Homemade Hummus that tastes EXACTLY like garlic white pizza! Served with crispy baked zucchini fries for dipping, this pizza hummus and “fries” combination is healthy AND delicious!
“Although we try to control it in a million different ways, the only things you can really do to time are enjoy it, or waste it. That’s it.”
-A.J. Compton, The Counting-Downers
Recently, I have read so many bloggers talking about how summer is going by entirely too fast. I could not agree more. I have SO many items on my summer bucket list yet to cross off. But, time here in rural North Carolina seems to fly by faster than in in Florida. I swear I will look down at the clock on my computer and 3 hours will have passed by, in what seems like the blink of an eye. I find myself thinking, “I just fed Dolce breakfast… when did it become past lunchtime?!”
I read somewhere that time flies by exponentially faster when you are happy. I’m not sure if this NC succubus time warp is due to how extremely happy I am here, or if it is because I’ve started to completely immerse myself in the Carolina Country way of life. I have slowed down. I have literally allowed myself to stop and smell the roses.
I will be working in my office and find myself gazing through the windows, out to the abyss of towering trees in our back yard. It is so peaceful I will almost lose myself in the tranquility. A moment later, I will spot a couple deer or a family of baby foxes who have decided to grace our small portion of the woods with their presence. I won’t even run for my camera to capture the moment. I will just sit back and take it all in. These moments of serenity are surreal, breath taking and humbling. I still can’t believe I live here.
However, needless to say, this countrified version of Cheyanne is not very conducive for this blog. I have been trying extremely hard to reign in my focus and get at least SOME of the items on my summer bucket list, pertaining to the blog, crossed off.
It started with my Chicken Lettuce Wraps utilizing strawberries, and I am continuing today with zucchini… because, I can hardly even believe I have gone through THIS much of summer without ONE zucchini recipe! Well, times they are a changing. Enter these – Baked Zucchini Fries with Roasted Garlic White Pizza Hummus.
The idea for this pairing came from originally craving a pita pizza smothered with hummus and topped fresh summer produce. But, my craving quickly switched to wanting French fries, and then a classic NY style white pizza (we actually DO have a good place near us for Pizza – who would have thunk it out here in the boonies!). Pretty much, I was having a total “chick” moment and could not make up my mind for the life of me. So, instead I decided to find a way to mash ALL of my cravings (No I’m not pregars), into one. And, I have to say, this mash up is pretty damn delicious and healthy! #Winning
The zucchini fries are seasoned with parmesan and Italian flavors, then baked to crispy, crunchy perfection. They are easy, seasonally fresh, light, and definitely addicting! But, fries were only part of my smorgasbord craving. I still needed the pizza component. And, since you can’t have fries without something to dip them in, I decided to take my favorite pizza – White Pizza with Roasted Garlic – and create a dip.
I could have easily just made my marinara sauce and blitzed in some roasted garlic and ricotta or mozzarella, but even the calm of the Carolina’s can’t stop the culinary storm of ideas that is constantly forming in my mind. Instead, I decided to jazz up the hummus I was also still craving.
This hummus is magically delicious. It is ultra-creamy, seriously dreamy, cheesy, garlicy, and light, yet decadent. It actually tasted like my favorite white pizza married my beloved hummus and had a tasty baby (<– Is that weird to say??). With ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, a touch of tomato paste and cloves of roasted, fabulously flavorful garlic, this hummus is the type of dips dreams are made of. Because, give me ALL the pizza flavors minus the carby bloat, plus the protein! #DipDreams
Paired together, the baked zucchini fries and roasted garlic white pizza hummus are a match made in heaven. I was definitely doing the “dip, baby dip”… without putting my hand upon anyone’s hip. (Tell me you know that old school song. No? Google – Freak Nasty). Anyways, cross my heart you guys are going to love this revamp of chips and dip, or veggie sticks and dip, or breadsticks and sauce, or fries and sauce? Whatever you want to compare it to… this stuff rocks the house. Scroll down, hit print and enjoy! Until next time, Cheers and happy dipping – skinny style.
