18 Best Substitutes for Olive Oil in Hummus

It’s hard to imagine a life without hummus, isn’t it?

Sometimes it feels like we use the word “hummus” as a verb, but we’re not even sorry about it.

We’ve eaten it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we’ve never once been bored or tired of this incredible dip.

But olive oil can be expensive, and there are times when you just want something different to add to your hummus recipe.

So I decided to do some research on what other oils and veggie liquids work well in your hummus recipe.

So, what’s the best substitute for olive oil in hummus?

The best substitute for olive oil in hummus is tahini. Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds and has a flavor that is similar to hummus. It can be found in most grocery stores and has a very long shelf life.

Tahini also has a neutral flavor and will not overpower the other flavors in hummus, so it is better than olive oil for this purpose.

Read Also: Can You Microwave Olive Oil? Debunking Common Myths

18 Substitutes for Olive Oil in Hummus

Here’s a handy list of 18 substitutes for olive oil in hummus, in case you want to make your own but are out of olive oil:

1. Tahini paste

Tahini paste is made from ground sesame seeds and is used in many Middle Eastern dishes including baba ganoush, falafel sandwiches, and my personal favorite – hummus!

The taste of tahini can be described as nutty with hints of seediness (similar but not quite like peanut butter).

2. Avocado Oil

Everyone knows how awesome avocado is, but did you know that it’s also an awesome olive oil substitute?

Not only does it make a delicious hummus recipe (and avocado toast), but it’s made from the same fruit as olive oil, so if you want to replace your olives with avocados, well… they’re technically the same thing!

3. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil also has a nutty taste, so it works well in any hummus recipe.

If you use this as your substitute, though, I recommend adding some paprika or cumin so the flavor isn’t too subtle.

4. Sunflower oil

This is a great alternative to olive oil, as it is milder in flavor and healthier for you than olive oil. It also costs less than olive oil.

You can usually find it at your local grocery store for less than $10.00 a bottle.

5. Pumpkin seed oil

Pumpkin seed oil adds earthy flavor notes that aren’t overpowering, making it a great substitute for those who want an alternative to olive oil that’s more flavorful, but not too strong.

The color of pumpkin seed oil varies from green (if cold-pressed) to orange (if roasted).

It tastes similar to sunflower or safflower oils, but has a more pronounced aroma when compared to these two oils.

6. Peanut oil

Peanut oil is an excellent substitute for olive oil in hummus recipes because it is high in monounsaturated “good” fat and low in saturated “bad” fat (source).

It also has a neutral flavor, which makes it great for hummus recipes where you want the flavors of other ingredients to shine through.

7. Fruit juice concentrate

This concentrate will add a lot of natural sweetness to your hummus recipe without adding any extra calories or fat/sugar.

It also tastes much yummier than regular fruit juice!

8. Canola Oil

Canola oil is also a great substitute for olive oil in hummus recipes because it has a neutral flavor and can be used in place of olive oil without affecting the flavor or altering the color or consistency too much.

9. Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil is perfect for hummus because it has a light flavor that doesn’t overpower the flavors in your hummus.

It’s also not very expensive and is readily available at most grocery stores.

If you choose this option, make sure to use a high-quality, cold-pressed vegetable oil—the label should say “cold-pressed.”

10. Brazil nut oil

Next, we have Brazil nut oil.

If you want a really strong nutty flavor in your hummus, this is the one for you!

Brazil nut oil has a very strong flavor that can sometimes be overpowering in certain dishes, but not so in hummus!

It tastes great and can even boost your immune system—who knew?

11. Walnut oil

Use walnut oil as a substitute if you want to add a kick of bitterness to balance the sweetness of chickpeas.

This can be particularly useful if your hummus recipe is on the sweeter side.

12. Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil is another superb substitute for olive oil.

It’s very strong in terms of taste, so use it sparingly if you want to avoid overpowering the rest of your recipe!

13. Coconut oil

This one adds a rich, tropical flavor that makes your hummus taste like it was made on a beautiful beach by some handsome stranger you met on vacation.

It can also be substituted for other oils in any recipe that calls for olive oil, so don’t limit yourself to just hummus!

14. Grapeseed oil

This second option is great for people who want something sweeter and more floral-tasting than coconut oil.

It’s still not very sweet on its own, but it will add subtle notes of sweetness and floweriness to your hummus.

You’ll think you’re in a field of lavender with every bite!

15. Hemp seed oil

One of my favorite go-to’s is hemp seed oil, which not only adds omega fatty acids, but also gives hummus a subtle nutty flavor that really complements the chickpea base.

If you’re using this substitution, make sure you don’t use too much—not only could it overpower the hummus, but it could make the mixture too thick!

16. Almond butter

Another substitution I often use is almond butter.

Not only does it add an almost caramel-like sweetness and nutty flavor notes, but it actually gives the hummus a smoother texture than olive oil does.

In fact, when I use this substitution, I generally will eliminate a lot of other ingredients from my recipe—like garlic or salt—and let the natural flavors shine through!

17. Almond oil

Almond oil is another substitution that lends nuttiness to your dish.

I like to use almond oil when I’m making my hummus because it has a rich, nutty flavor, which is a nice compliment to the chickpeas and tahini in the dip.

It also doesn’t overpower the other flavors of the dish with its own taste, so it’s perfect if you want all of the flavors to shine equally.

18. Olive pomace oil

Olive pomace oil is less expensive than other olive oils, and still adds a fruity flavor.

It’s made from the seeds left over after pressing olives for their oil, so it has all of those same amazing health benefits without being quite as pricey as regular olive oil.

This makes it an excellent substitute if you’re looking for something inexpensive but still want a fruity flavor in your hummus!

Why Consider a Substitute for Olive Oil in Your Hummus?

It’s a good idea to consider a substitute for olive oil in your hummus for people who are looking to have the hummus taste like something other than olive oil, if you’re looking for something that will be cheaper than olive oil, or if you have a bad reaction to olive oil.

If you use olive oil as the fat in your hummus, it’s going to taste like olives.

If you’re looking for a different flavor profile, consider using something else.

For example, if you want a flavor that is fresher and more reminiscent of childhood, consider using peanut butter.

Peanut butter is great because it adds a creamy texture and can be used as the base of a dipping sauce.

Or maybe you want something that tastes more like dessert—in which case it might be fun to use hazelnut butter (just make sure not to put too much sweetener in it).

If you want to save money, you’ll definitely want to take a look at alternatives to olives.

It can get expensive to buy high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, and even though hummus only uses about 1/4 cup of it per batch, buying four cups’ worth adds up quickly.

How to Make Hummus without Olive Oil

Who doesn’t love hummus? Some of our favorite dishes are made with this delicious spread, but many recipes call for a lot of oil—especially olive oil.

If you’re looking to cut down on the amount of oil in your diet, or if you just don’t have olive oil on hand, there’s no reason to skip out on a good hummus recipe!

Below, I’ll show you how to make hummus without olive oil, so you can enjoy the flavor and health benefits of it whenever you like!

Here’s how:

Gather your ingredients:

• chickpeas
• sesame seeds
• any other seasonings you like (garlic powder is a great choice)

Directions:

1. Mash the chickpeas in a food processor for about 30 seconds.
2. Add your sesame seeds and continue processing until it looks smooth and creamy (about another 30 seconds).
3. Add your seasoning! We recommend garlic powder because it adds a nice kick, but experiment if you’d like!
4. Give it one last buzz in your food processor—you’re done!