Hummus is a Levantine dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas or other beans. It is blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. It is popular throughout the Middle East and in Middle Eastern cuisine around the globe.
Is Hummus Low Carb?
Hummus makes a healthy addition to a low-carb diet because it’s packed with fiber and vitamins. In result, it will contribute to your overall well-being. It’s a moderate source of carbohydrates, so you may struggle to fit hummus into a very low-carb diet. But, if you follow a more relaxed low-carb diet, you can likely make it work.
Total Carbs in Hummus
Hummus is made from chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Chickpeas are high in carbs. That’s why they’re mixed with the other ingredients, which are all low in carbs. As a result, hummus ends up with a moderate carb count. One-third cup of homemade hummus has 16 grams of total carbohydrates. By comparison, commercially prepared hummus may be a better choice if you’re counting carbs because the same portion has 12 grams of total carbs.
You can easily work the carbs from hummus into a low-carb diet unless your total daily goal is around 30 grams or less. Hummus is often used as a dip for veggies and enjoyed as a snack, which still leaves 38 grams of carbs for three meals if your goal is 130 grams of daily carbs. But make the snack more substantial by adding extra veggies to turn hummus into the basis of a low-carb meal. Hummus can also be used as the primary source of carbs in a meal. Use it as a dressing for chicken salad or mix it with orange juice and olive oil to make a dressing for a spinach salad.