Quick Hummus Bowls

A bowl of hummus is the best easy lunch or dinner: no cooking necessary! Layer a dollop of crunchy veggie toppings on top.

Hello and welcome to the best quick and easy healthy lunch or dinner out there: the hummus bowl! Basically, this simple concept requires no cooking: layer a dollop of hummus with crunchy veggies and serve with pita wedges. It’s easily customizable and you can make it super simple or more sophisticated with simple additions of ingredients. It only takes 5 minutes to prepare this Mediterranean meal that’s bursting with creamy, flavorful, crunchy, fresh and savory flavors. How to do it!

What’s in a bowl of hummus?

This concept is so easy for easy lunches and dinners that you don’t even have to think. This is great for those busy days of the week when you don’t want to cook or use veggies in the fridge. There are a few elements that are required and then many fancy toppings that can range from simple to beautiful. Here are the necessary elements in a bowl of hummus:

• Hummus: Find the best brand to buy or create your own (see below)
• English cucumber: An English cucumber is long and thin, has no tough skin, no seeds, and a milder flavor than the standard cucumber. Look for it in the product section!
• Cherry Tomatoes or Peppers: It’s nice to have a red element: you eat with your eyes!
• Olives: Kalamata olives add a filling salty kick; Try Castelvetrano olives for a milder option
• Red onion: or use shallots for a sweeter option
• Flatbread or gluten-free crackers: It’s good to have a piece of bread for dipping: use whatever suits your diet
• Baby Lettuce or Chopped Lettuce (optional): Young shoots add texture and nutrients
• Feta Cheese (optional): A pinch adds another salty element; omit or try dairy-free vegan feta
• Rice or other grain (optional): This makes the hummus bowl feel fuller, so it’s nice to add it to dinner as an option. We like to use microwave pre-cooked rice packets for quick meals, or use leftover cooked rice or quinoa, farro, or even pasta like couscous or orzo.

Variations: more hummus bowl toppings

Want to make a fancy bowl of hummus? The great thing about this concept is that you can make it as fancy or as simple as you like. You can use leftover veggies from the fridge or fancier pantry items to give it unexpected flavors. Or top it with a protein to make it a dinner party! Here are a few ideas:

Buy the best quality hummus or try it yourself

It’s easier to get store-bought hummus for this recipe – there are so many options at the grocery store these days! Look for a quality brand with a creamy, balanced flavor (e.g. the Sabra brand has an overly salty artificial flavor to us). Or you can make your own! Make it over the weekend and then enjoy it with meals throughout the week. Here are some of our best homemade hummus recipes:

Simpler recipes for the Mediterranean diet

This Hummus Bowl is an easy and ideal Mediterranean diet recipe that makes healthy eating fun! Here are some easy Mediterranean-style recipes to spice up your diet:

This hummus bowl recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.