Better Spreads- Try Hummus Instead of Butter (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for butter in hummus? ›

Hummus is a Mediterranean spread traditionally used for dipping veggies and chips. However, hummus can be used as a healthy alternative to butter. This dip is commonly made from ground chickpeas, sesame seeds, olive oil, lemon and garlic. Choose from several different varieties to find a taste that suits you.

One Tbsp of regular butter with salt can have as much as 11g of fat; 7g sat., 100 cal., 30mg of cholest., and 85mg of sodium. Clearly, toast isn't as innocent as you thought. On the other slice, 1 Tbsp. of hummus has only 1g of fat; 0 sat., 23 cal., 0 cholest., and 53 mg of sodium.

Hummus contains many heart healthy ingredients including fiber, unsaturated fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. Fiber has been shown to help control blood sugars, decrease LDL or “bad” cholesterol, help keep you satisfied after meals and keep you regular.

Even though hummus has lots of great things going for it, you'll want to pay close attention to what you use to scoop it up. For better satiety and nutrition, go with veggie-based dippers like red pepper strips, sliced cucumbers, baby carrots or radishes, and limit highly processed pita chips.

If you find your fridge empty in the butter department or can't tolerate dairy, you can swap it completely with these butter replacements. For 1 cup unsalted butter, substitute 1 cup shortening, ⅞ cup (that's 14 Tbsp. or ¾ cup plus 2 Tbsp.) vegetable oil, or ⅞ cup lard.

While hummus is a very healthy snack option, it should not be consumed in large quantities.

"However, we need to step back and decide if there's something even better." Nut and seed butters, such as almond or sunflower, are naturally rich in heart-healthy fats and also contain fiber and protein, which are not found in butter substitutes. You can also try mashed avocado, hummus, or extra virgin olive oil.

Hummus contains chickpeas, olive oil, and sesame seeds (tahini), which are proven to have anti-inflammatory properties.

"Hummus is made from chickpeas," Hanks explains, "which are a legume. These can be hard to digest for many people, and induce GI inflammation." The surest signs of GI inflammation are bloating, intestinal gas, acid reflux, and abdominal pain.

Can you eat hummus if you have high blood pressure? ›

Veggies Dipped in Hummus

They are also rich in water, which can help you stay hydrated, another important measure for managing high blood pressure. Veggies are great dipped in hummus. Not only is the combo satisfying, but hummus offers some protein, fiber and a little fat, making this a well-rounded snack.

1. Mixed nuts. Nuts are an ideal nutritious snack, providing the perfect balance of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. They're linked to numerous health benefits and are very filling.

Eating more than 70 grams of fiber daily is when digestion issues can occur, a report from Medical News Today states. This would mean eating more than 4.5 tablespoons of hummus can put your body at risk, which is something that's easy to do when using the dip to complement chips or veggies.

Ghee, coconut oil, and olive oil have properties that are comparable to butter, which make them appropriate baking substitutes.

Pumpkin Seed Butter: Ground pumpkin seed butter, akin to other seed and nut butter, provides a smooth texture and a nutty essence, making it a versatile tahini replacement.

When it comes to heart health, butter substitutes (i.e. margarine and soft margarine spreads) are generally the better way to go since they are made from vegetable oils, which means they are cholesterol-free and contain the “good” fats mentioned above: the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.