Top your favorite hummus with all your favorite fixings for a loaded hummus dip bursting with bright and bold Mediterranean flavors! Quick, easy, and deliciously crowd pleasing.
This dish is a riff off the classic American 7-layer dip, typically made with Tex-Mex ingredients. We’re swapping the Tex-Mex flavor with fresh Mediterranean ones.
Use this recipe as a template and customize your own loaded hummus. Start with homemade or store-bought hummus. Spread it on a platter and load it up with the works.
I’ll guide you through all sorts of traditional and no-so-traditional hummus toppings so you can create your very own customized loaded hummus!
Why this Recipe Works
- Quick & Easy! With just a food processor and 5-10 minutes, you’ll have silky smooth homemade hummus. Or use store-bought humus for an even quicker prep.
- Versatile! The dish readily lends itself to all sorts of toppings and is adaptable to every single season (see variations below).
- Low maintenance and highly impressive! This dish falls in that magic intersection of low maintenance and looks highly impressive, making it perfect for entertaining or a weeknight meal.
There’s a whole wide colorfully creative world of hummus toppings out there!
And you’re not bound by the number 7. If you want a 6-layer or 11-layer or any other #-layer – you do YOU!
How to Make this Loaded Hummus
Use this recipe as a template and customize your own loaded hummus. Start with homemade or store-bought hummus. Spread it on a platter. Decoratively arrange topping and load it up with the works.
Hummus Toppings
- Fava Beans (hummus ful)
- Sautéed Mushrooms (humus pitryot)
- Fried Cauliflower
- Cooked Chickpeas (hummus masabacha)
- Ground Spiced Beef or Lamb (humus basar)
- Chicken Livers
- Poached egg
- Tomatoes
- Peppers (both sweet and hot)
- Cucumbers
- Radishes
- Caper (fresh or fried)
- Pine Nuts or other nuts
- Garlic confit
- Pickles
- Feta cheese
- Roasted Veggies
- Crispy Chickpeas
- Olives
- Pine Nuts + other nights
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fresh Herbs
- And more!!!
I spent 6 years living in Israel eating my way through hummus restaurants. That’s a restaurant entirely devoted to hummus and all its glorious toppings.
Generally, traditional toppings in Israel generally tend to be cooked. As opposed to California’s that are all about their raw hummus toppings and here’s a master list of traditional and not-so traditional hummus toppings! But really....The hummus toppings skies the limit!
Notes and Variations
What is Hummus?
Hummus is a dip or spread that originated in the Middle East. Traditionally made from chickpeas, ground sesame seeds (tahini), olive oil, lemon, garlic, and cumin.
Store Bought Hummus vs. Homemade Hummus
Homemade is much better! Make this recipe in just 10 min. Or make it in advance and add the toppings immediately before serving.
Store-brought hummus tip: season it up to taste with salt, lemon juice and cumin. And maybe another tablespoon of tahini or two too!
Homemade hummus tip: Hummus will thicken in the fridge. Thin out using 1 tbsp of cold water at a time until desired consistency is reached again. Hummus keeps for 5 days.
When possible, use local and sustainably sourced veggies for the toppings.
If you’re transporting this dish, make it in a baking dish for easy mobility.
Ingredients
Garbanzo beans: can be either canned or dried. Dried will be better. Canned will be much faster. Or swap for a completely different bean all together such as cannellini – it won’t be traditional hummus, but it still will be delicious!
Tahini: The secret to very good hummus is really good tahini. It’ an integral part of hummus. But it is possible to omit. My fav brands are Seed & Mill and Soom Tahini.
Spices: This homemade hummus recipe uses the traditional salt and cumin but all sorts of other spices such as paprika and cayenne can be added too.
Toppings: Get creative and load her up!
More Hummus Recipes?
- roasted beet hummus
- carrot hummus
- butternut squash hummus
- hummus with spiced lamb
- black tahini hummus
- plain (aka original) hummus.
Cooks Tips:
- Both homemade or store-bought hummus work for this dish.
- Hummus will keep for 5 days in the fridge.
- Homemade hummus will thicken in the fridge. Thin out using 1 tbsp of cold water at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- When possible, use local and sustainably sourced veggies for the toppings.
- If you’re transporting this dish, make it in a baking dish for easy mobility.
Have ya tried this recipe? I’d love to hear about it and see it too! Please leave a comment below and take a pic and tag it on Instagram with @DanielaGerson. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food and awesome adventures!
