I recently made a delicious discovery, and I just had to share. Hummus with salad.
This post may contain affiliate links.
Hummus, that Middle Eastern dip made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil, is always in the fridge at my house. I mainly find myself dipping things into it like pita (regular or crisp), vegetables or chunks of warm, crusty bread. But I also like to use hummus in more untraditional ways like as a spread for a turkey sandwich or whisked into a lemony vinaigrette. Here, hummus is the flavor-packed base upon which a bright, sweet-tart salad sits. Let’s dig into it.
This recipe starts with a pale swath of creamy hummus (store-bought is fine here) centered on a salad plate. Next, a tangle of peppery arugula dressed in a chive vinaigrette is placed on the hummus. There’s three tablespoons of acid to four tablespoons of oil, placing this dressing solidly in the tart-acidic camp. The salad is finished with sweet rounds of juicy citrus and tender halves of roasted baby beets scattered about. Each bite is a little tart, a little sweet and a little peppery with a balanced richness from the hummus. So damn tasty. Continue reading for the recipe.
What are your favorite ways to use hummus? Please share below!
Arugula Salad with Hummus, Oranges and Roasted Beets
Ingredients
For the vinaigrette:
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- A dab of honey, plus more to taste
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
For the salad:
- 3 ounces of arugula
- 3/4 cup hummus
- 8 ounces cooked and peeled baby beets*, halved
- 2 oranges, peel and pith removed, sliced horizontally into rounds
Instructions
- To make the vinaigrette, whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, honey, 2 pinches of salt and several turns of black pepper. Whisk in olive oil in a slow steady stream, and continue whisking until emulsified. Whisk in chopped chives, then season to taste with additional honey, salt and pepper. Flavors should be bright and acidic.
- To assemble the salad, toss arugula with a few spoonfuls of the vinaigrette. The greens should be glistening with, but not drowning in, the dressing. Spoon 3 tablespoons of hummus onto the middle of a salad plate, then spread it into a flat, wide disc. Top with dressed arugula and a scattering of halved beets and orange slices. Finish with a small drizzle of vinaigrette and some freshly ground black pepper. Repeat with 3 other salad plates. You could also divide ingredients between 2 large plates for a more substantial salad.
Notes
Beets and citrus are in season right now!! Here are some other recipes on Kitchen Konfidence to use them up:
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
This is one fabulous use of hummus! I love balancing out heavier seasonal fare with salads like this.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Brian! Winter citrus is always a nice fresh counter to all the root vegetables and bitter greens.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I love using hummus as salad dressing and I love beets! This is a total win for me!~
Brandon Matzek says
Yeah I think you’d totally love this salad Averie. Thanks!!
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
I totally share your love of hummus with salad. I like the way you dress the salad and add the hummus separately. More elegant than what I do, which is just tossing the greens in hummus. 🙂 I’ll try your recipe next time.
Brandon Matzek says
Hehe thanks Christine! Yeah, it’s a great way to integrate it into the salad. Each bite is a little different.
Katrina says
The hummus on here is a great addition! Love this idea!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Katrina!
fabiola@notjustbaked says
LOVE hummus in salad, and with beets! A perfect match, this looks lovely.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Fabiola!!
Christina | Christina's Cucina says
What a colorful and healthy salad! I LOVE arugula, so I’d love this salad, too!
Brandon Matzek says
I always feel better when I’m eating colorful food 🙂 Thanks Christina!
DessertForTwo says
This is beautiful and genius–just like you! 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Awww thanks :)! *blushing*
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto says
Love the idea of hummus being incorporated into a salad — have not tried that yet! And loooove roasted beets so this is the salad for me!
Brandon Matzek says
Give it a try! Thanks Vicky.
sippitysup says
I’ve been a believer in hummus with everything for quite sometime! GREG
Brandon Matzek says
Excellent! It really is such a versatile ingredient.
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Hummus Salad! Huh! Brilliant! That really is a delicious discovery! I’ve made hummus into a stuffing for deviled eggs, a sauce for Mediterranean Tacos … the list kinda goes on and on (because I truly {heart} hummus!), but this is a new one for me … and I’m totally loving the idea! Absolutely pinning to remember and to share!
Brandon Matzek says
Tacos!! Love that idea. Thanks for sharing Shelley 🙂
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Gorgeous! I did a study abroad for a while in Israel where hummus was frequently used as a base for a variety of dishes – meats, veggies, salads – they’d smear a good helping of it on a plate and then stack the other ingredients on top. It was always delicious! I have no doubt I would love this salad, it looks fabulous!
Brandon Matzek says
Ah ha!! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Jealous of your study abroad as well. I would love to explore Israel someday.
Christiane ~ Taking On Magazines says
Hummus is also a staple around here. Since I grew up in Lebanon, we made it there and continue to make it now so yeah, I’m a fan. 🙂 The salad is gorgeous.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Christiane! So you’re probably very familiar with the salad + hummus combination.
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
This is the perfect salad to get rid of my Monday blues! So colourful and pretty! Just what I need on this dreary UK day!
Brandon Matzek says
Enjoy!! Thanks Annie.
Steph @ Steph in Thyme says
Hummus with salad? Mind blown. Best idea ever. We typically have 4-5 containers of hummus in the fridge at any given time. A new way to enjoy hummus! Thanks for sharing (sucker for roasted beets, too – this is divine).
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Steph!! This will help you use up all that hummus 🙂