-xoxo-
Cheyanne
Garlic White Pizza Hummus & Baked Zucchini Fries
Ingredients
- Hummus: (yield- roughly 2 Cups)
- 1 Head Garlic
- Sea Salt , to taste
- 1 (15 oz) Can Cannellini Beans – drained and rinsed, but liquid from can reserved (can substitute Chickpeas)
- 3 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil - plus more for drizzling garlic
- 6-7 medium Fresh Basil leaves – roughly chopped (about 2 TBS), plus more for garnish
- ½ Cup Mozzarella Cheese , packed and heaping - freshly shredded
- ¼ Cup Parmesan - freshly grated, plus more for topping
- ¼ Cup Ricotta Cheese *
- 2 tsp Tahini
- 2 tsp Tomato Paste
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- ¼ tsp Dried Oregano
- ¼ tsp Dried Parsley
- ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- ¾ scant tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper , to taste
- Zucchini Fries: (yields – roughly 70 fries)
- 2 large Zucchini (or 3 large) - cut in half, lengthwise, and then into sticks
- ½ Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- ½ Cup Regular Bread Crumbs
- 3 TBS Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning , divided
- ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Kosher salt and pepper , to taste
- ¾ Cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 Large Eggs – beaten
Instructions
- For the Hummus: Roast the Garlic: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the top 1/3rd off of the head of garlic (so the tops of the cloves are exposed). Place on a small sheet of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with sea salt. Wrap garlic tightly in the foil. Place the garlic package directly on the center oven rack and roast for 40-50 minutes, or until garlic is golden brown and soft. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Carefully remove garlic from foil and squeeze the cloves out of the skins. Transfer 5 large garlic cloves to the bowl of a food processor.*
- Pulse the garlic in the food processor until roughly chopped, about 5 pulses.
- Add in all the remaining ingredients, except the olive oil and reserved bean liquid. Process until combined and almost smooth in consistency, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
- With the food processor running, slowly add in the olive oil (though the opening at the top of the processor), and process until smooth. Slowly add in the reserved bean liquid, 1-2 tablespoons at time. Process until desired consistency and thinness is achieved. (I used about 3/4ths of the reserved liquid)
- Taste and adjust for seasoning. Set aside.
- For the Zucchini Fries: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a wire rack insert with nonstick cooking spray and place on a large baking sheet. Set aside.
- Prepare the zucchini: quarter the zucchini lengthwise and then cut each quarter in half lengthwise to create “fries”. Set aside.
- Set up your breading station: In a shallow bowl combine the flour with ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning and season generously with salt and pepper. In a separate shallow bowl add the eggs and whisk well. In a third shallow mixing bowl combine both bread crumbs, parmesan, the remaining ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Bread the zucchini: Working in batches, dredge the zucchini in the flour, shaking off excess. Then dip into the eggs, allowing excess to drip off. Finally place into the panko, pressing to coat.
- Transfer the zucchini onto the prepared wire rack insert. Repeat process until all zucchini are breaded.
- Spray the tops of the zucchini with baking spray. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
- Garnish with chopped basil leaves and serve immediately with Hummus. Enjoy.
Notes
*Keep the rest of the roasted cloves of garlic in an airtight container in the fridge and reserve for another use.
Nutrition
Hello, your delicious garlic white pizza hummus recipe has been featured on The Food Explorer’s “Best 39 delicious garlic hummus recipes on the net” list. Your readers can vote for it here: http://thefoodexplorer.com/appetizer/39-delicious-garlic-hummus-recipes-vote-for-your-favorite/ Good luck! 🙂
One more question can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese?
Hi Peter, thank you for stopping by! You can substitute cottage cheese if you’d like. I personally have not tried that, but the end result should be close enough. Let me know how it goes if you do! Cheers!
I can’t wait to try this, I am drooling here. Thanks for sharing it 🙂
If I were in a room with this recipe… yeah, you best believe I would HOARD IT all to myself!
This one and the pictures are off the hook fantastic! LOVE this hummus and those zucchini fries look so crunchy good Chey.
So glad you’re finding time to slow down and smell the roses there and enjoy. I lived vicariously for a moment visualizing the deer and foxes, how cool is that? I am surrounding by houses and would love that atmosphere. Have a great weekend!
