Cooking Chickpeas: The Make-or-Break Method for Silky Hummus | Masterclass Ep 3

Is it just cooking? No. It’s the make-or-break step. Watch the full SIR HUMMUS MASTERCLASS playlist: https://shorturl.at/LESa6 Subscribe for the full series: https://www.youtube.com/@sir.hummus Episode 3 is where smooth hummus is actually earned. Most people undercook chickpeas and then try to “fix it in the blender.” That is a mistake. That’s why homemade hummus often turns out grainy, heavy, or slightly chalky. For world-class results, chickpeas need to be cooked to a very specific softness, with water level and timing under control. In this episode, I share the method (and ratio thinking) we used at Sir Hummus to cook chickpeas so they mash effortlessly and blend into that light, silky texture. You can scale it to any batch size and any pot - no fixed recipe required. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The Softness Goal: What “ready” actually means (and why visual cues aren't enough). • Aquafaba & Water Level: What to keep, what to add, and when to top up. • Baking Soda: When it helps the cooking process (and when it hurts). • Foam: What it is, why it forms, and how to handle it. • The Checking Loop: How to test softness as you go to guarantee success. • Rescue Plan: What to do if they’re still not soft enough. About Sir Hummus For over a decade I ran Sir Hummus in Amsterdam, serving thousands of bowls and obsessing over the tiny details that make hummus truly great. This series is the full method I wish every home cook had. Consider this my gift to you - thanks for being here. Up next: Episode 4 (Lemons): https://youtu.be/-HRg0wCIGp8 ❓ Question for you: Do you usually keep the Aquafaba for blending, or do you drain it? Let me know in the comments. Timestamps: 0:00 - Cooking intro 0:13 - Masterclass intro 0:21 - Soaking results check 0:46 - Rinsing 1:10 - Scaling the recipe (Ratio Method) 1:43 - Ingredients overview 2:33 - Water and Aquafaba (What to keep) 3:21 - Baking soda (When to use it) 3:50 - Foam: Remove or ignore? 4:28 - Simmering and the Checking Loop 5:26 - The Softness Goal (When are they ready?) 6:05 - Fix low water level (Without slowing the cook) 6:18 - The Softness Test (How to know) 7:09 - Cooling chickpeas (What it changes) #SirHummus #HummusMasterclass #CookingChickpeas #ChickpeaScience #HummusTips #Aquafaba