Black Bean Hummus with Baked Cumin-Lime Chips

Our Best Bites Black Bean Hummus introNot long ago I shared some of my experience with fitness and weight-loss.  One of the reasons I finally bit the bullet and published that post after hanging onto it for a while, was that I was carrying a little secret.  When I took those after photos and wrote that post, I was a couple of months pregnant.  I figured it was then or never since I would probably just start getting bigger from that point on!  I had really great intentions going into this pregnancy.  I was sure I would be awesome and fit and amazing and continue to eat healthy foods and fuel my body the right way and everything would be magical.  And then a little someone came along and reminded me who was boss.

baby

Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been disastrous.  I’ve actually kept up working out and weight training and that part of me feels fantastic and strong.  Even for the first 3 months when I was completely wiped out and feeling sick, I dragged myself to the gym every single day and I’m so glad I’ve kept up those habits.  But my nutrition?  That’s another story.  You see, my babies don’t like quinoa, fresh spinach, and lean proteins (go figure).  They’re more of the peanut butter, oreos, ice cream and nutella-straight-from-the-jar types.  And since we’re being honest, we could add onions rings, bbq ribs, melted cheese, and Sour Patch Kids to that list.  And ranch dressing.  And Mexican food.  Lots and lots of Mexican food.  Soooo my latest goal has to been to get a handle back on my nutrition because I have been plumping up way too fast after a first trimester where I literally lived off a diet of straight-up carbs (preferably the fried or sugared kind.)  And since I’ve been craving Latin food like crazy, I started by coming up with some healthier snacking alternatives and this has been one of my favorites.

Our Best Bites Black Bean Hummus with Baked Cumin-Lime Chips

Start with a can of black beans (that have been drained and rinsed) and add them to a food processor.

Our Best Bites Black Beans
Then we’ll add a little tahini.  This combo might sound weird, but trust me, I’ve never led you astray before.   (And if you’re not familiar with tahini, it’s a paste that looks, and even tastes similar to peanut butter, but it’s made from sesame seeds.  You can usually find it in the foreign food aisle of the grocery store, near the Indian foods.)

Our Best Bites Tahini
Add the juice from a big juicy lime

Our Best Bites cut limes
and you’ll need a little olive oil.  I developed this recipe specifically with our Chili Olive Oil in mind- it’s perfection here, but if you don’t have any, you can certainly sub any extra virgin, or our Garlic!

Our Best Bites Chili Olive Oil
The Chili Oil adds just the right amount of flavor and heat.

Our Best Bites Chli Oil
Add some minced garlic, ground cumin, and kosher salt and blend it up.

Black Bean Hummus Pre-Blend
I recommend adding the zest from your lime, too.

lime zest
After it’s pureed (you can leave it as chunky as you like), add water, or additional lime juice, until it’s the consistency you like.  I usually ad 1-2 tablespoons, and then pop it in the fridge to let all of those flavors develop.

While your hummus is chilling, whip up the baked tortilla chips.  Brush some 6-inch flour tortillas with olive oil (I prefer garlic olive oil, like ours)

Our Best Bites Garlic Olive Oil

and sprinkle with a mixture of ground cumin and a couple pinches of salt.  I mix it up right in my palm and then sprinkle on with my fingers.

Spice Mix

Now, I’ve mentioned this in blog posts before, but it’s worth mentioning again.  This is one of my all-time favorite pantry staples.  Any regular reader of this blog knows how much we LOVE our limes and lemons.  And we’ve told you over and over again to never use the bottled stuff.  But there will always be times when you’re in a pinch and you don’t have fresh limes, which is why I always, always have this in my cupboard.  It’s called True Lime  It’s actual crystallized limes (comes in lemon, orange, and grapefruit too.)  You can buy it in these little packets, which is what you most often see in the grocery store,

True Lime

or do what I do and get a big ol’ shaker jar.  I love the convenience of just spooning in however much I need to into recipes.  You can use it in anything you would use fresh limes for.  Just last night I added it to our fresh pico de gallo, and our Fajita marinade.

True Lime Shaker
Bottled lime juice is bitter and lacks flavor, but this stuff?  It tastes just like real, fresh limes (because that’s what it is).  Every time.  I buy mine on Amazon, but you can sometimes find it near the bottled citrus juice, or in the baking aisle of the grocery store.  The reason I’m mentioning it here is because it’s one of the few occasions where it shines in its crystallized form.  Sprinkling it on tortilla chips (either homemade, like this, or warmed store-bought tortilla chips) gives them that awesome lime-dusted flavor that some restaurants and commercial brands use.  It’s kind of a secret ingredient and it’s soooo good.  You can of course skip this part of the chips and it’s fine, but if you grab some it knocks these out of the park.

Our Best Bites Sliced Tortilla
That’s not sponsored- just honestly something I love and use and I thought you’d love it too!  Now, back to cooking.  Cut up those tortillas into wedges and baked them for 10-12 minutes until they’re light and crispy.

Our Best Bites Baked Tortilla Chips
When the hummus is ready, drizzle it with some additional chili oil and sprinkle with some chopped cilantro.

Our Best Bites Black Bean Hummus topped with Cilantro
Serve it with your baked chips (or pita chips, veggies, tortilla chips, etc.)