OK this is genius! Those fries look absolutely perfectly crispy! NC sounds amazing!
Girl, you are gettin’ all super duper creative with this post! The hummus sounds fab on it’s own and then you go and throw in some yummy crispy baked zucchini fries. I’m in heaven. AND you have totally sold me on beautiful NC. I am moving there soon, maybe next week and probably to your neighborhood. Watch out! 🙂
This sounds amazing! Yummed and scheduling now to share in my day job recipe brief. Can’t wait to try it! And yay, welcome to the Carolinas! Waving hi from Charlotte 🙂
Cheyanne, how did I miss this post?! Slowing down sounds fabulous to me. . and shouldn’t we allow ourselves that for the summer? 🙂 I felt the same way after moving here to Madison form Seattle . . the slower pace ain’t bad at all! 🙂 But I hear you on wanting to get some recipes and things done for the summer. . after all, there is all the gorgeous in-season fruit and veggies. . LOVE these baked-zucchini-fries!!!! and the garlic white pizza hummus? oh my gawd girl, looks fabulous!
Yum! I love sneaking in those veggies anywhere I can. This is on my list of things to bake this summer for sure. Pinned 😀
I think it is awesome that you are slowing down and stopping to smell the roses! Something I need to be better at!
And that hummus … white pizza hummus???? I love zucchini fries but I am fully focused on that hummus! haha
Next spring, we are moving to southern part of Delaware, which is basically the south. Everything is slower down there (than up here in the north) and there’s tons of trees and farms. I CAN”T WAIT! I grew up in an area like you describe and hate being in more of a city setting. Apartment living is NOT for me! Anyway, these zucchini fries look FAB. And that dip? Amazing! I bet they are phenomenal together! Great share, Cheyanne!
This is SO creative and awesome!!! I love how you just decided to mash everything together. Your descriptions of North Carolina are making me miss it!! When I look out my window I see a helicopter air field on one side and a parking lot on the other…so only like .3 steps down from your serene back yard scene from Bambi.
Wow wow wow Cheyanne! This looks amazing! I’ve never tried zucchini fries before, and I can’t believe these are baked! They look so crispy and delicious. The hummus sounds like the perfect pairing for them too :). I think I could easily eat all of these in one go!!!!
That hummus sounds amazing, must try it and the courgette fries sound brilliant too! This is my kind of food.
Thank you so much for the kind words! If you do try this, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!! Cheers! 🙂
Time is positively FLYING here also! How is it August?! Seems impossible. I feel like I haven’t eaten enough zucchini either, and what a great excuse to eat it this hummus is!
Joanne, I WISH I knew what happened to time. Maybe then I could get it back! lol. Sounds like we both need to hop on the zucchini train before it pulls out of the station. But really, we can still get it in the fall, just not as fresh tasting.. maybe that’s why I have put it off, or forgot about it? Who knows. I’m blonde. lol Cheers, girlfriend!! <3
Oh my! that hummus.. Its amazing.. Totally in love with the flavours.. and the zucchini fries just Perfect.. Can eat them every day.. 🙂
Thank you Arpita! I have been eating that hummus on like everything! #Addicted. Hope you are having a fantastic day! 🙂 Cheers!
This is so creative! Looks delicious!
Thank you so much, Dani! Cheers, girlfriend!
What’s rural NC like? I’ve always been very curious about the Carolinas. Haven’t been to either. I work with two people from Greensboro, and they want to go back.
This looks amazing. And magical. And the answer to all my snack prayers!
Mir, rural NC is gorgeous! But, it’s definately a slower pace of life. No hustle and bustle, and people are genuinely nice. Going into town isn’t as bad as it seems, because the roads don’t really have traffic lights, there isn’t such a thing as rush hour, and the speed limit is 55. Going into town takes me about 10-15 minutes. Now, Greensboro is different. That is an actual city, which I LOVEEEEE! Hubs and I are planning on going there every other weekend. You should plan a trip, I have a feeling you would like Greensboro or Charlotte. And if you want to experience the rural part, give me a call! 🙂 Cheers, girlie! Hope you are having a beautiful day!
