*Feel free to add more lemon juice to taste. I start with 1 tablespoon when using jarred roasted peppers and 1½ tablespoons when roasting my own. The latter tend to be sweeter and benefit from a touch more acid. From this starting point, I taste and then often add an extra 2 teaspoons or so.
**Harissa paste adds a lovely smoky flavor and a little heat. If you don’t have it, you may substitute a similar chile paste like sambal oelek (or sriracha in a pinch) and start with 2 teaspoons if concerned about level of heat.
***If not a garlic fan, feel free to omit. Conversely, you may add two cloves to heighten the flavor.
Need a sesame-free hummus? I have successfully substituted cashew butter. Its neutral taste works well but also calls for a bit more lemon juice and harissa. Cashew butter doesn’t have an especially nutty taste, so to enhance that flavor you could use 2 tablespoons each cashew butter and peanut butter.