This smoky Red Lentil Hummus Recipe is creamy, rich and smooth. It’s full of earthy, warm flavors and is the perfect creative appetizer for casual entertaining. 
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Where I live in Los Angeles — the Santa Monica mountains are on one side of me and the ocean is on the other. I know I’m fortunate to be surrounded by all of this beauty. Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the beach in and out of the waves, and today — like most — is beautiful and sunny.
It would make sense to have light salads, grilled burgers, and frozen desserts on the menu almost daily here. While I truly appreciate all of it, and really love those foods, I’m in the mood for fall! I want earth tones and Maple leaves, puréed pumpkin and roasted root vegetables, warm sweaters and cozy Ugg boots! As I look out at the bright blue sky, I’m feeling guilty for this — but I guess the grass is always greener, right?
Smoky Red Lentil Hummus is somewhere in between — it tastes like fall, but can function well in the summer and on warmer days. It’s perfect for dipping fresh, raw vegetables or chips at a BBQ, while the flavors are earthy and warming, which is perfect for fall.
Smoky Red Lentil Hummus is not a true hummus because the recipe doesn’t include garbanzo beans or Tahini. The texture and vibe however, are very similar to it.
What is Red Lentil Hummus?
- Dry split red lentils are cooked with smoked paprika and chipotles in adobo sauce. This give them a lovely smoky, earthy flavor with a subtle kick to it.
- When the lentils are puréed they become creamy and smooth — the perfect dip.
This lentil deliciousness is an excellent appetizer and is also lovely spread on a burger, mixed into a chicken salad, and if you thin it with extra virgin olive oil (just to the desired consistency), you’ve got a tasty, creamy salad dressing.
Enjoy it any which way you’d like.
This smoky Red Lentil Hummus Recipe is creamy, rich and smooth. It's full of earthy, warm flavors and is the perfect creative appetizer for casual entertaining.
Makes approximately 4 cups
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chipotles in adobo sauce, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt divided
- 2 cups dry split red lentils
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
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Add the olive oil to a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed sauce pan.
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Add the chipotles, garlic, paprika and ¼ teaspoon of the salt to the oil and mix.
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Then add in the dry lentils and mix to coat them well. Pour the water over the lentils and mix until everything is well blended.
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Bring to a boil, turn the heat to low, cover, and simmer just until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
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Remove from the stove and let it cool for about 30 minutes.
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Add the mixture to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment -- or a powerful blender -- and blend until smooth, about 20 seconds.
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Mix in the extra virgin olive oil, honey and remaining teaspoon of salt.
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Let it cool to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
I like this best served at room temperature, but it's also good cooled and slightly warm.
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Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash says
Valentina, this looks easy to make and changes up our love for hummus. Thanks for sharing. Patricia
valentina says
Thank YOU, Patricia! Hope you try it. 🙂
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
We’re in the middle of heat wave, the California Indian Summer! But I’m ready for fall too and this wonderful lentil hummus sounds so enticing!
valentina says
Thank you, Deb. Hope you try it. It’s SO hot in LA also.
bob says
awesome stuff
valentina says
Thank, Bob! 🙂
David says
This sounds so perfect for us. Lots of great flavor and a great way to use a very underused legume! Can’t wait to try it!
valentina says
Awesome way to look at it, David. Those red lentils are underused! I might just use them even more now! 🙂 xo
allie says
what are ‘chipotles in adobo sauce’? Never heard of these.. sounds obscure and hard to find. Im in the UK. Any realisitic, easy to find alternative?
valentina says
Chipotles are dried & smoked jalapeños peppers. It’s actually quite common in the US to find them canned in adobo sauce. Adobo sauce is a mixture of a variety of spices, onion, vinegar and sugar. Here they are on the UK Amazon site: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Costena-Chipotle-Peppers-ADOBO-Sauce-x/dp/B0000GGHU6/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496758607&sr=8-1&keywords=chipotles+in+adobo+sauce Enjoy! And thank you for asking and checking out my recipe. (Without them, for the smoky flavor you can use a bit more of the smoked paprika and maybe smoked sea salt.)
Dannii says
We love making lentil hummus to mix things up a bit. It really changes the flavour.
valentina says
Totally agree! 🙂
Adrianne says
Yum!! I love hummus and this is a great recipe. Also with you girlfriend as ugg boots are the best woo hoo. Cheers for a great recipe!
valentina says
Thank you, Adrianne! Yes, ugg boots! 😀
Veena Azmanov says
Love Hummus and this is a lovely recipe. Unique and flavorful and best for a party option too. Looks creamy and delicious.
valentina says
Thank you, Veena. I agree, great for a party. 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Ooooh I love the look of this! What a lovely change to regular hummus, love the addition of paprika too, I add it to all sorts of dishes!
valentina says
Thanks, Annie. Hope you try it!
Danielle Wolter says
this is such a great idea for hummus! i’m on a hummus kick lately and this would be awesome. We’re practically neighbors….I’m down in San Diego so I get you on the weather. And being lucky LOL.
valentina says
Thanks so much, Danielle. I love San Diego. 🙂