Easy Hummus Dressing

This delicious hummus dressing is the best way to use up leftover hummus. It’s great for kale salad, grain bowls, or any dish needing a creamy, tangy flavour boost. And it happens to be naturally gluten-free and vegan.

This easy hummus dressing recipe comes together in minutes with just a few simple ingredients. It’s a delicious way to use up any leftover hummus. And it’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

The creamy dressing is also zesty and sweet, thanks to the fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and a dollop of Dijon mustard.

It’s the perfect salad dressing for your next bowl of kale salad. Or drizzle it over a plate of roasted vegetables for a delicious dinner. And it goes well with practically any Middle Eastern food. Try it with crispy falafel bowls – you’ll love it!

Top down view of a spoonful of hummus dressing.

Why you’ll love this recipe

This simple hummus sauce is the perfect addition to any salad. It’s creamy, tangy, and super easy to make – so much better than store-bought dressings. 

Not convinced yet? There are more reasons to love hummus dressing:

  • It’s a great leftover hummus hack: Got a few lonely tablespoons of hummus in the fridge? This dressing is a great way to use it up. 
  • It’s made with pantry staples: When you start with a delicious flavour-packed hummus, you’ll only need a handful of pantry staples to whip up this flavourful, creamy dressing. 
  • It’s super quick and easy: This hummus dressing comes together in minutes and requires minimal effort and no fancy kitchen equipment. 
  • It’s vegan and gluten-free: The simple ingredients make it naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and totally plant-based. 
  • It’s versatile: Keep a jar of hummus dressing in the fridge and use it as a dip, spread or salad dressing to amp up flavours in a simple weekday meal.

Hummus dressing ingredients and substitutes

This creamy, delicious and nutritious salad dressing comes together in under 5 minutes with only a few simple pantry staples. Grab a small bowl and a whisk, and you’re ready to make this easy vegan hummus dressing

  • Hummus: Use store-bought, or make your own hummus in a blender or food processor. You can use any hummus variation like roasted garlic hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, or avocado hummus for an extra silky texture. Try this lemon hummus recipe. Or for a spicy harissa hummus dressing, use spicy harissa hummus.
  • Olive oil: I love the richness and depth of flavour that extra-virgin olive oil adds to the dressing. But if you’re looking for an oil-free hummus dressing, add cold water instead.
  • Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed juice works best for this simple salad dressing. You’ll need one juicy lemon. But you can always use apple cider vinegar instead.
  • Maple syrup: It adds sweetness and balances the acidic lemon juice. I love the smoky, sweet flavour of pure maple syrup. But you can use honey or agave nectar instead. Why not try it with hot honey for extra spice?
  • Dijon mustard: It adds a subtle tang to the dressing and boosts the creaminess. But you can swap the Dijon mustard for more lemon juice. Or use yellow mustard, whole-grain mustard, hot honey mustard (omit the maple syrup) or another Dijon mustard substitute. Just check the ingredients label to ensure that the product is gluten-free and dairy-free should you require it.
  • Sea salt: I added sea salt, but you can use kosher salt or any other type of salt you prefer.
  • Cayenne pepper (optional): A pinch of cayenne powder adds subtle heat to the creamy vegan salad dressing. You can use any fine red pepper flakes or try a cayenne pepper substitute. Try it with Aleppo pepper or gochugaru. But you can also skip the chilli pepper if you’re not a fan of spice. Or substitute it with a good grind of black pepper.

Optional add-ins

I love how simple this dressing is. It requires no chopping, just scooping and mixing. But that is because I use a flavourful homemade hummus or my favourite shop-bought hummus from a local deli. 

If you have somewhat bland plain hummus, you can always boost the flavour:

  • Garlic: Add a minced garlic clove or half a teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Cumin: Add a pinch of ground cumin to boost the savoury hummus flavour.
  • Tahini: Add a tablespoon of tahini paste and whisk together. Then add cold water, a little bit at a time, until it has the desired consistency.

