Thirty years ago, I was introduced to hummos. I ate it at Greek restaurants and Maura made it at home. I loved hummos at first bite and have never lost my taste for the dish.
Not only is hummos creamy and tasty, it is incredibly healthy. Its pure plant nutrition is good for you. Hummos is perfect for sandwiches instead of less-healthy spreads like mayonnaise (which contains eggs).
In the past three decades, hummos has transformed from an exotic foreign dish to a popular item available in any American supermarket. Moms buy it. If you haven't tasted it yet, it's time to try it.
The great thing about hummos is its variety of tastes. Every Greek restaurant makes it differently. You can buy it in stores with over a dozen fun toppings, like roasted garlic or black olives.
Natalie Portman, who's a vegetarian, says she eats her body-weight in hummos every day. I believe that. Hummos is popular around the world, especially in the Middle East.
What is hummos? It's a simple combination of a few natural foods. I'm making some this weekend, so I thought to explain its ingredients to you.
The primary ingredient is chickpeas. In fact, "hummos" is an Arabic word meaning chickpeas. Chickpeas are seeds that are super-high in protein. They're perfect for vegetarians looking for non-meat protein. Plus, they have a pleasant mild flavor.
The second ingredient is Tahini (which is pronounced,"Ta-heen-a"). Tahini is simply ground-up sesame seeds. You buy it in jars in ethnic food-stores. It rarely has preservatives or anything else in it.
Hummos is seasoned by the spices you add. Essentials are garlic and lemon-juice. Optional spices are paprika, salt, pepper and hot peppers.
Making hummos couldn't be easier. Basically you just toss everything in a food-processor and mix it up. You can make it chunky or smooth, depending on your preference. Here's the recipe I'm using today, only I'm doubling the amount of garlic and lemon-juice to make it zestier.
Do you like hummos? Have you ever tried making it?
looove hommus!
ReplyDeletenever tried to make myself - 20 years in berlin with all the levantine restaurants, snackshops and foodstores spoiled me. but now, living in the woods, i start to miss such things. will give it a try :-)
thanks for the recipe!!!!!!
i love hummus, too! i've heard it's easy to make, but never tried making it. so good with pita chips and carrots!
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$600 SPRING Giveaway!
I love it, and I make it too, it's much cheaper to do so, yum stuff x x x
ReplyDeleteI love hummus. We buy it a lot and my husband makes big batches occasionally.
ReplyDeleteBest hummous I ever had was in Israel when I went to visit the sister-in-law. It tastes totally different than what we can buy or even make over here. Now when she comes to visit Canada, I make her bring me a couple of jars of tahini which makes it a bit more like what I experienced there, but still not quite as good!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried Za'atar, Ali? That's an awesome spice to put on an Israeli salad or sprinkle on top of baked pitas with olive oil. Wow, I sure can go on and on and on when I'm talking about food, can't I? ;)
Food is a favorite subject for all of us. Haven't tried that spice -- thanks for the suggestion.
DeleteZa'atar is great in toasted cheese sandwiches too. But on salad with lemon and olive oil is great
DeleteOoooh, never thought about putting it on toasted cheese sandwiches, Selina... guess what we're having for supper tonight. ;)
DeleteI like athough I'm not often to try and eat it as there are only few spots here when you can one fine (and as usual far from my home)
ReplyDeleteyou made me hungry Ally!
Yes and yes to both of your questions. It's one of my all time favourite dips/spreads. Odd as this may sound, it's also surprisingly delicious (especially a more garlicky variety) swirled through mashed potatoes instead of (or in addition to, if you want to be extra decedent, butter).
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific weekend!
♥ Jessica
I LOVE Hummus, but have never tried making it. I had the pleasure of working in Jerusalem, Israel two years ago (stage managed a canadian play at an english speaking theatre festival) and had the best hummus of my life in a tiny tiny little place in the Old City that only served falafel. You sat down (the back of my chair hit the chair behind me - I'm telling you, it was small!) and they put falafel in front of you and asked if you wanted salad. aka. tomatoes and pickles. I dream about that hummus…lol!
ReplyDeleteLisa.
I love hummus too, and used to make it often. Now that I cannot eat pita bread, or any bread, I don't make it as much. I could dip veggies in it but I'm not a big fan of raw veggies. I also like making hummus with the addition of roasted sweet red pepper. It turns the hummus red and adds a subtle and smokey-sweet flavour.
ReplyDeleteI adore homous! Especially the caramelised onion variety! X
ReplyDeleteFunny…we spell it hummus. We make it all the time but I leave out the Tahini. Too pungent for me.
