~ This delicious Pumpkin Hummus has just 5 ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes flat! Filled with the comforting, savory flavors of pumpkin and sage, it’s an ideal Halloween snack, Thanksgiving appetizer, or holiday hors d’oeuvre. It can even be made ahead! Perfect for parties … and for quick snacking anytime! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Make Ahead • Vegan (and Vegetarian) • Gluten Free •
I had a dilemma.
And I just needed a simple to test to resolve it.
The dilemma: was my new Pumpkin Hummus truly THK-worthy? Good enough to join our other hummus creations, starring in its very own recipe post?
I knew that I was head-over-heels for it.
Sage does something absolutely magical when it teams up with pumpkin – or any winter squash, for that matter. It’s one of the flavor combinations I eagerly look forward to in autumn. My new hummus recipe beautifully combined those flavors … in mere moments. Just moments! It was definitely THK-fast!
But was it THK-delicious?
I knew exactly how to find out.
We’d been invited to an autumn bonfire with a gaggle of Scott’s hungry coworkers. Willing taste-testers, most of them had tried some of my recipes before, and many had already ooohed and aaahed over my hummus dips. Exactly the test group I needed to compare this new hummus recipe with my others!
So, I filled my kitschy and quirky, brightly colored Halloween “Boo”-shaped serving bowls with each of my other hummus dips.
- Mexican Fiesta Black Bean Hummus got nestled into the “B” of the “Boo”.
- In the first “O”? Italian Cannellini Hummus with Basil and Sun-Dried Tomatoes.
- And for the second “O” – Edamame Hummus.
Well, looky there … I was delighted to see that, with the blackish-brown, orange and green hummus colors, my little hummus trio looked particularly Halloween-y! Absolutely “BOO”-tiful (teehee), and just right for an October bonfire. So far, so good …
Next, in an extra-kitschy jack-o’-lantern bowl (which coordinated perfectly with the “Boo”), I dolloped my new Pumpkin Hummus, sprinkling a bit of fragrant fresh sage on top.
I’d sit back and wait to see if my new creation passed the test …
When we arrived at the bonfire, our friends eagerly dove into the hummus tray, tasting and nibbling and comparing notes on which was their very most favorite flavor.
Hostess-with-the-Mostess Side Note: One really great thing I’ve noticed about hummus is that, no matter how many other NOT-healthy appetizers are scattered along a buffet, healthy hummus always gets people unaccountably excited. I don’t know what it is exactly, but a hummus spread is a hit every time. I’ve been surprised again and again when I arrive at a party, armed with a hummus tray, and people exclaim in delight. Really. So easy – and guaranteed success! And hey – you even did your friends a favor and served them up something nutritious, too. Way to go, entertaining-Einstein! But I digress …
I’ll bet you can guess what happened with my taste test, right? Since the Pumpkin Hummus clearly earned its own recipe post (ummmm … you know, that’s why we’re all gathered ’round today) … it’s kind of a no-brainer to figure out the test results.
Full disclosure: I might have fretted and hovered just a bit, worrying over whether or not everyone else would adore my pumpkin-sage flavor combination as much as I did. I may even have eavesdropped just a leeeeettle, spying to gauge reactions. But I shouldn’t have worried. The results were conclusive. Let’s just say my Pumpkin Hummus was a smashing success (pumpkin … smashing … get it??? Yeah. Sorry. Had to.)
This insanely easy hummus has just 5 ingredients, not counting water (which nobody counts). Actually, looking at the ingredient list again, I could really go with saying it’s got just 4 ingredients, since most people count salt as a freebie, too. Well, whatever …
It’s surprising what just 5 4! unassuming ingredients can do when they get together in perfect harmony. That classic hummus base – chickpeas – gets a huge flavor boost from creamy pumpkin and fresh sage. So ridiculously simple, but it’s a combination that delivers rich, comforting, savory fall flavors, in no time flat.
