Hummus Bil Lahme (Hummus Topped with Harissa Spiced Lamb)
Silky hummus piled high with sizzling cumin and harissa lamb mince, finished with lemon, parsley and toasted sesame.
Made with Harissa paste and Classic hummus. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.94 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan for 1 to 2 minutes until golden. Tip into a small bowl.
1 min 30 s - 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in the pan over a medium high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and golden.
5 min - 3
Add the lamb mince, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned all over with no pink left. Stir in the garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute.
7 min - 4
Stir in your ready made harissa paste (see the base recipe) and 3 tablespoons of water. Cook for 2 minutes, then season to taste.
- 5
Warm the pittas under the grill or in a dry pan. Spread your ready made hummus (see the base recipe) in a wide, shallow swirl on a platter and make a hollow in the middle.
- 6
Spoon the hot lamb over the hummus. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil, scatter with the sesame seeds and parsley and serve with the pittas and lemon wedges.
Tips
- Warm the hummus slightly before serving if it has been in the fridge. It spreads more easily and tastes better.
- Cook the mince until you see browned, crisp edges. That is where the flavour is.
- Pine nuts are the traditional topping. Toasted sesame or pumpkin seeds keep this nut free.
Storing and freezing
Keep the lamb and the hummus in separate covered containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the lamb until steaming hot all the way through. The lamb freezes for up to 2 months, but the hummus is best fresh.
Questions
Can I make it with beef or chicken mince?
Yes. Beef mince works in the same way. Chicken or turkey mince needs 8 to 10 minutes to cook through fully and benefits from a little extra oil.
Is this gluten free?
The lamb and hummus are, but pitta bread is not. Serve with gluten free flatbreads or rice, or scoop with cucumber and pepper strips.
Can I make the lamb ahead?
Yes. Cook it up to 2 days ahead, cool within 1 hour and keep chilled, then reheat until steaming hot before piling on the hummus.
More made with harissa paste
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.