I know exactly what you’re saying – there are just way too many dishes I want to make on my summer bucket list! Though these have sky-rocketed up to the top! These look insanely crispy, crunchy, and ridiculously delicious! And that hummus… as always, your combination of flavors are out of this world! Totally crushin’ on my girl 😉
Aw, thank you SO much Kathleen!! You totally just made my day and put a huge cheesy smile on my face! You KNOW I am crushin’ on you back! 🙂 Cheers, my sweets!
these zucchini fries looks SO tasty! and I love that they are baked too! 😉
Thank you, Michele!! 🙂 Cheers, girl!
I want to come live where you live! Your new home sounds heavenly! Summer is definitely going by super fast, but I have to say that I’m kind of over the heat and looking forward to fall. Are you ready for some football?!?!?! I absolutely love these zucchini fries! And that dip? Oh my, there are no words. I’m so trying this very soon. Keep enjoying country life!
Rachelle, you can just come visit me! There isn’t a whole lot to do, but if the weather is still warm we can go to the lake! As long as you pack some of your self brewed beer! I can’t wait till fall either- yay to actual season change!- but, I will miss all the fabulous summer produce. womp womp. Hope you are having a great day and enjoying your weekday vegan diet! lol. Cheers, girl!
So glad you are enjoying your new home. I feel the same way, I’m finding it harder to focus this summer especially when the weather has been so nice. Love these zucchini fries! They are baked to perfection and I love the sound of dipping them in the flavor packed hummus!
Thank you, Kelly! I’m just thinking we should enjoy the outdoors and save our focus for the winter? What do you think? I’m game if you are! 🙂 Cheers, girlfriend- hope you and your precious family are having a great day!
The medicinal air and country living is really getting those creative juices going, and I thought your recipes were already super creative! This sound insanely good! I hope you left a few for your husband, Chey (haha)! I would have found it hard to.
Haha!! Maybe the medicinal air does more than just relax me, huh? I did leave the hubs a few, Thao… but only a few. 🙂 Cheers, girlfriend and thanks for the funny and kind words!!
I’m seriously obsessed with this duo! I love love love baked zucchini fries. I adore hummus but I’ve never tried adding ricotta and all the other fun ingredients you used here…this is definitely a must try.
The summer is going by fast. I still have yet to eat a smore! Best get on that. 🙂
Thank you, Tina! Oh.my.god… I haven’t made anything S’more related yet either!! lol. Are we bad?? 🙂 Gah… another item to add to my list. Cheers, girlfriend! Hope you are having a beautiful day!
MMMMMM, that hummus. I want it all! So delicious.
I feel the same way about summer. My husband and I have only crossed two things off of our summer 2015 bucket list. Cheers to August!!
Thank you, Lauren! I guess we both need to get on our summer bucket lists! I feel like this WHOLE year has been flying by. It needs to slow down so I can breathe! 😉 Cheers, girlfriend- yes, to August!
I’m so glad you are loving your new home, new surroundings, and new way of life 🙂 And I’m also glad you’re constantly coming up with totally delicious flavor mash-ups! Garlic white pizza hummus? Yes please! And of course anything that’s baked but tastes or functions like something fried is a winner. Pinned for sure 🙂
Thank you, Maya!! I, too, totally love when you can substitute actual frying for baking AND it still has crunch! I mean, who doesn’t want to eat more of something and feel less guilty? Not I! Cheers, girlfriend and thanks for the pin too!! 😉
These zucchini fries and white pizza hummus definitely rock the house, my friend! I can think of nothing else I’d rather eat! Loving the crunch and creaminess going on here! A+!!!
Thank you, Annie! I still have a few zucchini and I am planning on making your hasselback zucchini! Can’t wait!! Cheers, my sweets! 🙂
Love this combo! zucchini fries and garlic white pizza hummus, YUM! can’t wait to try this, pinned!
Thank you for the sweet words and the Pin, Ana!! Hope you are having a great day! Cheers, girl! 🙂
I love that quote, and thank you very much for sharing it you have no idea how much it impacted me, it just hit me hard when I read it. Its especially true for me, I try to do way too many things, working fulltime on Wall Street can be stressful, trying to run a blog fulltime and spend quality time with my son and husband, workout and relax sometimes makes you forget about time, and while its not a waste I definitely don’t leave to much in the moment to truly enjoy it. Glad you find the tranquility, and you are embracing it, I will try to do that more often as well.
