Italian White Bean Hummus

Italian White Bean Hummus is the perfect Mediterranean twist on this classic appetizer. Made with white beans instead of chickpeas, plus olive oil and fresh herbs, you can serve with Italian bread or pita chips for an amazing party starter. 

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Italian White Bean Hummus

Hummus is one of my favorite healthy snacks. It’s so delicious on pita chips, bread, crackers, carrots, cucumber slices, sandwiches… Well, pretty much anything.

These days it’s easy to find a wide selection of prepared hummus at the grocery store, but it’s just as easy — and actually far less expensive — to make hummus at home.

My sincerest plan was to make a classic hummus recipe with chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans). I always have them on hand to make roasted chickpeas, like spicy bacon roasted chickpeas or these honey chipotle roasted chickpeas. 

But when I started pulling ingredients from the cabinet, that can of chickpeas had just gone into hiding and was nowhere to be found!

However, I did have an almost identical can of cannellini beans. I’ve made black bean hummus before so I thought, why would white bean hummus be any different? With a bit of garlic and herbs, I could have a lovely Italian hummus.

That’s one of my favorite kitchen lessons: going with the flow and making use of what you have on hand. I try to improvise and not let a hiccup, like not having an ingredient, get in the way of cooking.

More dip recipes: Whipped Feta Dip • Beer Cheese Dip • Queso Fundido

Why you’ll love this recipe

You’ll love this recipe, for a few reasons:

• Homemade hummus recipes are a favorite of mine since the end result is always better than the store-bought version. Sure, there are some tasty choices for pre-made hummus but I love making my own!
• This great recipe is incredibly adaptable. Change it up and get adventurous… make it into anything you want!
• It’s a lot cheaper to make hummus at home than to buy it at the store.
• Hummus is a great alternative to many unhealthy appetizer options. If you’re hosting a party and want to serve better options, this healthy snack maintains all of the amazing flavors of party appetizers with none of the guilt.

Tools & equipment

You’ll need a good high-powered food processor to ensure your hummus has the most smooth and creamy texture. Keep plenty of measuring spoons on hand too to make sure you can perfectly measure every ingredient.

You may need an olive pitter if you choose to garnish the top of your simple white bean hummus with olives. It is also more easy to drizzle olive oil on top if you have an oil dispenser with a spout.

Ingredients

This easy hummus is made from very simple ingredients. Here is everything you need to make this recipe a success:

• canned cannellini (white kidney) beans
• tahini
• minced garlic cloves
• lemon juice
• salt
• dried oregano
• extra virgin olive oil
• pitted olives
• fresh oregano

Variations & substitutions

I made my creamy white bean hummus with fresh oregano, but you could also add or substitute other Italian herbs such as basil, rosemary or thyme, fresh or dried.

A traditional hummus recipe would use chickpeas, but this white bean version is so great. White navy beans and great northern beans are also great substitutes in this perfect dip!

If cannellini beans aren’t your thing, using this recipe to make a traditional chickpea hummus will be fine. You can hardly taste the difference, I promise.

If you want to use fresh oregano in place of the dried oregano, use three tablespoons instead of one. Any other fresh herbs would be amazing in this healthy dip too.

You can use store-bought tahini or homemade tahini in this recipe for creamy hummus.

How to make Italian White Bean Hummus

Drain and rinse the canned cannellini beans, then place them into the food processor. Add tahini, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, and salt to the beans.

Pulse the ingredients together, slowly adding two tablespoon of olive oil while it mixes.

Once this homemade white beans hummus is fully combined and creamy, transfer it to a serving bowl.

Top the delicious dip with an extra drizzle of olive oil, and garnish with olive and fresh oregano. You could add a bit more flaky sea salt too!

Serve with pita chips, pita bread, or fresh vegetables. Veggies sticks like carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini work great!

How to store leftover hummus

It is especially important to store leftover hummus in an airtight container to minimize its air exposure. Transfer hummus to a bowl with an airtight lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You can actually freeze delicious white bean hummus too! Freeze fresh hummus in an airtight container for up to 3 months. The longer hummus is frozen, the more the texture will change after it is thawed.

What to serve with White Bean Hummus

This hummus is addictive. It would make the perfect appetizer at any party or a yummy snack for yourself. (I vote for the latter.) For dessert, you’ll want this tiramisu trifle. 

You can pack it in a lunch kit with some raw veggies and a tasty sandwich too. Italian white bean hummus can even be used as a sandwich spread!

Hosting a girls night and making this hummus as an appetizer? Then make sure to pair it with this easy frosé or red wine sangria! You can make your own pita bread or homemade pita chips too.

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:

• While blending the cannellini beans and other hummus ingredients, stop periodically and scrape the sides of the food processor with a silicone spatula. Make sure everything is incorporated and gets mixed in well!
• If you notice some separation in the hummus after it sits for a bit, just stir it up really well before serving again.
• When you scoop the completed hummus into a serving bowl, make sure to smooth it out even proportions across the bowl. That way, when you add extra olive oil it doesn’t just pool onto one side of the Italian white bean hummus.

FAQ

More appetizer recipes

• Fried Pickles
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Marinated Cheese
• Baked Brie with Honey, Bacon and Walnuts