Our Best Bites Black Bean Hummus
Or I even love it on a wrap with grilled chicken and roasted peppers.  Healthy, with a good dose of protein and fiber and it tastes amaaazing.

Our Best Bites Black Bean Hummus with Baked Cumin-Lime Chips

 

 

Have you all entered our Epiphanie Giveaway??  Hurry over to The Scoop for your chance to win one of these amazing bags (some valued at over $250!)

epiphanie bags

 

woman in denim shirt holding a salad bowl
Meet The Author

Sara Wells

Sara Wells co-founded Our Best Bites in 2008. She is the author of three Bestselling Cook Books, Best Bites: 150 Family Favorite RecipesSavoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites, and 400 Calories or Less from Our Best Bites. Sara’s work has been featured in many local and national news outlets and publications such as Parenting MagazineBetter Homes & GardensFine CookingThe Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times.

Read More

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Questions & Reviews

  1. Congratulations! I was just barely pregnant also when you wrote your post about weight training etc. It has really gotten me to exercise differently (I’m a hard core walker) during this pregnancy (#2), and I am feeling stronger already! Because of your post, I did a whole bunch of research on what is okay during pregnancy…and it’s a lot! I’m enjoying learning how to move my to feel better– and my 2 year old son enjoys working out with me. I use weights, and he uses toy hammers. 🙂 This recipe sounds pretty yummy. I will have to try it! And thanks for the true lime tip!

  2. Haha such a little bossy thing! But anything that can promote the creation of such recipes is okay by me. Love this hummus and especially the chips.

  3. Every good intention went out the window for me too when I went through my pregnancies! I figured I deserved all my carbs after not keeping anything down for 4 1/2 months. 🙂
    Congratulations!! (Oh, and I am looking forward to making this recipe!)

  4. This looks delicious! Congrats on your new little one! SO exciting!
    I bought myself your four pack of olive oils for Mother’s Day. 🙂 Last night we used the lemon oil on shrimp before we grilled them. DELICIOUS!

  5. Congrats! I am in a similar boat. Finally lost the last of my weight from my last baby and now trying to eat healthy and stay active for #4! Hang in there!

    1. Haha, good luck! If nothing else, I now know I can knock it all off and get fit quickly after the baby too, lol. Good luck to you too!

  6. Congrats again! I must have missed the true lime in the other posts, but it’s in my Amazon cart right now!! I had no idea this was out there. I’m always running out of lemon/lime, or buying too many and throwing them away.

  7. CONGRATULATIONS! I knew when you posted earlier about wanting another baby that it was just a matter of time. How exciting!! You go girl (and I too hope you get a little girl – so adorable she will be with those big brothers!!)

  8. Hope you get a girl!!! I just had a baby boy 13 weeks ago and love to nurse him. I have decided the body packs on the fat during pregnancy so that it has a store to make creamy milk for when the baby arrives. So don’t feel bad about a few pounds, it is all for the baby. You are health conscious and it will all come off in due time. You did give us a little bit of a hint that you wanted another baby, and I guessed one must be coming very soon, and so it is! Happy pregnancy!!!!

  9. Congrats!!!! Thanks for keeping it real… I am battling the first trimester food woes right now too and as much as I wish I could tolerate my usually healthy diet, this baby (#3) only likes me when I eat massive amounts of carbs and salty snacks. This recipe might settle in my always churning stomach, so maybe if I get enough energy today, we will whip some up.

  10. Congratulations! I am in the exact same place: pregnant (#5), great intentions, exercising 6 days/wk, but eating to beat the nausea= lots of carbs :(. So…here’s to “at least we know how to get back in shape post baby” :). That little Boss is totally worth it!

  11. WOO-HOO! Congratulations! I, like you, always have WONDERFUL intentions at the start of a pregnancy, but when I’m not feeling well I go straight on to comfort foods and old bad habits. I wish it was easier! Anyways, this recipe sounds awesome, and I am so happy for you!

  12. Congrats Sara. You have been my inspiration since your post on health and fitness. I have always been an exercise guru but after baby #3 it was harder to take off the weight. I since have joined a bootcamp and using fitness pal. What’s always been on my mind is what you said in your post… “to finish”. I have been working out 5 days a week for the last month. I have noticed things are sliming but not weight has been lost yet, but I know I am gaining muscle! Thank you for your post. I love hummus! I am excited to try this! thanks :0)

  13. Yummy! If you want another idea, we’ve been making your other seasoned black beans recipe and pulse it a few times in the food processor with some cheddar cheese to make the best hot black beam chip dip! Love your recipes and congrats on baby!!

  14. Congrats! I was about 2 months along with that post too, so I’m guessing you’re due in October as well. (Wishing you had posted your weight gain with your cravings so I can maybe feel better about mine… 🙂 Unless your idea of plumping up is like 3 pounds. Then I would feel worse.) Good luck!

  15. This looks delicious! I had bought a black bean hummus from Costco a few months back, and I was wanting to lighten it up. This looks like just the ticket! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🙂

  16. I am so excited for you and this new little baby. I appreciate how real you are in your posts. It is always so refreshing. Good luck with everything.

  17. How is it possible that there are no comments here already?!?!?! First let me say, congratulations!!! Baby #4 is one lucky little peanut. Second, this looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it. btw, I always have the true lemon on hand, but haven’t ever tried the lime variety… I’ll have to amend that soon!