Oh, I’m SO glad you like that quote Katalina! I definately related to it as well! I hope you find a little time to relax and enjoy time with you family! I had NO idea you worked on Wall Street!! That is so cool, but I can imagine the stress you endure! Plus you run a kick a$$ blog? Dang girl! I am supa’ impressed!!! Cheers to finding a little peace and some much needed R & R for you! <3 xo
It sounds like you are really enjoying everything. You know what I am enjoying? Pizza hummus! What an amazing idea, and so creative.
Thank you, Dannii!! Pizza flavored anything rocks. I’d eat my toes if they tasted like pizza! 🙂 Cheers, girlie!
Can I just tell you how ridiculously IN LOVE with this recipe I am? Like, I want to marry them.
My husband is sleeping, so he won’t know I said that. SHHH! 😉
BUT, I MEAN, PIZZA HUMMUS? ZUCCHINI FRIES? I want it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Pinned!
Ha! You always crack me up, Tay! Your secret is TOTALLY safe with me. Thank you for the sweet comment and the pin! Cheers, pretty lady!
Oh my goodness what a fabulous combination! Those zucchini fries look so crunchy and the hummus sounds out of this world. I want to eat that whole platter full!
Thank you, Allie! I definitely ate a huge platter full of this. But I mean, they are baked zucchini and healthy hummus… so the cheese in the hummus and the breading on the zucchini totally don’t count. 🙂 Cheers, girl!
Girl! You always have the most amazing and creative flavor combinations. Teach me your ways!! These looks awesome. I actually haven’t eaten much zucchini yet this year, which is weird! So these are going on my list ASAP!
OMG, Liz… YOU need to teach me YOUR ways because your blog rocks the house! 🙂 Thank you for the sweet words, girlfriend! Cheers to a fab. day!
Holy moly these look sensational! I want to take a bite out of my screen!
Thank you, Jocelyn! I don’t think the screen will taste as good as the real thing… just sayin’. Lol. Cheers, girlie! <3
These baked zucchini fires look incredible, Cheyanne! Loved so many awesome flavors and full of good health! Happy that you like it in South Carolina! A big YES for these divine beauties! Can’t wait to try these! 🙂
Thank you, Anu! 🙂 Hope you and the little one are having a wonderful day! <3 Cheers!
Hi Cheyanne. First of all, I love your blog, I discovered it very recently and love it. And these zucchini are a must-try. I just picked 3 large zucchini from my friend’s garden (she’s travelling right now) and was looking for recipes that are bit more interesting than what I normally cook with zucchini (soup, fritters, pasta or cake).
Adina, Thank you SO much for the kind words!!! I am so glad you paid me a visit AND actually enjoy my blog! You just made my day!! (insert doin a little happy dance here) Hope you are having a fabulous day! Cheers, girlie! 🙂
Can’t believe these zucchini fries are baked! They look so crisp and golden delicious.
Thank you, Thalia!! They are indeed baked- which means I was able to shove more in my face! Yay! 😉 Cheers, girlie!
I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoy life and are happy! It’s so important in this day and age to really appreciate the small things. 🙂 My summer has been going crazy fast. I took a few weekend vacation trips, but mostly worked at Starbucks. I’m looking forward to my new job in the fall and all it will bring! Thank you for sharing these fries and hummus. What an awesome way to enjoy the summer veggies. 🙂
Thank you, Erin! I can’t wait to hear allll about your new job, I am assuming you will be sharing all the details with us on the blog! I have my fingers crossed it brings you much happiness! Cheers, girlfriend! <3
So glad you like it in South Carolina! The flavors in this recipe are just perfect! Love the combination! The zucchini fries look so crispy! Pinning!
