Spicy Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus

Spicy Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus is a five-minute appetizer or spread full of smoky, spicy and sweet flavors. Simple wholesome ingredients and fast preparation make this a great choice for entertaining! It’s a great version of homemade hummus with some fall flavors, and still delicious any time of year.

Kick regular hummus up a notch with this spicy creamy pumpkin hummus recipe. It has the light flavor of pumpkin puree (just a hint of sweetness) combined with the smoky, spicy flavor of adobo sauce.

It’s an exciting, unexpected appetizer perfect for dipping pita bread and vegetables (portable for kid’s lunches or working adult lunches too). It’s also a delicious sandwich spread.

This pumpkin hummus is not overly spicy. If you are a fan of lots of ‘heat’ feel free to bump up the amount of adobo sauce AFTER tasting it! Also those who fear the flavor of pumpkin, this pumpkin hummus doesn’t taste crazy pumpkin-y. Just enough to mesh with the smoky, spicy flavors with its natural sweetness.

The recipe takes about 5 minutes to make. All the classic ingredients of hummus are combined in a food processor. It’s a perfect addition for Thanksgiving dinners, a flavorful hummus as an alternative to classic dip.

Whether you are a pumpkin lover or not, you’ll be hooked on this savory pumpkin recipe!

Jump to:

• What is Hummus?
• Recipe Ingredient Notes
• How to Make Pumpkin Hummus
• Variations
• How to eat it
• How to Store
• Recipe

What is Hummus?

It’s a thick Middle Eastern dip or spread made from garbanzo beans, sesame seeds (usually in the form of a paste called tahini), lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and salt.

Hummus has great flavor as well as is an excellent source of vegetable protein and fiber. It’s very easy to make at home and is also readily available in grocery stores.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Garlic cloves. You’ll use three large garlic cloves peeled. They are added to the food processor first so no chopping is required.

Garbanzo beans. Also called chickpeas, you’ll use 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas; drained and rinsed. This is an essential ingredient in classic hummus recipes.

Pumpkin puree. Canned pumpkin puree or homemade pumpkin puree can be used. Be sure to use 100% pure pumpkin; do not use pumpkin pie filling.

Tahini. This is a sesame seed paste sold in containers at the grocery store. It’s a key ingredient in hummus flavor.

Cumin. Use ground cumin, not cumin seeds.

Adobo sauce. This smoky, spicy sauce is sold by itself or in cans of chipotle en adobo (chipotle peppers in adobo sauce). You can extract the sauce from either one. This is what gives the savory pumpkin hummus a smoky, spicy flavor that complements the slightly sweet pumpkin flavor.

Roasted pepitas. Pepitas are the hulls of pumpkin seeds. They are green and found where seeds and nuts are located in grocery stores. You can roast some to top the easy pumpkin hummus if desired (optional).

How to Make Pumpkin Hummus

Printable recipe card at the end of this post.

STEP 1. Mince the garlic

Add the garlic to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the garlic cloves are diced.

STEP 2. Add the rest of the ingredients

Next add the garbanzo beans, pumpkin puree, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini, ground cumin, adobo sauce and kosher salt. Pulse until a smooth consistency.

STEP 3. Serve!

Serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top (optional) and some roasted pumpkin seeds if desired. For holiday entertaining

Variations

Roasted garlic. If you have some extra time roasting the garlic first will give a delicious flavor to the homemade pumpkin hummus.

Using a blender. The hummus can also be made in a blender. It’s easier to scrape down the sides of a food processor and remove the hummus from a food processor; but a traditional blender will also work.

Garnish with pomegranate seeds. This is a great holiday appetizer for a change up from a classic hummus recipe. Sprinkle on some pomegranate arils on top for pretty red color and some extra sweetness. Adding some finely chopped fresh parsley gives a perfect red and green color for a perfect dip for Christmas parties.

How to eat it

Pumpkin hummus is a fabulous spread or a dip. Add it to a sandwich for big flavors.

For dipping serve a bowl of hummus with one or more of the following:

• Quarters of pita bread. This is a classic with hummus being a Middle Eastern dish. (more on a gluten-free pita bread here)
• Veggie sticks. Fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, jicama slices, slices red peppers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas
• Crackers
• Chips (regular or pita chips)

How to Store

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Recipe

Originally published: September 18, 2015 (updated September 2018)