This is the best tasting roasted red pepper hummus recipe ever and it’s also oil-free and just 7 ingredients! Such a bold flavor and incredibly creamy! Is is smoky, tangy and nice kick that is the perfect healthy snack!
*This post was originally published on 6-3-2012 and has been updated with better instructions and new photos.
ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS
Oil-free hummus is the perfect healthy snack. It’s high in protein, relatively low in fat and based on whole food ingredients. Not to mention, if flavored properly, it’s absolutely delicious! Red pepper hummus is undoubtedly one of my favorite flavors for hummus. I love roasted red bell peppers and the smokiness they provide.
To up the smoky flavor, I add smoked paprika and sriracha sauce. Let me tell you, this roasted red pepper hummus may be oil-free, but you’d never know it. It is creamy and silky smooth to the max and the flavor is incredible. I love to eat it on toast, as a spread on sandwiches or veggie burgers and to dip veggies or crackers in. Ok, ok, I also like to just eat it with a spoon.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED
- Chickpeas
- Roasted red bell peppers: You can use the store-bought that come in a jar (which I did) or roast your own.
- Garlic: Don’t ever say hummus is hummus without garlic my friends. To me, it is absolutely crucial to hummus and the overall flavor, lol.
- Roasted tahini: You want a really runny kind here, it tastes better and will make the hummus creamier. It should basically be near the consistency of oil. I love the Trader Joe’s and Kroger Simple Truth brands the best. They only have added salt and are so good I can eat them with a spoon.
- Fresh lemon juice: Enough to give flavor, but not so much you think you are eating lemon dessert.
- Smoked paprika: Using this spice enhances the red bell peppers smoky flavor and makes the whole taste so irresistible.
- Sriracha: Adds a mild kick and another hint of smokiness. Sensing a smoky theme here??
HOW TO MAKE ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS
Add all the ingredients into a food processor or a wide container Vitamix and blend until puréed and super creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary. The longer you blend, the creamier it will be. It only took about 30 seconds in my blender, but it may take a few minutes in a food processor. Taste and add any more salt, if desired.
This will keep a week in the fridge.
HOW TO ROAST BELL PEPPERS
I use jarred here but have also made this with homemade roasted red bell peppers. If you would like to do this, preheat the oven to 425°F and line a pan with parchment paper. Add a large red bell pepper to the pan and roast for 20-25 minutes or until well charred. Remove and let cool a few minutes and then carefully remove the stem and seeds. Chop up and measure 2/3 cup. Do not peel off the blackened skin, that is where the flavor comes!
MORE VEGAN HUMMUS RECIPES
*This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (Oil-Free!)
Ingredients
- One 15oz can (or 1 1/2 cups cooked) low-sodium chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2/3 packed cup (120g) of roasted red peppers (I use the jarred and drain them before measuring)
- 2 large garlic cloves (6g)
- 2 tablespoons (30g) water
- 3 tablespoons (48g) smooth very runny tahini (mine has added salt, I love the Trader Joe's and Kroger Simple Truth brands)
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 2 tablespoons (30g) fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- I use this scale.
Instructions
- TIP: Since I used jarred red peppers, there was a tiny bit of salt in them and also my tahini is salted. If you choose to roast your own bell peppers, or your tahini has no added salt, you may need more salt. Make sure you drain the red peppers first from the jar before measuring.
- To roast your own bell pepper, preheat the oven to 425°F and line a pan with parchment paper. Add a large red bell pepper to the pan and roast for 20-25 minutes or until well charred. Remove and let cool a few minutes and then carefully remove the stem and seeds. Chop up and measure 2/3 cup. Do not peel off the blackened skin, that is where the flavor comes!
- Add all the ingredients into a food processor or a wide container Vitamix and blend until puréed and super creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary. The longer you blend, the creamier it will be. It only took about 30 seconds in my blender, but it may take a few minutes in a food processor. Taste and add any more salt, if desired. This will keep a week in the fridge.
Nutrition
I was so pleased with the flavor of this hummus. I used the jarred Roasted Red Peppers which made it so quick to make. I always add a little less of the seasonings first and then add more after tasting it. This recipe was perfect in all ways. I absolutely love how creamy it came out. (I emptied my jar of tahini and blended it so it was creamy when I used it). This recipe will stay in my rotation. Thanks
Tastes great but have a question about your blending method. I tried this in my vitamix by starting on 1 and slowly moving up the dial. Although the blades were moving, it seems it would not blend because there was not enough liquid or food, I’m not sure. It was so bad that I had to transfer it to a smaller blender. Do you start on a high setting when blending this? I
Hi Tae, that is odd, mine blends really easily. Did you add the lemon juice and red peppers? Also, the water and super runny tahini? They all help give moisture. Your pitcher might be much larger not sure.
Thanks Brandi. Yes, I added all the liquid. Since it worked in my nutribullet I’ll continue to use that instead.
This was such an easy recipe! I had everything on hand. Thanks for another great recipe, this will be a weekly meal prep staple!
What is a serving size? You have this as yielding 4 servings but how much is a single serving?
Hi Denise, I believe 1/2 cup!
I didn’t make this because it really isn’t oil free since tahini has a lot of oil in it and you state the runny kind – the runny texture comes from oil of the sesame seeds. The separated tahini before mixing is all oil on top.