Thank you for the kind words and the pin, Mira!! Cheers, girlfriend! 🙂
Have I told you how jealous I am that you live in North Carolina now? Not really jealous but yearning to be in that great, beautiful state ever since I first stepped foot in it a year and a half ago. And then of course, my trip to Asheville (hello mountains!) makes me want to live there even more! I have heard people speak of the end of summer and I just chuckle a bit. I think to myself, I wish cooler weather was coming to Florida but we still have until the end of October until that happens! One day, one day I will call NC home. 🙂
Until then, I will stuff my face with delicious baked zucchini fries and all things zucchini because it’s one of the best vegetables out there. 🙂
Ha, Julie! You might have mentioned it! I totally feel you on laughing about the “end” of summer as a Floridian. Like, ummm yeaaaa. There is no end! lol. You should just plan a trip up to NC to escape the endless summer! But until then, I like your plan to stuff your face with all things delicious.. like zucchini! Cheers, girl. Stay cool! (<-- like that is possible in Fl... so, stay in doors!) 😉
These zucchini fries look soo good! well done girlie! hugs
Thank you, G! Hugs back! Cheers to a fantastic week!
I picked a bunch of zucchini from my garden this weekend and these fries look amazing! I love that they are so crispy and the flavors are perfect!
Thank you, Ashley! I am so jealous you have a bunch of fresh zucchini in your garden!! I am already looking forward to next summer, because I am SO planting veggies in my new back yard. Now I just have to wait like 9 months. Great. 🙁 Cheers, girlfriend!
Wow, Cheyanne, this is why I love your blog! You always seem to have this incredible ability to combine various flavors, concepts, and cravings into one glorious dish. And it all works! Like I would have never thought to combine pizza and hummus, but somehow you are a genius and made it happen with this amazing dip. And those zucchini fries look perfect. I would totally “dip baby dip” with this …it looks incredible, love! You are so so talented, and I always love your sense of humor when I read your posts! <3
Aww, my sweet, sweet Beeta! Always making me smile! Thank you for being so supportive and such a great friend! Hope you are having a beautiful week! Cheers, girlie! xo
Cheyanne, I buy hummus all the time and have never seen such an awesome flavor as this garlic white pizza!! I am dying just looking at your ingredient list! It looks like the PERFECT hummus recipe!! And I have LOVED zucchini forever, so these zucchini fries will definitely be whipped up at my house real soon! Have a great rest of the weekend! Keep enjoying your new home!
🙂 Thank you, Mary Ann! I love zucchini as well, and I used to make these fries all the time. I don’t know what happened… life I guess. Glad I decided to bring them back from the dead! Oh, and hummus- I look for any excuse to make it! Cheers, pretty lady- hope you are having a fab. week! <3
Sounds like you are really enjoying your new surroundings, Cheyanne! That’s great that you are able to sit back and take it all in, especially when you have this hummus and zucchini fries to keep you company! I am SO loving this hummus flavor! This has got to be the most creative version that I’ve ever seen…love it! And those zucchini fries look so perfectly crisp and delicious! Pinned! Hope you are having a great Sunday!
Thank you so much for the kind words, and the Pin, Gayle! You are always so sweet! Hope you are having a beautiful day! Cheers, my friend! <3
I’ve never seen hummus with so many ingredients in it, haha just teasing. It sounds and looks delicious, Chey! And these zucchini fries are the perfection. Such a pity you’ve lost my address:) You’re so right about summer. I’ve got another issue, though. I’ve got already over 10 perfectly seasonal summer recipes, and I’m not going to slow down this month. I’ll definitely face a dilemma soon what should I publish and what should I discard. Yup, time is going the way too fast. I just started to write this comment 3 minutes ago….but it turned out I spent 3 hours. Just joking:)
Ha! Ben, you are too funny! 🙂 I hope you don’t slow down on the summer recipe sharing lovin’! Bring it on, buddy! Can’t wait to see what you post! As far as picking where to start. Make a list, close your eyes and randomly point to the paper… where ever your finger lies- start there. 😉 Gosh. 400 hours has passed since I started this reply. #TimeWarp. Cheers, Ben!!
So glad you are enjoying the Carolina countryside!
Zucchini fries are the best. Love that these are baked!
Thank you so much, Christin! I am loving it here! And I concur- Zucchini fries rock! Cheers, my dear!