Purple Sweet Potato Hummus

A Colorful Twist on Classic Hummus. A Little Sweet, a Little Savory, and Deliciously Unexpected!

The surprise? A beautiful natural color and a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors. The subtle garlic and nutty tahini in the hummus complement the sweetness beautifully!

Serve it with crisp apple slices, firm pears, or fresh vegetables for a colorful snack, an easy appetizer, or something a little different to share with friends and family.

And the best part? You don’t have to make hummus from scratch. Just start with your favorite prepared hummus and give it a delicious new personality!

Why Purple Sweet Potato Hummus Is Worth Making

This colorful twist on traditional hummus brings together familiar ingredients in an unexpected way. Here’s what makes it worth trying!

• Sweet Meets Savory: Purple sweet potato, cinnamon, and maple syrup complement the subtle garlic and nutty tahini in hummus for a surprisingly delicious flavor combination.
• Naturally Colorful: Beautiful purple sweet potatoes give this hummus its gorgeous color without artificial ingredients.
• Thick and Creamy: A smooth, satisfying texture makes it perfect for dipping, scooping, or spreading.
• Quick and Easy: Start with prepared hummus and cooked sweet potato, then blend everything together in minutes.
• Versatile: Delicious with crisp apples, firm pears, sweet carrots, cucumbers, and celery.
• Easy to Make Your Own: Adjust the sweetness, cinnamon, and consistency to suit your taste.

Not All Sweet Potatoes Are Alike!

Sweet potatoes come in a surprising variety of colors, flavors, and textures. Some are naturally sweeter and moister, while others are denser and starchier. Those differences can influence how much liquid you’ll need and even how sweet your finished hummus tastes.

A Quick Tip: Purple sweet potatoes tend to be denser and drier, while orange-fleshed varieties are often softer and moister. Regardless of which variety you choose, start without additional water and gradually add only what you need for a thick, creamy consistency.

I developed this recipe using a purple-skinned, purple-fleshed sweet potato, similar to the Stokes Purple variety. But other sweet potatoes can work, too!

Which Sweet Potato Should You Use?

Not all sweet potatoes behave the same way in a recipe. Some are naturally sweeter and moister, while others are denser and starchier. These differences can affect the flavor, texture, and amount of water needed to achieve a thick, creamy hummus.

Sweet potatoes come in many varieties, each with its own characteristics. However, grocery stores don’t always identify them by their specific variety names. You may simply see labels such as purple sweet potato, orange sweet potato, or white sweet potato.

Use this quick comparison as a guide, but don’t worry if you can’t identify the exact variety. Pay attention to the flesh color, sweetness, and moisture of your cooked sweet potato, then adjust the recipe accordingly.

For a more detailed look at sweet potato varieties, explore this Serious Eats field guide.

Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams: What’s the Difference?

Despite the names often being used interchangeably in U.S. grocery stores, sweet potatoes and true yams are two entirely different plants! Sweet potatoes typically have smooth, thin skin and flesh that ranges from white and orange to deep purple. True yams have rough, bark-like skin and starchy flesh, and belong to a completely different botanical family. Those orange-fleshed “yams” you see in American supermarkets? They’re usually sweet potatoes!

For this hummus recipe, choose a sweet potato, not a true yam.

What Determines the Final Texture?

The secret to thick, creamy sweet potato hummus isn’t simply how much water you add at the end. It’s the combined moisture from every ingredient that goes into the blender.

Five things influence the final consistency:

• Your starting hummus: Homemade hummus can be thick or loose depending on how much aquafaba or water you use when blending the chickpeas. Store-bought hummus varies in consistency, too.
• Your sweet potato: Different varieties contain different amounts of moisture and starch. Baking, steaming, or boiling can also affect how soft or moist the cooked potato becomes.
• Your maple syrup: Maple syrup adds sweetness, but it’s also a liquid ingredient. Adding more for sweetness can loosen the finished hummus.
• Your blending water: This is the ingredient you have the most control over. Add only what’s needed to bring everything together.
• Your Blender’s Power: A high-speed blender makes it easier to achieve a thick, creamy consistency without adding excessive water. Less powerful blenders may require more liquid to blend smoothly, potentially resulting in a thinner hummus. If you frequently make hummus, sauces, or creamy plant-based spreads, investing in a powerful blender can make a noticeable difference.

