One Dish That Unites the Middle East – The Humble & Exquisite Hummus

There has been an argument for years as to where Hummus really came from. Is it Arab or Greek? When it was first made and where did it originate? These are tough questions to answer, but the one thing that you cannot deny is that it’s delicious. That’s the reason perhaps so many different countries are fighting to make it their own.

Origin of Hummus

No one knows for sure the definitive history of Hummus. However, based on historical facts and information hummus likely originated from ancient Egypt and dates back to the 13th century. The fact that chickpeas are abundant in the Middle East, Hummus which means chickpea must be from the region only.

Greeks believe that Hummus is theirs. This can be explained by the fact that Greeks and Egyptians were trade partners for years.

How to Make Hummus?

They say Hummus takes mere minutes to make but years to perfect. And, it’s true. The recipe for hummus b’tahini (the actual name; ‘hummus’ simply means ‘chickpeas’), consists of chickpeas, garlic, tahini, and lemon.

It’s simple to make, but every home has its own variation of Hummus. Some like it smooth while some prefer lumpy, few prefer a heavy dose of tahini while few like it topped with fava beans or meat.

Here’s a general recipe:

Step 1: Clean the chickpeas & then soak them in cold water for at least 12 hours – overnight is recommended.

Step 2:  Drain the chickpeas and boil it till they soften. You can add salt if you want

Step 3: When the chickpeas soften, add a pinch of baking powder. This helps in softening the skin of the chickpeas & makes the dish softer and creamier.

Step 4: Blend garlic cloves with water until the paste is very smooth. Filter it and keep to add later.

Step 5: Add the boiled chickpeas and the tahini, the garlic water, a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of cumin and blend well.

Step 5: Transfer to a large bowl and squeeze lemon juice and add olive oil. Your Hummus is ready to be served. You can store this in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.

Eat Hummus with pita bread or tortillas, as you like. You can also have Hummus as a dip for vegetables, or grilled meat, or spread on crackers. No matter how you eat it, be assured you are eating something healthy which is delicious too – that’s a rare combination. 🙂

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