans make a powerful combination that delivers protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals in every spoonful.
- Quick & easy: With simple ingredients and a food processor, you can whip up this butter bean hummus in minutes!
- Versatile: Enjoy it as a spread, dip, or even as an addition to dressings and marinades.
- Customizable: Add your favorite herbs, spices, or other garnishes to make this lima bean hummus truly your own!
What is butter bean hummus?
Butter bean hummus is a delicious twist on the classic Middle Eastern dip traditionally made with chickpeas. In fact, the word hummus actually means "chickpeas" in Arabic!
However, butter beans, also known as lima beans, lend a creamy texture and subtly sweet, buttery flavor that makes this hummus unique. Blended with tahini, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and spices, this hummus is ultra-vibrant, tangy, and zesty. It’s just the thing to make for hot summer days!
Once it’s blended, I recommend letting it chill to allow the flavors to mellow out and meld together. It pairs incredibly well with pita bread, raw veggies, or sandwiches and wraps.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Butter beans: These beans give the hummus its creamy texture and subtle buttery flavor. If you can't find them, cannellini beans make a great substitute.
- Tahini: Adds a nutty richness and a velvety-smooth consistency. No tahini on hand? Try cashew butter, but be aware that the flavor will change slightly.
- Olive oil: Extra-virgin olive oil adds richness and smoothness to the hummus. If you don’t have any available, avocado oil is the next best option.
- Lemon: Adds brightness and just the right amount of tang. White wine vinegar will also work, but just note that the flavor is more intense.
- Garlic: Gives this lima bean hummus a zesty, savory depth. Garlic powder will work in a pinch.
- Spices: Paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper create a bold flavor profile. Feel free to play around with your favorite spices though.
How to make butter bean hummus
- Step 1: Drain and rinse your can of butter beans. This reduces the sodium content and makes them ready to blend!
- Step 2: Add the beans, tahini, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices to a food processor. Process until your hummus is as smooth as you like.
- Step 3: Once your hummus is smooth and creamy, transfer it to a serving dish. For an aesthetically pleasing presentation, make wavy patterns with the back of a spoon. Drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle on some paprika, and add your favorite garnishes.
How to serve butter bean hummus
Once it’s blended, you can serve your freshly made butter bean hummus with some classic pairings like these:
- Pita bread or pita chips
- Turkish flatbread
- Crudité platter
- Semolina Bread or toast
- A strawberry salad with vegan goat cheese or couscous salad
- Grilled or roasted vegetables
- As part of a mezze platter
Storage
If you have extra butter bean hummus or decide to make a large batch, follow these simple storage instructions:
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week. Just make sure you transfer the hummus to an airtight container or jar.
- Freezer: The good news is that hummus freezes well! You can keep it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3-4 months.
- Prep ahead: Lime bean hummus is also a great make-ahead dish. The flavors develop and improve after a day or two!
Variations
- Roasted garlic: Roast the garlic before adding it for a mellower, deeper flavor.
- Spicy: Add a couple of tablespoons of hot sauce or a fresh jalapeño for a kick.
- Sun-dried tomato: Blend in a handful of sun-dried tomatoes for a tangy twist.
- Pesto: Add a scoop of dairy-free pesto or Spinach Pesto Recipe for an Italian spin.
- Olive: Blend in some pitted Kalamata olives for a briny, Greek-inspired variation.
- Pickled: Top it off with with colorful and vibrant homemade Quick Pickled Beets Recipe for sweet and tangy kick.
- Caramelized onion: Stir in caramelized onions for a sweet and savory take.
- Red pepper: Add roasted red peppers for a smoky, colorful variation.
- Za'atar: Sprinkle in some Za'atar seasoning for a Middle Eastern flair.
- Herb: Blend in your favorite fresh herbs like cilantro or dill.
- Lemon: Add lemon zest in addition to the juice for a brighter, tangier hummus.
Top tips
- Use canned beans: Canned butter beans are perfect for this recipe and will save you a lot of time.
- Tahini is key: Tahini adds a distinctive flavor and texture to hummus. Make sure it’s a runny brand for the best results.
- Blend it well: Process the ingredients until the hummus is quite smooth. You may have to stop a few times to scrape down the sides.
- Chill the hummus: Hummus is best served when the flavors have had time to meld together for a few hours in the fridge. Plus, it’s more refreshing this way!
- Save the bean liquid: Don’t throw out your bean liquid! You can save it to thin out your lime bean hummus or use it as an egg replacement in vegan baking.
FAQ
Of course! If you want this butter bean hummus to be oil-free, substitute the oil with a bit of water or reserved bean liquid. Just realize that the hummus won't be quite as rich.
If your hummus is too thick, try adding a bit of water and blending it again. Repeat this process until you reach your desired consistency.
If you end up with a thin, soupy hummus, just add a few more scoops of beans and blend the mixture until it thickens.
More side dish recipes
If you liked this butter bean hummus recipe, then you need to try some tasty sides and appetizers like these:
- Vegan Couscous Salad: Refreshing flavors with wholesome ingredients.
- Dairy-Free Potato Salad: A hearty and satisfying side dish.
- Dairy Free Coleslaw: Crunchy vegetables in a rich, creamy, and tangy dressing.
- Mango Cucumber Salad: Juicy mangoes, mini cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, and zesty dressing.
Butter Bean Hummus
DESCRIPTION
EQUIPMENT
INGREDIENTS
Hummus
- 15 ounces butter beans canned
- ¼ cup tahini sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- ¼ teaspoon paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves removed from stem
- ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- crushed black pepper
METHOD
- Drain and rinse butter beans.
- Place butter beans into a food processor along with remaining listed ingredients for hummus (tahini, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, spices). Process till smooth.
- Transfer hummus into a serving dish and make wavy patterns using the back of a spoon. Drizzle over olive oil, and then sprinkle over paprika powder. Garnish with thyme leaves, and scatter over cumin seeds, pumpkin seeds, and red pepper flakes. Lastly top it off with crush black pepper before serving.
NOTES
- Use canned beans: Canned butter beans are perfect for this recipe and will save you a lot of time.
- Tahini is key: Tahini adds a distinctive flavor and texture to hummus. Make sure it’s a runny brand for the best results.
- Blend it well: Process the ingredients until the hummus is quite smooth. You may have to stop a few times to scrape down the sides.
- Chill the hummus: Hummus is best served when the flavors have had time to meld together for a few hours in the fridge. Plus, it’s more refreshing this way!
- Save the bean liquid: Don’t throw out your bean liquid! You can save it to thin out your lime bean hummus or use it as an egg replacement in vegan baking.
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