When a recipe is labeled oil-free, it means oil has not been added as an additional ingredient. This does not count towards the natural oils in nuts, seeds, etc. Just like flaxseed or chia or avocado in recipes are whole foods. They have natural oils in them, but this is very different than adding the actual separated processed oil. Because nut butters have almost half the fat compared to actual pure oil. Oil, itself, is 100% liquid fat with no other nutrients, it’s all fat. Nuts, seeds, avocado, etc. however, have the fat, protein, carbs, etc. of the full nutritional profile.
I absolutely LOVE this hummus recipe. I have been making it for 3 weeks in a row. I eat it on top of a baked potato with a side of green beans.
Garlic is a fodmap trouble food for me, so I really limit when I eat it. Also, I’m not adding any table salt to my meals right now.
This recipe is so amazing even though I omitted the garlic, salt and Sriracha. I added extra pepper and used 1 tsp. of paprika. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Thank you, Brandi, for this wonderful recipe!!!
So easy and so delicious!!! If I could lick my blender, I probably would 😊
Hahaha that is too funny but I know what you mean! So glad you love this recipe!
I just wanted to double check on the nutrition information, Brandi. The amounts are 1 of 4 servings, not the whole recipe in total. Is that correct? Thanks!
Loved it and easy to make
This is THE best roasted red pepper hummus! Great for sandwich spread as well as dipping veggies!
Thank you so much Amy!!
I am so picky about hummus! This was the recipe I chose to make my own hummus for the first time and it did not disappoint!! I absolutely LOVED IT! Actually getting ready to make it for the second time as I type! It is SO GOOD, so flavorful and so delicious! Love love love!
This recipe is amazing, but it’s not “oil free”. “No oil added” would be a more appropriate description. Tahini contains oil (naturally occurring).
I don’t know of any “oil” allergies or medical conditions that would need to be addressed with a clarification, but just in case, thought I’d mention it.
Yes, I know this. I explain this often on the blog, but recipes labeled oil-free, even by plant-based doctors, forks over knives, etc. simply means oil is not an added ingredient. This is how google picks up on the recipes since so many people are looking for recipes that do not add oil to the recipe, but rather, rely on whole food fats. There are tons of foods that have natural oils…all nuts, seeds, flax, chia, avocado, even fruit like lemons and oranges, but we certainly wouldn’t think of labeling a recipe with lemons as ” no oil added”. Whole foods are used. So a recipe labeled oil-free strictly means you do not need to add oil to it. It’s done like this across all sites and blogs and books.
This was absolutely delicious!!!!
So happy you loved it!!
This recipe was fantastic! I didn’t have the sriracha sauce on hand and it was still delicious. Next time I will try with it.
Great recipe. Thank you!
Absolutely love this recipe – I make it on repeat at least once a week and have shared it with many friends (who also enjoy.)
I sometime up the lemon juice and try to use the lowest sodium packed in water roasted red pepper I can – but otherwise, it’s a winner!
So happy to hear you love it so much, thank you!
How much is a serving? Is 362 per serving or is that the total of 4 servings?
Hmm shoot I don’t recall but I think 1/2 cup.
Best recipe ever!! I make a double batch when I make it!! It is so creamy, and flavourful…..I will never experiment with any other recipe. Why mess with perfection?? 😋😊
I have made this recipe repeatedly over the last few weeks!! I am addicted!! Sooo yummy!! 😋
This recipe is amazing. I always make hummus with chickpeas, but this recipe suggested using white beans for improved creaminess! Wow is all I can say! And the hot sauce takes it to another level. Give it a try!
Yay so happy you loved it!
When I first tried hummus years ago, I hated it, but when I made this recipe I’m addicted. what a great flavor!!!
Thank you Brandi
Yay, that is awesome Cindy, thank you!
I’m on a Vegan * kick this week; thus far I’ve made 4 recipes and this one, like all of them, is a definite keeper. I make my own hummus frequently but it never really tastes as good as store bought; probably because I’m not willing to put the same amount of salt or oil in it. This tastes better than most store bought and way better than any I’ve made. I anticipate this being in regular rotation in my house.
I don’t know why it starred the ‘8’. My intention was to say I’ve made several recipes from the blog this week.
So awesome to hear that Elyse!!
Question – is there something I could use instead of tahini in this recipe? My daughter is severely allergic to sesame. Many thanks.
You could try almond butter, but I am not sure how it’ll affect the taste. May still be good!
Best hummus ever!!! And I am definitely a hummus connoisseur! The smoky flavor cannot be beat!! Although I have made this hummus several times before, for some reason I wasn’t using the sriracha. I wasn’t intentionally avoiding it, but I don’t always have sriracha on hand and probably just skipped it. This time I went and got sriracha from Trader Joe’s, and the difference is REVELATORY! Life changing even! This is the best hummus I have ever eaten!
I’m so very thrilled to read this review Heather, thank you so much!
Love this. I roasted a bell pepper and the flavor it added to the hummus is a winner.
Yay Sue!
This is definitely one of my go-to recipes of yours!!! I char (code for well-roasted!) fresh bell peppers each time and so each batch tastes just a little different, depending on the peppers and level of “char”. This is great as a veggie dip, sandwich spread, and dip for crackers! Thank you!!!