Toss everything in a food processor and you’re pretty much already home. A little whirring action … and serve it up. Done! Perfect with warm, pillowy pita bread or with crispy-crunchy pita chips.
This is just the thing to have stashed in your fridge, ready for those late-night munchies. Keep the ingredients on hand (fresh sage lasts surprisingly well), and you’ve not only got a late-night-noshing solution, but also a go-to for parties (remember my Hostess-with-the-Mostess tip!).
No doubt, if you’re looking for a unique pumpkin recipe for a Halloween party or a Thanksgiving buffet, this is a great last-minute solution that will win you raves. And with that homey sage flavor, it’s a lovely seasonal addition to holiday meals clear throughout the winter season, too.
Try your own little taste test! In just 5 minutes, this is one test you’ll definitely ace!
5-Minute Savory Pumpkin Hummus with Fresh Sage
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can organic or reduced-sodium chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons roughly torn, loosely packed fresh sage leaves (about 10 average-sized leaves)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon minced fresh sage, for garnish
Directions
- Place all ingredients (except minced fresh sage garnish) in a food processor and process until smooth, scraping down the sides 3-4 times, as needed.
- Transfer hummus to a serving bowl and garnish with minced sage.
- Serve immediately (we recommend serving alongside fresh whole wheat pita bread or whole grain pita chips), or cover and refrigerate until serving (up to 2-3 days). After refrigeration, the hummus may need a quick stir before serving.
My 10yr old son and I just made this. It’s so good!
Hi Amy! (Love that name – it’s my daughter’s name! 😀 ) Anyway – your comment made me so, so happy! I apologize I’m just now shooting you a response, but I noticed your sweet note when it came in a few days ago, and was just thrilled! I’ve always so enjoyed cooking with my own two kids, and I’m delighted that you had fun making this pumpkin hummus with your son – that’s so awesome! Thanks bunches for telling me about it, and happy holidays to you and your family! ~Shelley
I had high hopes for this as an appetizer for Thanksgiving, and I’m sorry to say it won’t be going out. This was not very good. I’m glad we had the ingredients to just go with standard hummus instead.
Hi, Nicole! I’m so disappointed to hear that you didn’t care for this hummus recipe, as I really do love it and have gotten so many great comments when I’ve served it at various parties. It definitely isn’t a traditionally-flavored hummus, as the pumpkin and the fresh sage are intentionally prominent. I adore that flavor combination, but if you don’t care for either of those ingredients, this definitely wouldn’t be a good bet for you, and your choice to serve a traditional hummus was probably a safer option. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful – happy holidays! ~Shelley
Would any other herb I have on hand be good in the pumpkin-hummus combo? like parsley or coriander(cilantro)?
Hi Ellen! I think hummus recipes are always fun and easy to play around with, because they’re so quick and simple to whip up, and you can taste as you go, adding and adjusting ingredients until you’ve got a hummus recipe you personally love. With just a few ingredients, though, every ingredient you use matters and has impact on the final flavor. To be honest, I’m not sure I would really like this hummus with cilantro or parsley – but I’ve never tried it, and I might be totally wrong! I’d hate to discourage you from trying something new that could turn out to be wonderful, and I always think it’s so awesome when our readers use our recipes as starting points for their own fun variations. Personally, though, I do very much love the combination of sage with fall flavors like pumpkin and squash – they just have such a perfect affinity for each other – so this specific pumpkin hummus recipe that combines pumpkin and sage is definitely near and dear to my own heart. If you’d still like to try changing things up and trying some other herbs, I’d suggest maybe trying rosemary or even thyme before the cilantro or parsley. Just a thought. I’d love to know what you experiment with and how it turns out! Good luck! ~Shelley
I made this tonight. It sounds good in theory but I really didn’t like the flavor or texture (not really hummus – more of a bean dip.) Sorry, but I will save my chickpeas for a tastier hummus recipe in the future.
