Is there such thing as Low-Calorie Hummus?

And when I say low-cal, I don't mean 40cals per Tbsp. :P

I'm looking for hummus (or a similar dip/spread that is salty/savory instead of tart/sweet), that will be under 20 calories for 2Tbsp. The only thing I have found browsing recipes is yogurt-based dip (I love yogurt, but I want something thick and garlicky).

Perhaps I can leave out the oil in a "moderately low-cal" recipe? I found a recipe that comes to 35 calories for 2 Tbsp, but that's still too high since I plan on eating a large portion...

What if I used mashed cauliflower as the "base" and just added the correct seasonings and a moderate amount of chick peas? Any creative solutions?

I don't know if this will work because I've never made hummus, I always buy it at the store, but what if you used the yogurt instead of the oil?  It might not hurt to try it?

i make my own "hummus" all the time with no oil.  I just drain the liquid off the chick peas and throw them in a food processor without rinsing - this gives enough liquid so they will make a paste.  (yes i know, sodium.. whatever its not that much and I don't eat processed foods so I am not concerned).  Add garlic, ginger and whatever spices you like and process until smooth... just add a little water if it is still too thick.  Just remember that 1/2 cup of chick peas still has 100 cals.... and when mashed up this is not really a lot of hummus so it is still going to be somewhat caloric.  

I have also found hummus at whole foods that uses less oil for 35 clas for 2TBS but that is the lowest I have seen store bought.   I think it was called "Sabra" hummus?

Original Post by kamihovis:

I don't know if this will work because I've never made hummus, I always buy it at the store, but what if you used the yogurt instead of the oil?  It might not hurt to try it?

I have done this too but it does change the taste.. 

Its the oil in hummus that adds the calories. If you want lower calorie hummus you'll have to make it yourself using little or no oil like morgan said.  I wouldn't try using yogurt, and you MUST use tahini paste, as thats intrinsic to the taste, even though its high cal.

In addition to making hummus with water to lower the calories, you can also blend in a ton of spinach.  I love spinach hummus, and would do this anyway, but it does make it so you can have a larger portion.

Googled these two variations; first one could lose the oil and in the second one you could replace feta for fat free yogurt.

Sundried Tomato Pesto Hummus: Finely chop 2 - 3 large oil packed sun dried tomatoes, a handful of fresh basil, and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
Spinach and Feta Hummus: Add 1/2 cup of chopped cooked spinach (why not use the frozen kind where the work is done for you?) and 1/2 cup of crumbled feta.

Also, have you considered making your hummus runnier or very spicy (so that you tend to eat less)? Worth a shot..

Hummus is made from chickpeas and sesame paste.  Chickpeas and sesame are what they are and there's no way to cut their calories.  You leave out the extra oil and the sesame paste.  You could puree vegetables and mix them in, but too many and it's no longer hummus, which is ok, really.  Making it yourself at least you can control the oil, but there's still fat in the sesame paste. 

If you want a low cal dip, then salsa is the stuff for you.

Thanks everyone!

It doesn't HAVE to be hummus. I just want a dip that is "savory" instead of tart or sweet, and relatively thick. The pesto/tomato hummus sounds to die for, too. I will try leaving out the oil and adding some vegetables, and if it's no longer "hummus" then no harm done.

As long as it can completely mask the putrid, disgusting flavor of raw carrots, I'll be happy.

And Clairelaine, I just bought a giant tub of salsa today to tide me over. You read my mind.   :D I found one that's 5 calories per 2 Tbsp. Heck yes!

i absolutely adore trader joe's tomato basil hummus, but i couldn't stand spending $2 for a tiny container.  so, i started making my own and modifying the ingredients a bit to fit my palate.  first, i can make about 5 times as much hummus for the same price.  second, i have found a recipe that i like even better.  i used a big can of crushed tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, some of the oil from the tomatoes, garlic, onions, basil, tahini, and some chick peas.  it ends up being about 10 calories per tablespoon (compared to 17 calories for the TJ brand) because i use proportionally fewer chick peas and less tahini than the TJ brand. 

i suggest you play around with the ingredients you like and find something to fit your palate.  if your priority is to create a spread that is super low in calories, you'll sacrifice some of the flavors of hummus that you like.  but there are tons of options that won't taste like hummus and it's your task to find what works best for you. 

