Hummus

For the biological matter in soil, see Humus; for the band, see Humus (band).

Hummus with olive oil, lemon juice, cumin and sumac.

Hummus (also variously spelled hamos, houmous, hommos, hommus, hummos, hummous or humus) is a dip or spread which in modern recipes is made from blended chickpeas, sesame tahini, lemon juice and garlic. Hummus has been a dietary staple in various local forms throughout the Middle Eastern world for thousands of years.eddybles.com, Feta Artichoke Hummus, retrieved 28 February 2008

The dish is served in a variety of cultures. The Oxford English Dictionary gives a first citation for the word hummus in English from 1955 and suggests that the name comes from the Turkish word for the dish humus.Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition) CD-ROM Version 3.1.1 (2007), Oxford, Oxford University Press The Greek word for the dish Χούμους is pronounced similarly. Whilst the similarly pronounced word in Arabic حمٌص means chickpea, with the full name of the dish being حُمُّص بالطحينة (hummus bi tahina) which means chickpeas with tahini.

Contents 1 History 2 Serving methods 2.1 Lebanon 2.2 Palestine 2.3 Syria 2.4 Egypt 2.5 Jordan 2.6 Israel 3 Nutritional information 4 References

History

The origins of hummus are unknown. It is one of the oldest known prepared foods and has been used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine for thousands of years.mideastfood.about.com, Hummus 101, retrieved 28 February 2008 Plato and Socrates both noted the nourishing benefits of hummus (hommos in Greek), which has been a part of Greek culture at least since classical times. An ancient Egyptian recipe calls for wine vinegar instead of lemon juice, which did not arrive in the Middle East until about the 8th century CE.ancientnile.co.uk, Ancient Niles Ancient Egyptian Recipes, retrieved 28 February 2008 Hummus\' main ingredient, the chickpea, was one of the earliest crops cultivated in Mesopotamia. Researchers say its nutritional benefits may have led to the early rise of civilization there.http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19325854.300-brainy-chickpeas-conquered-the-world.html

Serving methods

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Hummus garnished with whole chickpeas on a Yemeni serving dish

As an appetizer and dip hummus is scooped with flatbread (such as pita). Among school children, it is often used as a filling in sandwiches served for lunch or as snacks.chron.com, NO McDONALDS / What\'s for lunch for kids overseas? Hummus is also used as part of a meze, as a dressing for dishes such as falafel, grilled chicken, fish or eggplant. It may be garnished with chopped or thinly-sliced tomato, cucumber, cilantro, sautéed mushrooms, whole chickpeas, olive oil and hard-boiled egg. Outside the Middle East it may be eaten with tortilla chips and crackers of various kinds.

Hummus Ful (pronounced /fuːl/) is topped with a paste made from fava beans boiled until soft and then crushed into a mush. Hummus Masubha/Mashawsha is a mixture of hummus paste, warm chickpeas and tahini.

Lebanon

In Lebanon hummus may be garnished with colorful vegetables along with parsley and sumac. Pickled turnips along with pickled cucumbers and hot green peppers may be served on the side with a traditional garnish of sour pomegranate seeds.

Hummus Awarma is topped with minced meat, onions and pine nuts.

Palestine

Hummus with pine nuts

In Palestine hummus has been a staple food, where chickpeas are often enjoyed fresh off the vine. Hummus has always been present in at least one meal and is garnished with olive oil and mint leaves, paprika, parsley, or cumin.Ibrahim, Lailie, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Hummus, a Palestinian staple, 31 March 2006, retrieved 9 March 2008

Syria

Arto der Hartoiunian in his Vegetarian Dishes from the Middle East describes hummus as "one of the most popular and best-known of all Syrian dishes" and as "a must on any mezzeh table".Arto der Hartoiunian Vegetarian Dishes from the Middle East, London 1983, p.33. Syrians in the Arab diaspora in Canada continue to prepare and consume hummus and other dishes like falafel, kibbe, and tabouleh, even among the third and fourth-generation offspring of the original emigrants.Paul R. Magocsi (1999). Encyclopedia of Canada\'s Peoples. University of Toronto Press, p. 1244. ISBN 0802029388. 

Egypt

Hummus is traditionally garnished with cumin in Egypt.

Jordan

In Jordan Hummus mahluta (also known as Kudshiya) is covered with a combination of ful paste and warm chick peas.

Israel

Hummus is a common part of everyday meals in Israel.Even mentioned by the Israel Defense Force Cookbook, see Houston Chronicle "Diversity in the dining room helps ring in Israel\'s new year". Many restaurants in Israel are dedicated to hummus and its variations. Hummus is typically garnished with warm, cooked chickpeas, olive oil, paprika and parsley. Toppings include minced meat, pine nuts, hard-boiled eggs, or a warm mushroom stew. Land of hummus and pita (a hummus glossary). Ynetnews. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

Nutritional information

Hummus is high in iron and vitamin C. The chickpeas make it a good source of protein and dietary fiber. Depending on the recipe hummus carries varying amounts of monounsaturated fat.Hummus NutritionData.com Hummus is useful in vegetarian and vegan diets and like other combinations of grains and pulses, when eaten with bread it provides most of the essential amino acids for humans.

References

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