Rice Cakes with Hummus & Cucumber
Two tablespoons of hummus do all the heavy lifting here. The rice cakes bring the crunch, the cucumber brings the cool, but hummus is carrying the plate. Fourteen grams of fat from tahini and olive oil in a single spread.
At 218 calories, this is a light snack built around fat, not protein. Five grams of protein from the chickpeas, and the rest of the energy comes from tahini.
Two tablespoons of hummus do all the heavy lifting here. The rice cakes bring the crunch, the cucumber brings the cool, but hummus is carrying the plate. Fourteen grams of fat from tahini and olive oil in a single spread.
At 218 calories, this is a light snack built around fat, not protein. Five grams of protein from the chickpeas, and the rest of the energy comes from tahini.
Ingredients
- hummus 2 tablespoons
- rice cakes 2 pieces
- cucumber 0.5
Method
-
Spoon the hummus onto the rice cakes and spread it evenly.
-
Cut the cucumber into thin slices.
-
Arrange the cucumber slices on top of the hummus.
-
Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Serve and enjoy!
Take the hummus out of the fridge ten minutes before assembling. Cold hummus is stiff and cracks rice cakes when you try to spread it. At room temperature, it glides on without breaking the base.
Why This Works
Behind this recipe
Will rice cakes spike my blood sugar?
Plain rice cakes have a glycemic index around 82, which is high. But pairing them with hummus changes the picture. Researchers measured hummus at a glycemic index of just 15, producing a glucose response four times lower than white bread. The fat from tahini and the fiber from chickpeas slow gastric emptying, which means the starch from the rice cakes takes longer to reach your bloodstream.
Read the full evidence reviewIs 5 grams of protein enough for a snack?
This is a fat-dominant snack, not a protein snack. The 14 grams of fat from hummus provide most of the energy. If you need more protein, add a few slices of turkey or a boiled egg on the side. The rice cakes and cucumber contribute almost no protein on their own.
Can I prepare this in advance?
Yes, but keep the hummus and cucumber separate from the rice cakes until you eat. Rice cakes absorb moisture fast. Cucumber releases water, and hummus has enough moisture to soften a rice cake within an hour. Pack the components in separate containers and assemble when ready.
