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Meat, Maghreb and Middle East

Warm hummus with spiced ground beef and pine nuts

Warm hummus with ground beef and pine nuts is a Middle Eastern dish for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, very easy to make, for €2.40 per person. The key to success is blending the hummus long enough for a smooth texture, and letting the beef brown undisturbed so it builds real flavor.

Tonight I'm making you a warm hummus topped with spiced beef and golden pine nuts, with pita bread for dipping.

Warm hummus with spiced ground beef and pine nuts
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.40
Calories per person
570 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Under a still warm chickpea cream, ground beef spiced with cumin and paprika adds crunch alongside golden pine nuts. Lemon juice and tahini bring that tangy edge typical of hummus, while warm pita bread ties everything together on the plate. It's a generous dish you eat with your hands, spoon in one hand and pita in the other.

This is the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight when your pantry has a few cans of chickpeas and some leftover ground beef. Kids love digging a well in the center of the hummus to pour the meat into, and nobody checks their phone while dipping pita. Mon Chou also suggests it on nights when you want a change from classic cold hummus.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned chickpeasoften in the pantry 800 g
  • Tahini 3 tbsp
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Pine nuts 40 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lemon 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Onion 1

Butcher

  • Ground beef 400 g

Bakery

  • Pita breads 4

Allergens Gluten, Sesame, Tree nuts

The step by step recipe

  1. Drain the chickpeas, keeping the liquid, and heat them with one garlic clove in a saucepan. 8 min

    Warm them gently, nicely heated chickpeas blend much smoother.

  2. Blend the chickpeas with the tahini, lemon juice, the other garlic clove, salt, and a bit of the cooking liquid.

    Blend for a long time, two or three minutes, until you get a very smooth cream.

  3. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet, then set them aside. 3 min

    Watch them closely, they go from golden to burnt in just a few seconds.

  4. Sauté the chopped onion in olive oil, add the beef, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, and let it brown well. 10 min

    Let the meat stick slightly to the bottom of the pan before stirring, it builds more flavor.

  5. Spread the warm hummus in shallow bowls, top with the meat and pine nuts, and serve with warmed pita.

    Dig a well in the center of the hummus with a spoon to pour the meat into.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a tahini that's runny and not too bitter, some brands are thicker and need more lemon juice to loosen up.
  • Blend the hummus in a food processor rather than with an immersion blender, you'll get a smoother and airier texture.
  • Serve right after topping the hummus with the meat, the cream cools quickly once it's spread on the plate.

The variations

  • Swap the ground beef for ground lamb for a stronger flavor, closer to the Middle Eastern version of this dish.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the meat with chopped mushrooms sautéed with the same cumin and paprika.
  • For picky kids, serve the hummus and meat warm rather than hot, and offer bread sticks instead of whole pita.

What to serve it with

  • A fresh cucumber and tomato salad
  • Pickled vegetables like cornichons or peppers
  • A hot mint tea

Storage

Plain hummus keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, store the meat separately the same way. The meat freezes well for up to 2 months, though the hummus loses a bit of texture after freezing. Reheat both separately over low heat before assembling.

Questions about this dish

Can I substitute the tahini if I don't have any?

You can use almond butter or white sesame paste in a pinch. The flavor will be a bit less distinctive but the texture will stay creamy.

Do I really need to keep the chickpea liquid?

It's not required but it changes the hummus texture a lot. This liquid loosens the cream and makes it lighter without adding plain tasting water.

Can I make the hummus ahead of time?

Yes, make the hummus the day before and keep it in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat it gently in a saucepan or microwave before topping with the hot meat.

How do I know when the meat is cooked enough?

The ground beef should be deeply browned, almost crispy in spots, with no pink left. Letting the meat sit undisturbed in the pan before stirring helps it brown properly.

How long does it take to make a warm hummus with spiced ground beef and pine nuts?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a warm hummus with spiced ground beef and pine nuts?

About 570 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a warm hummus with spiced ground beef and pine nuts cost?

About €2.40 per serving, or €9.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, sesame, tree nuts. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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