My advice? Start thick and work toward creamy!

Combine the hummus, cooked sweet potato, cinnamon, and maple syrup first. Blend, then add water a tablespoon at a time, stopping as soon as you reach your preferred consistency.

For a dip, you may prefer something softer and creamier. For a spread or pinwheel filling, keep it thicker so it holds its shape.

Remember, it’s easy to add more liquid, but much harder to correct a hummus that’s become too thin!

Tips for Making the Best Purple Sweet Potato Hummus

A few simple techniques will help you get the most flavor from your sweet potatoes and achieve a deliciously thick, creamy hummus.

1. Bake for Better Flavor

Baking is my preferred method because it develops the sweet potato’s natural sweetness without introducing excess moisture. Boiling or steaming also works, but those methods may produce a softer, moister sweet potato, requiring less water when blending.

2. Measure After Cooking

Measure ¾ cup of cooked sweet potato, regardless of the variety you choose. Measuring after cooking helps maintain the right balance between the sweet potato and hummus.

3. Let the Texture Guide You

Aim for a thick, scoopable consistency that holds beautifully on an apple slice or vegetable stick. For spreading on toast or filling pinwheels, keep the hummus a little thicker. For dipping, you may prefer a softer, creamier texture.

4. Adjust the Sweetness and Spice to Taste

Sweet potatoes vary in natural sweetness. Some may need a little more maple syrup, while sweeter varieties may need less. Add extra cinnamon a pinch at a time for more warmth, tasting as you go.

5. Give It a Final Stir Before Serving

If you’ve prepared the hummus ahead of time, give it a good stir after refrigeration. If it has thickened, add a small splash of water to restore its creamy consistency.

One Last Thing About Color

Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes create beautiful shades of violet and lavender, while orange- and cream-fleshed varieties produce their own natural colors. The flavor and texture matter more than achieving any particular shade of purple!

How to Serve It

This Purple Sweet Potato Hummus is just as delicious for everyday snacking as it is for entertaining. Its creamy texture and sweet-savory flavor make it surprisingly versatile!

• Fresh Fruit: Pair with crisp apple slices or firm pears for a naturally sweet and refreshing combination.
• Crunchy Vegetables: Serve with sweet carrots, cucumber slices, or celery sticks for a satisfying contrast in texture.
• Appetizer Platters: Add a bowl to a colorful spread of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain crackers.
• As a Spread: Spread generously on toasted whole-grain bread, bagels, or English muffins for a delicious breakfast or afternoon snack. Add thinly sliced apples or pears and a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra-special touch.
• Try Hummus Pinwheels: Spread a generous layer onto a soft flour tortilla, top with very thinly sliced apples or pears, and roll tightly. Slice into bite-sized pinwheels for a fun snack or colorful addition to an appetizer platter.

PLANTifull Fare Notes

Sweet Potato Variety: I developed this recipe using a purple-skinned, purple-fleshed sweet potato. Other varieties can work, but the color, sweetness, and moisture content will vary.

Hummus Matters: Choose a plain, traditional hummus with mild garlic and tahini flavors. Avoid strongly seasoned varieties such as roasted red pepper or extra garlic. For an oil-free option, use homemade hummus or check the ingredients on store-bought varieties.

Consistency Matters: The amount of liquid needed depends on the moisture in your starting hummus, the type of sweet potato used, and the amount of maple syrup added. Blend the ingredients first, then add water 1 tablespoon at a time, only as needed. It’s easy to add more liquid, but much harder to correct a hummus that’s too thin!

Make Ahead: Prepare the hummus in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container. Stir before serving and add a splash of water if needed to restore its creamy texture.

Adjust to Taste: For a sweeter spread, add a little more maple syrup. For extra warmth, increase the cinnamon a pinch at a time.