How to make hummus dressing (step-by-step)

This hummus dressing is a great way to use that last bit of hummus. And it comes together in just a few minutes. All you need to do is whisk the ingredients together and adjust the seasoning for a deliciously nutritious, creamy salad dressing.

Step-by-step instructions for how to make hummus dressing.

Step 1: Place all ingredients in a bowl

In a medium-sized bowl, combine: 

  • three tablespoons of hummus
  • two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (or water for an oil-free version),
  • one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • one tablespoon of maple syrup
  • one teaspoon of Dijon mustard
  • a quarter teaspoon of sea salt,
  • and a pinch of cayenne pepper (optional).
All the hummus salad dressing ingredients in a small glass mixing bowl.

Step 2: Whisk until creamy

Whisk the ingredients together until the salad dressing is smooth and creamy.

Or add all the ingredients to a mason jar and shake well for 30 seconds.

Whisked hummus dressing with a small whisk in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 3: Season to taste

Taste your hummus salad dressing and adjust the seasoning. Add more lemon juice if you want a more acidic dressing, more maple syrup for a sweet dressing, and more salt to balance the savoury flavours.

Your hummus dressing is ready to enjoy with salads, roast veggies, sandwiches, and more!

Or refrigerate the dressing in an airtight container for up to one week. Add a splash of cold water to loosen the sauce if it thickens in the fridge.

Close-up of a teaspoon with hummus dressing viewed from above.

And that’s it! Feel free to add other ingredients to customize the flavour and to use up what you have lurking in the fridge. 

Hummus salad dressing serving suggestions

Hummus dressing is a versatile and delicious way to add a creamy, plant-based twist to your salads and dishes. Transform your store-bought or homemade hummus leftovers into a hummus salad dressing with just a few simple ingredients. 

Get ahead on meal prep and whip up an extra-large batch of creamy hummus dressing (the recipe card has a serving-size slider!). Store it in a mason jar and use it throughout the week.

Use the hummus dressing as you would a tahini dressing. Try it in this creamy vegan kale salad (make the dressing extra thick). Or try one of the ideas below.

Elevate your weekday meals with this easy vegan hummus dressing:

  1. Green goddess hummus salad: Drizzle your hummus dressing over a vibrant green salad loaded with fresh herbs, avocado, and crunchy veggies. Add a pinch of Maldon salt flakes and a good grind of black pepper.
  2. Harissa hummus pasta salad: Mix hummus dressing with a tablespoon of harissa paste and add cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, and olives for an irresistible pasta salad.
  3. Greek salad with hummus dressing: Upgrade your classic Greek salad by substituting ranch dressing with a tangy and creamy hummus dressing. The creamy, zesty sauce complements the bold flavours of a Greek salad.
  4. Fresh veggies with hummus dressing dip: Use your creamy vegan dressing as a dipping sauce for crunchy veggies like carrots, sliced bell peppers, and celery fingers.
  5. Grain bowl with hummus dressing: Drizzle your easy hummus dressing over a grain bowl filled with quinoa, chickpeas, and colourful veggies. Try it with this kale and quinoa bowl.

Enjoy this creamy hummus dressing with salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, wraps, and more. It’s a delicious and nutritious way to dress up your favourite dishes with leftover hummus.

Close-up of a teaspoon with hummus dressing viewed from above.

Hummus salad dressing

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5 from 7 votes
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This delicious hummus dressing is the best way to use up leftover hummus. It's great for kale salad, grain bowls, or any dish needing a creamy, tangy flavour boost.
Recipe byAdri
Servings: 8 tablespoons
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 3 tablespoons hummus, store-bought or homemade hummus
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, or water for an oil-free version
  • 1 tablespoons lemon juice, more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
  • pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy. Or add everything to a mason jar and shake vigorously.
  • Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add more lemon juice if you want a more acidic dressing, and more salt to boost the savoury flavours

Notes

  • Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to one week.
  • See the ingredients section for more detail on ingredients and substitutes.

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