Spiced Beef on Hummus

By
Anita Schecter
Anita Schecter_BW
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
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Updated on 05/17/21
Spiced Beef on Hummus

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
438 Calories
24g Fat
19g Carbs
37g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 438
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 30%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 951mg 41%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 37g
Vitamin C 4mg 18%
Calcium 87mg 7%
Iron 4mg 25%
Potassium 630mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Although we most often think of hummus as a vegetarian-based appetizer, a recipe of ground beef served over hummus is not new, and is actually quite a popular mezze on the Middle Eastern table. The warm, spiced beef with creamy hummus creates a wonderful taste and texture pairing that is perfect scooped up with toasted pita bread.

While there are a few ingredients to mix together, this spiced beef on hummus only takes 30 minutes to make, and is great for get-togethers as an appetizer or snack, or is perfect for a family meal.

Serve with a fresh green salad, and this dish can become a favorite dinner during the week.

Ingredients

For the Hummus:

  • 1 1/2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

  • 3 tablespoons tahini

  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Beef:

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 medium onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon baharat, optional

  • 2 to 4 tablespoons beef stock

  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Spiced Beef on Hummus ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. ​To make the hummus, add the rinsed and drained chickpeas, tahini, peeled garlic cloves, lemon juice, water, salt, and black pepper to a food processor. Puree until completely smooth and add any additional seasoning if needed. Scoop into a bowl and place in the refrigerator while you make the beef. (Note that the mixture will be quite loose but will firm up as it chills.)

    add the rinsed and drained chickpeas, tahini, peeled garlic cloves, lemon juice, water, salt, and black pepper to a food processor and puree

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. To make the spicy beef, add the ground beef to a large skillet or cast-iron pan along with the onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and baharat, if using.

    beef and spices in a skillet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Sauté, stirring often, until the meat browns. Stir in the beef stock to moisten and bring the mixture together. Check the seasoning and balance out the flavors if needed. Keep warm.

    beef cooking in a skillet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Bring the hummus to room temperature and then spoon onto a deep plate or shallow bowl, leveling it off and creating a sort of divot in the middle. Add the beef to the center, garnish with the parsley, and serve warm with pita bread on the side.

    hummus in bowl with spiced beef on top with pita

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tips for Making Hummus

  • To make the hummus extra smooth and creamy, you will want to use dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Then drain, rinse, and simmer in water to cover (with a pinch of salt) for about 45 minutes until tender. You can use 1/4 cup of the cooking water in place of the water in the recipe.

Recipe Variations

  • This recipe is delicious as is but, is also the ideal dish for adding toppings and garnishes with various flavors and textures. Grilled eggplant would be welcome, or combine halved grape tomatoes with a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of salt, and a bit of chopped parsley and spoon on top of the beef.
  • You can also add a handful of toasted pine nuts, a drizzle of fruity olive oil, a spoonful of crumbled feta cheese, and some chopped fresh mint.
  • Also, consider serving with lemon wedges and hot sauce on the side.

What Is Baharat?

Baharat means "spices" in Arabic, and it's a spice blend used in Middle Eastern (as well as Greek) cuisine. It adds a sweet, smoky flavor to dishes and can include allspice, black peppercorns, paprika, cloves, cumin and coriander seeds, ginger, saffron, nutmeg, turmeric, and cassia bark. In Turkey, it will include mint, and in Tunisia, baharat means a combination of cinnamon, black pepper, and dried rosebuds.