NO Bean Hummus Recipe
I love me some hummus, I mean who doesn’t?! But guess what I don’t love….or rather what doesn’t love me? Beans. You know the saying “Beans, beans the magical fruit the more you eat ‘em the more you toot!” I’m hear to tell you that cute little saying is, in fact, true.
So what’s the deal with beans, why do they make you toot? Well, beans are interesting because they have both the qualities of a starch & a protein. I am a firm believer in proper food combining and if you’re not yet, you should be. Food combining is a game changer - seriously, seriously important. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about then call me, set up a session and we’ll go over the principles in depth).
“Nature combines both starch and protein in beans and legumes, which means that while they are a natural plant food, they are not easy to digest. For weight loss or for anyone with bowel issues, I recommend avoiding starchy legumes.” – Natalia Rose, The Raw Food Detox Diet
So what happens when you have a starch and a protein together? Gas, bloating, and digestive issues. Another factor is that beans contain oligosaccharides. This complex sugar is virtually impossible to digest without some help because humans do not produce the necessary enzymes needed to properly break it down.
A great article from the Weston A Price Foundation says…
When consumed, these oligosaccharides reach the lower intestine largely intact, and in the presence of anaerobic bacteria ferment and produce carbon dioxide and methane gases, as well as a good deal of discomfort, not to mention embarrassment in polite society. (source)
Having experienced this phenomena for myself, I rarely eat beans. But don’t fret, you can still make your hummus and eat it too. Try this awesome bean-free hummus recipe!
You’ll need:
- 1.5 cups zucchini, peeled and chopped
- 1 Tbs Lemon juice
- 2 Tbs tahini
- 2 cloves garlic
- pinch of cayanne
- sea salt to taste
Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. That’s it!!
Health begins in the gut, and a happy gut is bean free! With this delicious recipe you won’t even miss those beans!
Believe me, I recently went on a hummus rampage!! I don’t know what came over me but alllllllllllll I wanted was hummus and carrots, Hank too! Here he is waiting patiently for his carrot stick (no hummus for him)! He looooooooooooves his carrots!
Like so many of us do, I can get caught up in my busy schedule. Last week while on the run, I decided to buy a container of pre-made hummus from the store. One little carton of hummus can’t be bad, right?! Well I will tell you what this experience taught me; I haven’t had beans in quite a while and I won’t be having them again anytime soon! I was so bloated and uncomfortable, now I remember why I don’t advise any of my clients to eat beans either!
Beans are a slow-exit food which means it takes a long time for them to pass through our digestive tract. The longer it takes for a food to exit the body, the more opportunity for waste bi-products to accumulate in the body. All that gas a bloat is happening for a reason, listen to your body’s cues!
If you simply can live without beans here are a few tips to help your body digest them a little more easily:
- Beans should be bought fresh
- Pre-soak in water for at least 8 hours or overnight
- Cook thoroughly - This is the single most important factor in making beans easily digestible. Beans should be cooked until they are soft all the way through, with no firmness or crunchiness.
- Boil beans on high for 10 minutes before main cooking method
- Use supporting spices - Indian cooking uses ginger, turmeric, and sometimes fennel and asafetida to cook with beans to make them more digestible.
So, for those of you who simply CAN NOT live without your beans, be sure to follow these tips to make them more digestible. BUT If you really want to take your health to the next level, forget the beans and try this amazing hummus recipe instead! You’ll be glad you did…and so will the people around you! 
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I can’t wait to try this recipe Linda! I actually have a mild allergy to beans (all types inclunding soy) and although I love hummus, it doesn’t like me.
Becca, I hope u like it!! Let me know what u think!
ahh i must try this ! and get tahini
iherb is amazing thanks for linking us to it (in an earlier post)
Your welcome Cristina!!
xo
Ah need to try this! I love hummus, and usually ahve no problems with beans, especially when they’re soaked, but this sounds like a great alternative for a dip that sits less “heavily” in the stomach (:
You’ll love it Shu!
I’m so confused now!! Everywhere I’ve looked, legumes and pulses have been recommended for consumption if I want to lose weight – which I’ve been trying to do. So are they bad for losing weight then? I’m Indian and we have a legume rich diet. I especially eat a good deal of garbonzo beans and I have red kidney beans with rice too. Is this a bad thing? :// I have to agree that they sit in your stomach for a llong long time. I made the mistake of eating some pre-workout. Bad idea!
Hi Monisha,
I’m not a huge fan of beans for weight loss. They have properties of both a starch and a protein don’t digest well for most people (hence the gas and bloating). If you are eating beans and legumes and still losing weight then I say go for it. But if not, I would try cutting them out for a while and see if that helps
I have a question do you have to cook the zucchini before mixing everything?
Nope, no need to cook the zucchini
I have a ridiculous obsession with hummus and had the hardest time giving it up when I changed my diet. I am literally bouncing with joy right now! Bring on the carrots and pretzel thins!
This is amazing ( I too could not get off the hummus and the beans kill me)!! I put roasted red peppers in it too to make a different flavor.
If beans aren’t easily digestible, what about soy milk? Is that ok? I drink a fair amount of soy milk throughout the day.
I’m not a fan of soy for numerous reasons. 1. It does not digest well and is quite “gluey” in the intestines. 2. It is very estrogenic. With all the hormonal imbalances and illnesses that are rampant today, I stay far away from anything that could throw off this delicate balance.
So quinoa which combines both starch and protein is ok? Is it mostly the oligosaccharides found in legumes?
This is a GREAT recipe! I could take this to a party and nobody would know it didn’t have chickpeas. I like Kat’s idea of putting in roasted peppers, I’ll try that next time. Thanks so much!
Hi Linda!
I found this to be quite watery. Is this how it is ment to be?
Many thanks,
Lisa
no, I’m not sure why it would be watery? Maybe add more tahini to thicken it up?!
Linda,
In food combining, what is quinoa considered? I’m just confused about what I can and can’t eat it with.
Thanks!
Nicole
it’s a starch
Beans, Beans, They make you smart. The more you eat, the more you fart!
) Sorry, I just had to do it! LOL! To heck with proper etiquette. HA HA.
I am a complete Hummus lover. Chick peas (Garbanzo Beans) are a main staple in my diet, and I make hummus once a week. But this does look a little more like a thick sauce then a paste like hummus is. But if we had Zucchini here I would definitely give it a try, even though I have never tasted Zucchini in my life. Is there another Veggie out there that is like Zucchini?
LOL Angela! I’m sure, yellow squash would be nice too! …maybe even cauliflower?! You’ll have to try it and let me know!