While we're on the subject, does anyone know a good substitute for tahini? I couldn't find it anywhere, so I tried using sesame oil, but its just not the same...

why do ppl eat hummus?

Original Post by jesselou:

why do ppl eat hummus?

 because its tasty and delicious! : )

is it good for you?

Original Post by jesselou:

is it good for you?

 It has lots of protein. I eat it because I'm a vegetarian. Its also kind of low fat...its made with chickpeas and some sort of vegetable oil (sesame, olive) and seasonings. Its not like *really* low fat but the fats are the healthy kinds.

Original Post by danaofdoom:

 It has lots of protein.

not really- 2 tbsp is around 50 cals with 1-2g protein I think. I wouldn't personally class it as a protein source because you need to eat a pretty caloric amount to get a decent amount or protein IMO.

Original Post by danaofdoom:

While we're on the subject, does anyone know a good substitute for tahini? I couldn't find it anywhere, so I tried using sesame oil, but its just not the same...

To my knowledge there is no substitute for tahini.  You could possibly try buying and toasting your own sesame seeds and then grinding them up, but I'm not sure how successful that would be.  You could also order some online.  If there are any ethnic markets in your area that would also be a good place to try.  I also find that health food/wholefoods stores also tend to have it. 

I think the problem here is that most people see hummus as a dip or a spread, when it actually should be the bulk of the meal. Think hummus wrap instead of turkey wrap. I think we also underestimate how much 2 tbs is of hummus. Kind of a lot. And it's really filling. Also, it does have nutritional value. It has minimal saturated fat and about 3g of fiber. 

I've had friends use zucchini as a base, but this is just not hummus. It isn't as thick as the chickpea original. Please don't bastardize this dish. It's good enough as it is. 

I obviously get counting calories, but I don't get the obsession with consuming more for your calorie count. It's like getting more bang for your buck if your food has less calories. You can eat more of it, but what are you sacrificing? Yeah, we should eat healthy but people neglect the fact that hummus IS healthy. If you do it right, it's not processed and has some filling, natural ingredients. Spend the 70 calories on your two tablespoons instead of diluting it and getting hungry faster and eating the extra calories elsewhere.

droommaarlekker, thanks for your input, but "health" has nothing to do with it. I expressly stated I wanted a very low-cal savory DIP (and said it doesn't even have to be hummus). 

The reason my question gave you the impression that I'd prefer a mediocre-tasting low-cal dip to a great-tasting high-cal one, is because I actually WOULD prefer it!

Right now I need a way to make a large quantity of carrots taste vaguely edible. 2 Tbsp of normal hummus just aint gonna do that.

If I want to dine on a high-cal hummus, I certainly will. I obviously don't need advice on how to go about finding a high-cal hummus, so you won't see me ever inquire about it in the forums. But that doesn't mean I don't indulge in it.

Original Post by droommaarlekker:

I think the problem here is that most people see hummus as a dip or a spread, when it actually should be the bulk of the meal. Think hummus wrap instead of turkey wrap.

exactly. for me, hummus is something I put on a bagel or toast. Like, in place of cream cheese.

To the OP, I'd try cooking the carrots instead of eating them raw. They're way better steamed, with a little bit (LITTLE BIT) of butter and some seasonings. I can't think of any spreads or dips that are hummus-esque...

dana, thanks! But unfortunately, the amount of butter and seasoning I need to mask the flavor of the carrots would be astronomical. I could easily go through a quarter cup of melted butter just trying to eat half a cup of cooked carrots. :(

Plus I want something crunchy. Very very crunchy. And super cheap.

Maybe I just... Can't eat carrots anymore.