Hi Darnell! Thanks so much for taking a moment to stop back and let us know what you thought! I’m sorry you didn’t care for this hummus recipe – we actually just made it again to serve at our Thanksgiving feast, and it was such a hit with our guests! I really just love it, and am sorry you didn’t feel the same. Regarding the texture – you can completely control how smooth it is (depending on how you typically like your hummus), based on how much you process it – it can be as smooth as you like. But at any rate – we do have a few other hummus recipes you might prefer, with very different flavor profiles – you can check them out HERE. Maybe one of those hummus recipes will have flavors you enjoy more. Happy munching! 🙂 ~Shelley
What is a BOO dish?
Haha – let me see if I can describe it a little better! Like I said, it’s just a kitschy and quirky, brightly colored Halloween serving bowl. It has the shape of all three letters in the word “Boo” – a B and an O and a second O. With those three different little compartments, it was perfect for my trio of hummuses. I found it for a couple of bucks at a nearby discount store and bought it on a whim. Of course, I can only use it one time a year – for Halloween – but it’s absolutely ideal then, for sure! Really, though – any bowl will be perfect for this Pumpkin Hummus (or any of the other hummus recipes, too)! Hope that’s a little better description for you! 😀 ~Shelley
I could munch on this all day! Looks delicious!
Krista, I can personally vouch for the fact that your idea is a VERY good one! 😉 ~Shelley
5 minute snack/app?! You don’t have to ask me twice to make this!
It really is fabulously quick and easy! Great when you need a healthy yet totally satisfying little snack! Plus, it’s a perfect, unique twist on pumpkin for Halloween parties, and with the addition of sage, it fits so beautifully with the classic flavors of Thanksgiving and even Christmas, too! Such a great, super-easy holiday appetizer to keep in your back pocket for when you need to whip something up fast! So simple to make, but wins big raves!! ~Shelley
OMG this is so worthy, because, umm, drool!! This sounds amazing! 🙂 So glad you shared the recipe!
I truly do love this hummus recipe! Well, otherwise I wouldn’t have shared it, so I guess that’s obvious. But seriously! It’s as great as it looks – I’m so excited for you to try it! 😀 ~Shelley
Such a great idea. I have never thought of adding pumpkin to hummus. I bet it tastes fantastic!
It seriously does taste awesome! I love keeping this stashed in the fridge for little snacks or guilt-free, late-night noshes! So loaded with both delicious flavor and great nutrition, too – I think you’ll really adore it! ~Shelley
I’ve never had pumpkin hummus before! I’ll have to give this one a try!
I think you’ll really like it, Sabrina – it’s so addictive! Especially with so many sweet pumpkin recipes this time of year, it’s so nice to have some pumpkin recipes that are savory, too! Can’t wait for you to try this! 🙂 ~Shelley
I love anything with pumpkin during fall! 😀 Thank you for sharing!
You’re so welcome, Jen! I totally agree about pumpkin for fall, and not just in the usual places like pumpkin bread or pumpkin cookies or pumpkin oatmeal (although those are great, too)! I really enjoyed how pumpkin married so perfectly with the savory flavors of my Quick Vegetarian Chili, and since sage seems to be an ideal partner for things like butternut squash and spaghetti squash, I thought a savory sage and pumpkin dip might be a terrific combo. As soon as I tasted the first bite of my very first test batch, I knew I was on to something! Enjoy! 🙂 ~Shelley
This is perfect for fall!! Looks great!!
I know, right?!?! Doesn’t the combination of pumpkin and sage just scream “fall”?? As much as I’m always sad to see summer end, it’s flavors like this that make me happy to welcome autumn, too! ~Shelley
Especially in autumn, I enjoy pumpkin anything! Can’t wait to try this one!
Agreed! Pumpkin recipes seem to be what everybody craves in the fall! And with the addition of the sage, this hummus tastes even MORE fall-ish! I think you’ll really love it! 🙂 ~Shelley