Chocolate Hummus

Whenever I serve dips, I like to make them as healthy and nutritious as possible.  If you pair dips with fresh fruits and vegetables, you can actually have a fruit and vegetable board that will serve as a mini meal.  In this case, I was unaware of the deliciousness known as chocolate hummus.  My previous experience with hummus has always been as a savory, garlic dip that tastes great with vegetables.  While eating lunch at  a restaurant, I tasted this sweet  hummus for the first time, and definitely, had to try and create my own recipe.

This chocolate dip is lightly sweet and packed with protein from the chickpeas.  Were you a kid who always licked the bowl of chocolate cake?  That is exactly what this Chocolate Hummus tastes like, chocolate cake!  What goes well with chocolate?  For me, it had to be fruits--fresh, juicy strawberries, bananas, green apples and mandarin oranges.  Each of these fruits has it's own storied history of scrumptious recipes when served with chocolate.  The chocolate hummus/fruit combo does not disappoint, but feel free to add crackers, bread or any other snack food that you like with chocolate.  This snack is vegan, gluten free, vegetarian and dairy free.

What Is Hummus?

According to experts (source), hummus boasts many nutritional benefits, which is likely why it is a staple in Middle Eastern diets.  I have always considered hummus to be a great addition to a snack or meal, primarily because it offers plant based protein essential for a vegan or vegetarian diet.  Hummus is typically made with garlic, lemon juice, tahini (sesame seeds) and salt and it goes well with vegetables and breads.   (I didn't have time today, but I love to use freshly sprouted garbanzo beans to make hummus.  The flavor is amazing.)  So when making traditional savory hummus, here are so many options for using fresh hummus in your meal preparation.

More importantly though,  in addition to great flavor, Dr. Axe includes these 8 factors as  health benefits of hummus:

1. Good Source of plant based protein
2. Fights Illness and Disease
3. Decreases Inflammation
4. Helps Digestion and Intestinal Health
5. High in Vitamins and Minerals
6. Supports Bone Health
7. Protects Heart Health
8. Boosts Your Energy

With all of those positive qualities, it almost seems like hummus is the perfect food.  In addition to protein and fiber,  chickpeas are also  high in iron, folate, phosphorus and B vitamins.  When you are considering a meal or a snack, the benefits of hummus make it a great choice over foods with little or no nutritional value.

This recipe is a twist on the traditional savory hummus and honestly, it tastes like chocolate cake!  I don't know why, but a recipe that is healthy that tastes like dessert is always a winner.  Additionally, with this recipe, pairing the chocolate hummus with all of this delicious, fresh fruit adds vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to your snack.  When we are always on a quest to eat better and feel better, who doesn't love food that tastes great and that contributes so much to a healthy diet?

Steps To Make Chocolate Hummus

More recipes that you might enjoy:

Chocolate Tea Cake