Let’s make waves in the kitchen!
Loaded Hummus
Ingredients
For the Hummus
- 1 can chickpeas,
- 2/3 cup tahini
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1-2 zest & juice lemons
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- kosher salt
- pepper
For the 7 Layers
- 1/2 cup artichoke hearts drained
- 1/4 cup olives cut in half
- 1/2 cup cucumbers thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup peppadew peppers half in half or quarters
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1/4 cup feta crumbled
- 1 tablespoon parlsey minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil optional
- za'atar, sumac, flaky sea salt, black pepper optional
Instructions
For the Hummus
- Combine the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and salt in the bowl of a food processor.
- With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin or salt as needed. I like mine extra garlicky and lemony! Ready made hummus will keep in the fridge up to 5 days until you're ready to use.
For the 7 Layers
- Prep all your layers: drain the artichoke hearts, cut the olives, cucumbers, peppers, cherry tomaotes, parsley and crumbel the feta.
- Spread hummus on a platter or dish.
- Top hummus with the artichoke hearts, olives, cucumbers, peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
- Sprinkle hummus with feta, parsley, and optional spices. Drizlle with olive oil.
- Serve with pita chips, crackers, or bread.
Notes
- Both homemade or store-bought hummus work for this dish.
- Hummus will keep for 5 days in the fridge.
- Homemade hummus will thicken in the fridge. Thin out using 1 tbsp of cold water at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- When possible, use local and sustainably sourced veggies for the toppings.
- If you’re transporting this dish, make it in a baking dish for easy mobility.
I am salivating by just thinking of this recipe!
Thank you for sharing 🙏🙏🙏😘
Absolute pleasure Jacqueline!!! It's so super quick and easy to make and such a delight to eat :)!
Oh wow! This looks amazing! I love how full of veggies this is. Such a great idea for a party too.
Yessssss exactly!!! Such a party friendly dish and so super easy to make! I like whipping up homemade hummus but store bought cant def work to and then just load up all the goodies and voila you're all done :).
The way you plated this hummus dish is absolutely beautiful! This would definitely be an impressive appetizer for a dinner party, I love it!
Thank ya so much Kate!!! I ADORE plating food! It's def an impressive party appetizer and super easy to make too :).
This is a fabulous idea. I love hummus but serving it with all these delicious layers makes it even better! Can't wait to dig in!
Awesome Jacqueline super stoked on your super sweet feedback! Can't wait for ya to try it and happy digging in :)!
You've totally inspired me to make hummus this week. Your toppings are to DIE for! Thank you for the tips, too. Pinning immediately, and can't wait to revisit in a couple of days!
You are too kind Sara!!! I'm so super stoked to hear that! Thanks so much for the sweet feedback :).
Love the twist on a 7-Layer Dip! This is definitely my kind of hummus with all my favorite things and it looks divine! Pinning to make this for my next get-together; I think it's going to be a hit!
Yessssss!!!! So super stoked to hear that Carol! Def a party pleasing dish to make! So easy and always a hit :)!
This looks delicious! I'm loving all the fresh flavors & colors -- what a great appetizer to share! Thanks for all the helpful tips, as well! 🙂
Absolute pleasure Amy! And thank ya for the sweet feedback! It's def an epic appetizer to share :).
Loaded hummus! Such a great idea! This would be perfect for a casual party with friends!
Exactly Charity! Thanks so much for the feedback Charity! Really appreciate it :)!
All these veggies on top look soooooo good! This is such a great alternative option to traditional 7 layer dip! Perfect for upcoming football season.
Yesss!!! My thoughts exactly Lauren! And there's so many different seasonal variations for the toppings too :).
Oh my... what a feast. I love humus but never tried anything like this. Looks and sounds amazing. I love the flavors you combined here. I must give this a try asap.
Yessss! Please do Natalie! I think you'll love it! And please let me know how it goes after too :).
Hummus is my love language! All of the layers in this are making me drool. I especially love the olives! I can't wait to make this for our next patio party.
So super stoked to hear that Jordan! Thank so much! Think it will be a HIT at your next patio party :).
In the recipe description it calls for garlic in the hummus but in the ingredient list I can not see the garlic. How much would you recommend?
Oiy vay Sarah you are right! I rec 2 cloves chopped in the hummus. Just updated the recipe! Sorry about that ;-).