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Suzanne
I love hummus. I grew up on it, being part of my ethnic kitchen. My sister makes it best, very thick and cement-like with extra garlic and lemon
ReplyDeleteHummus is great! We often have it at conferences, because most peeps in my organization are vegetarians :) . It's tasty and a good source of protein.
ReplyDeleteI love hummus! I was really sad when our local Greek restaurant closed down (roughly the time I lost my summer job). They made the best fresh hummus. Now I buy it from Aldi in red-roasted pepper flavor, or occasionally 'veggie' or 'spinach/garlic'. It's excellent spread onto a grilled cheese sandwich!
ReplyDeleteI love chickpeas too. I put them in a ton of things, especially salads. Definitely one of my favorite foods. I've even gotten the DH to enjoy them on occasion, and he is staunchly anti-bean.
mmmmm....I love humous too! I eat it almost everyday. I often leave out the garlic so I can eat it for lunch at work.
ReplyDeleteI think there are as many spellings for hummous as there are different kinds! I adore it, particularly with homemade baked tortilla chips.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT. seriously, use it on sandwiches (don't like mayo) all the time! it's so good for you too! I haven't had much luck making it though, mine seems to turn out a bit bland. you've inspired me to give it another go and use a different recipe and/or brand of tahini this time!
ReplyDeleteI love it and eat it every chance I get but have never made it myself. I guess I never knew how easy it was...
ReplyDeleteHmmm...maybe I should try...
It is one of my most favorite things and I make it quite often & have it with grilled pitas. Hmmm think I need a midnight snack now :)
ReplyDeleteI have never tried it but I am curious to try it now ! I saw it in movies, when I was in New York in 2011, but here in Italy it's not as common. I definately have to try it ! Hugs
ReplyDeleteFashion and Cookies
I used to love it, but when I got pregnant, I lost my taste for it. Isn't that the saddest? I'll probably love it again after the baby arrives.
ReplyDeleteOne of my very favorite things!!! I'm reading the previous comment too and I actually loved it even more when I was pregnant - it was one of the few things I could have with the gestational diabetes. Still love it now too, we have a couple of Mediterranean places near us and we get it at least twice a month fresh from them!
ReplyDeleteI looooooove hummus! And I eat gobs of it nearly every day. I put it on sandwiches, mix with tomato sauce for creamy pasta, and of course with raw veggies.
ReplyDeleteOh yum! I love hummus, especially when it's heavy on the garlic, but I realized after some time that it gives me a belly ache. :-( So depressing. I have to refrain from gorging on it.
ReplyDeletei make it all the time, and then proceed to eat it all in one sitting. i'm a vegetarian, as well, so i eat a ton, although i probably would either way!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment, it means a lot!
ReplyDeleteI love hummus a lot, and it's so easy to make at home, too!
Have a great day,
-Kati
I love hummos! The first time I had it, I didn't know the main ingredient was chickpeas. I'm obsessed with chickpeas and always have been. Grew up on it as a kid. Where my parents are from in a small town in Mexico, people would harvest huge bunches of chickpeas (still on the vine/branch) and let them roast slightly over a fire. Then they would add salt to it...and oh my...SO GOOD.
ReplyDeleteAnd since I'm a huge eggy fan...I noticed your egg comment :) Eggs are actually wonderful for you if the hens are pastured and organic fed. A good way to know if the eggs you buy have been pastured is to look at the color of the yolk. A pale yolk is never good! The darker the orange, the better.
OMG! I don't eat a lot of meat, so I think this would be a great substitute for some meals for Kyle and I. I tend to only buy it when we have a lot of people over and use it as a dip, but it might taste good on a veggie burger, as a spread like you suggested :D
ReplyDeleteI just made a big batch of hummus yesterday! I love it with fresh veggies like those mini sweet peppers and carrots sticks.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of it but have never tried it. I guess it's time!
ReplyDeleteWe eat it all the time, with mini carrots, celery, cracker... I even love it with eggs for breakfast. I will often have poached eggs, some slices of tomatoe, sliced avocado and some hummous. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI have only tried it a few times but I do like. I can't really cook anything though.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very delicious and actually very easy to make too! I love it! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG. I love hummos! I've made it from time to time, but I find that it's best to get it at Greek restaurants. I haven't perfected my recipe. :/
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite dishes ever. I have made it myself but got a little too much tahini in mine. It's much easier to buy it. I can't get the consistency quite right. But yum! Now I want Mediterranean food for dinner.
ReplyDeleteMmmmm, hummous! Love it.
ReplyDeletei can't remember if i've commented on this already--i know i'm caught up on your posts--but i LOVE it. i'll go through phases where it's alll i want for lunch.
ReplyDeleteI love hummus but don't eat it that much… maybe i should eat my weight of it and i will look like Natalie Portman!
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