Why You Should Try Adding Hummus To Your Mashed Potatoes

When it comes to improving the texture of mashed potatoes, there are many ways to make it creamy. You can go the traditional route and add a pat of butter, you can mix in both olive oil and egg yolk the way Stanley Tucci does, or if you prefer, there's always crème fraiche, Bobby Flay's not-so-secret ingredient. If you're looking for an option that's a little more out of the box, however, consider trying hummus instead.

Though it's often used as a dip and is best paired alongside Mediterranean dishes, hummus is also a great addition to mashed potatoes, Cafe Mom shares. Not only does it make them extra creamy, it also gives them an extra thick, rich but not gluey consistency. As an added bonus, hummus also adds another layer of flavor. Because hummus is made with chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon, you're really amping up the flavor when you add it to mashed potatoes — but not in a way that's overpowering.

While many argue that hummus is tasty enough to eat by the spoonful, you don't want to add so much of it to mashed potatoes that you no longer taste any potato at all. Tasting as you go can work just fine, but according to a recipe for Hummus Shiitake Mashed Potatoes published by Rachel Ray Magazine, half a cup is a good place to start. In fact, it's plenty of hummus for three pounds of yellow potatoes. 

Ray's recipe does rely on an additional cup of heavy cream, but as Cafe Mom shares, hummus can actually be used as a whole substitute. If you'd rather leave it out per the website's suggestion, use a ratio of one cup of hummus per one and a half pounds of potatoes. According to Ray's recipe, the hummus gets folded in as the last step after the rest of the seasoning is added. 

Whether store-bought or from scratch, it's an easy and delicious way to take your mashed potatoes to the next level.