Where Is the Fiber in Hummus?

Hummus Basics

Hummus usually consists of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil blended into a dip-like consistency, but you'll find many variations, some without tahini. Some cooks replace the chickpeas with other legumes and add seasonings, such as cayenne and cumin. Two cups of chickpeas and 1/2 cup of tahini make about 3 cups of hummus. That should be enough to serve eight people a portion of 1/3 cup, the serving size used for fiber values.

Types of Fiber

Chickpeas and tahini contain both types of fiber -- soluble and insoluble. This adds to the health benefits of hummus, because each type of fiber has a different role. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol and keeps blood sugar balanced. The insoluble type is better known as roughage because it adds bulk and helps food move through the digestive tract. Women should consume 25 grams of fiber daily.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are the biggest source of fiber in hummus. If the hummus does not have tahini, 98 percent of the total fiber comes from the chickpeas. With the combination of 2 cups of chickpeas and 1/2 cup of tahini, the chickpeas account for 69 percent of the fiber. Chickpeas can make a good dent in your daily fiber requirement. The chickpeas in one serving of hummus supply 3 grams of fiber, or 12 percent of your daily value of fiber. They're also a good source of protein, folate, iron and magnesium.

Tahini

Tahini is made from sesame seeds blended with just enough vegetable oil to produce the desired consistency. In a bowl of hummus made from 2 cups of chickpeas and 1/2 cup of tahini, the tahini provides 29 percent of the total fiber. You'll get 1.3 grams, or 5 percent of your daily value of fiber, from the tahini in hummus. Tahini also contributes protein, calcium, iron, zinc and B-vitamins.

Garlic and Lemon Juice

The remaining fiber in hummus, which is only two percent of the total, comes from four cloves of garlic and 6 tablespoons of lemon juice. Each one provides 0.3 gram of fiber.