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This White Bean Hummus from Julia Child gets extra flavor from plenty of garlic, Tahini Sauce, and fresh chopped basil! And you can serve this tasty hummus with low-carb pita bread, or use veggie dippers to scoop it up!

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White Bean Hummus in terra cotta bowl with low-carb pita on the side.

This White Bean Hummus from Julia Child is a flavorful white bean dip that’s made with canned beans, fresh basil, lemon juice, Tahini Sauce, garlic, and olive oil. And if you like hummus, I bet you’ll like this version that’s made with white beans.

The amount of beans specified in this recipe is exactly what I measured from one can of beans, so I’ve taken the liberty of specifying a can of beans for the white bean hummus recipe. And that seems to me like good evidence that the cooking goddess may have used canned beans, but you can definitely cook your own beans if you prefer.

It surprised me to see that a recipe from a book published in 1970 included tahini sauce (which Julia called “sesame seed paste”) but that’s definitely the ingredient that gives it the distinctive hummus flavor. I increased the amount of basil a little, and ate my white bean hummus with low-carb pita bread, wishing I was in Paris sharing the plate with Julia Child and Paul. Hope you’ll try this fun hummus recipe with white beans if you’re also a Julia Child fan!

What ingredients do you need?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)

What White Beans did I use for this hummus?

I used canned Great Northern Beans for this recipe, but any small white beans will work.

How is the white bean hummus different from traditional hummus?

Other than the obvious difference of using white beans except for garbanzo beans I think the two things here that are a change from traditional hummus recipes are the lemon juice and the use of fresh basil. But if you like those ingredients, I bet you’ll love this interesting take on hummus!

Other Julia Child Recipes I’ve loved:

I adapted the White Bean Hummus recipe from my one-and-only Julia Child cookbook called From Julia Child’s Kitchen (affiliate link) which has now become a collector’s item! The recipe from that Julia Child I’ve made the most is definitely Julia Child’s Eggplant Pizza and if you like eggplant, I highly recommend trying that one as well!

Julia Child's White Bean Hummus process shots collage

How to make White Bean Hummus (from Julia Child):

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. I made a double batch so I’d have leftovers in the fridge, so be aware that amounts in these photos are two times what the recipe says. I started with canned Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained in a colander.
  2. It was the end of the season for basil, but luckily I still had enough in the garden to use a generous amount of chopped basil.
  3. I used the food processor to partially chop the basil before I added the other ingredients, because I wanted finely chopped basil in the finished dish.
  4. Here’s how the white bean puree looked after I pureed the beans, lemon juice, tahini, and garlic. Decidedly short on looks, but long on flavor.
  5. Serve the White Bean Hummus with low-carb pita bread or use veggie dippers for a version that’s gluten-free and lower in carbs.

Julia Child's White Bean Hummus in bowl with pita bread.

More Dips to eat with Pita bread:

I’m a huge fan of the low-carb pita bread from Joseph’s Bakery, and here are some other dips I’d eat with it:

White Bean Hummus (from Julia Child)
Yield: Makes about 8 servings

White Bean Hummus (from Julia Child)

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Fresh herbs give this White Bean Hummus extra flavor, and I love the fresh basil in this recipe from Julia Child.

Ingredients

  • one 15 oz. can white beans (see notes)
  • 20 leaves fresh basil
  • 1 1/2 T fresh lemon juice (or more)
  • 1/4 cup Tahini sauce
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic (or more)
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 T olive oil (plus more for drizzling on top if desired)

Instructions

  1. Empty the can of white beans into a colander placed in the sink, rinse well with cold water and let drain at least 5 minutes.
  2. While beans are draining, wash basil leaves, spin dry in salad spinner or dry with paper towels, then put basil in the food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.
  3. Add beans, fresh lemon juice, Tahini Sauce (affiliate link), and minced garlic and process until beans are well pureed, about 1 minute.
  4. When mixture is blended, add olive oil through the feed tube, 1 T at a time.
  5. Taste mixture to see if you want more lemon juice, then season with salt and fresh ground black pepper and pulse a few times to mix in.
  6. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired, and serve with pita bread, veggies, or crackers.

Notes

Julia's recipe says garbanzo beans or black beans can also be used.

This recipe slightly adapted from my only Julia Child Cookbook – From Julia Child’s Kitchen.

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 138Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 0mgSodium 256mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 3gSugar 0gProtein 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

© Kalyn Denny
Category: Appetizers
White Bean Hummus with fresh basil, cropped image.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
The White Bean Hummus will never be strictly low-carb because of the beans, but if you check the nutritional information, this might be lower in carbs than you think. I ate it with low-carb pita bread, and you could serve with celery, red bell pepper, or jicama dippers for a low-carb option. Of course, canned white beans are a perfect low-glycemic food, and this dip without the pita bread would be suitable for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. 

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Appetizers to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This white bean hummus recipe was first posted in 2009 as an event celebrating Julia Child’s birthday. It was last updated with more information in 2025.

Pinterest image of White Bean Hummus (from Julia Child)

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