Creamy Palestinian Hummus with Spiced Meat Cubes & Pine Seeds

  • Category Appetizer

  • Servings 4-6

  • Prep Time 30 minutes (plus soaking time)

  • Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Intro

One of the recipes I pride myself on making perfectly is Hummus—specifically the Palestinian version. Known for its ultra-creamy texture and consistency, the secret to making it lies in a few key tips and tricks, which I’m sharing with you today.

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Ingredients

For the Hummus:

  • 3 cups dried chickpeas
  • 1/3 cup tahini paste
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Juice of 1 large lemon
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 blocks of ice (medium size, to keep it smooth and cold)

For the Meat:

  • 600 g (approx. 1⅓ lbs) finely minced veal meat
  • 400 g (approx. ⅞ lb) finely minced lamb meat (preferably from the ribs, not the legs)
  • Fat content tip: Aim for 20–30% fat in the meat mixture—belly fat is ideal for best texture and flavor
  • 1 cup (about 20 g) minced fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 medium onion, finely minced and squeezed of excess water
  • 1 tbsp (8 g) flour (optional, helps bind the mixture)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

To Serve / Additional Ingredients

Instructions

For the Meat:

  1. Cut the beef stew into small cubes.
  2. Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil.
  3. Cook the beef cubes for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are fully cooked.
  4. Add the sumac, Aleppo pepper, and salt, then mix well. Set aside.

For the Hummus:

  1. Soak the 3 cups of dried chickpeas for 24 hours.
  2. Drain and add them to a pot with water, salt, and a pinch of baking powder. Simmer for about 1.5 hours until the chickpeas are soft.
  3. Let the chickpeas cool, then remove as much of the skin as possible.
  4. In a food processor, blend the tahini paste, garlic, and lemon juice separately until smooth.
  5. Add the chickpeas, salt, a little of the chickpea cooking water, and the ice cubes to the food processor. Blend well until you have a smooth, creamy texture.

To Serve:

  1. Place the hummus in a serving dish.
  2. Top with the spiced meat cubes, toasted pine nuts, a sprinkle of sumac or paprika, and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
  3. Serve with fresh pita bread.

Recipe Video

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