Hack Your Hummus To Give A Major Protein Boost To Salads

Salads are a great way to incorporate fresh and healthy ingredients into your diet. But they can leave you feeling hungry soon after eating them if they lack a sufficient amount of protein. While you could top your salad with grilled chicken, shrimp, or marinated tofu, you don't have to go through the process of cooking another component to get more protein. 

One easy way to add protein to your salad is by using hummus as a salad dressing. Hummus is a nutrient-dense food that can be used as the base for a high-protein dressing. While some hummus salad dressings call for mixing Dijon mustard and lemon juice with the spread, there's an even easier method of turning your favorite hummus into salad dressing. 

Rather than adding more ingredients to the hummus to make the dressing, you can simply thin it out to the perfect consistency.

Start by selecting a high-quality hummus such as your favorite store-bought selection or your go-to homemade recipe. You can choose from a variety of flavors, such as classic, roasted red pepper, or garlic. Once you have your hummus, you'll want to thin it out to create a dressing-like consistency. You can achieve this by mixing the hummus with water or other liquids like lemon juice, olive oil, mild vinegar, or water (keep in mind that it's always easier to add more liquid than to remove it).

To thin out the hummus, start by adding a small amount of liquid and mixing it until it is well combined. Continue to add more liquid, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. The amount of liquid you need will depend on the thickness of the hummus and your personal preference.

Once you have your hummus salad dressing, you can use it to dress any type of salad. It pairs particularly well with Mediterranean-inspired salads such as Greek salad or a quinoa and chickpea salad. And you can add other ingredients to customize the flavor like minced garlic, herbs, or spices.

Give it a try and see how it can transform your salads into a satisfying and delicious meal.