Hummus with Ground Beef
A hearty and satisfying Middle Eastern classic featuring creamy, smooth hummus topped with savory, spiced ground beef and toasted pine nuts.
Ingredients
- •2 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed (400g)
- •1/3 cup high-quality tahini
- •1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- •1 small garlic clove, minced
- •1/2 teaspoon salt
- •2-4 tablespoons ice water
- •1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- •1/2 pound ground beef (85% lean)
- •1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- •1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- •1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- •1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- •2 tablespoons pine nuts
- •1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- •1 tablespoon olive oil for the meat topping
Instructions
- 1
Place the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a food processor and blend until smooth.
- 2
With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the ice water one tablespoon at a time until the hummus reaches a light, creamy consistency. Set aside.
- 3
In a skillet over medium-high heat, toast the pine nuts until golden brown, then remove them from the pan and set aside.
- 4
In the same skillet, add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- 5
Stir in the cumin, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and pepper, cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the meat is fragrant and fully cooked.
- 6
Spread the hummus onto a shallow serving plate, creating a well in the center with the back of a spoon.
- 7
Spoon the hot ground beef mixture into the center well, drizzle with a little extra olive oil, and garnish with the toasted pine nuts and fresh parsley.
💡 Chef tips
- For an even smoother hummus, remove the skins from the chickpeas before blending, or boil them with a pinch of baking soda for 10 minutes until very soft.
- You can prepare the hummus up to two days in advance and keep it refrigerated, but always serve the beef topping hot for the best contrast in temperature and texture.
- If you cannot find pine nuts, toasted slivered almonds or chopped walnuts make a great crunchy substitute.
✅ How it should turn out
The dish should feature a velvety, cool hummus base topped with warm, aromatic, spiced beef that smells of cinnamon and cumin, offering a perfect balance of creamy and savory textures.