Hummus also known as ‘chickpeas wit tahini’ is a famous Middle Eastern spread, dip, or savory dish that is usually made from cooked, mashed chickpeas with lemon juice, tahini, and garlic. No one exactly knows the precise origin of the dish but with time, it has become popular in many countries. Depending on the region, hummus may be served as a dip, warm dish for lunch, dinner, or breakfast, etc.
You can also purchase packaged hummus, which has forced many tobacco farmers to switch to growing chickpeas to meet the ever-increasing demand. Fortunately, hummus is quite easy to prepare at home as well. Here’s a detailed guide about how you can treat your taste buds with some delicious homemade humus every day.
A Short History
The hummus or humus is a Middle Eastern culinary preparation that is prepared using chickpea puree and tahini. It is a popular cuisine amongst the Arabs, Jews, and Armenians, etc. However, when it comes to the best hummus recipe, several countries take credit for being the motherland of hummus.
The reason is that hummus is prepared and served in many different ways depending on the region. Today, it has become famous in Europe and America as well.
How to Make Hummus?
If you have a family dinner coming up or just friends coming over for lunch, you can easily prepare hummus using some simple ingredients. To begin with, you are going to need 150 g of dried chickpeas, 1 clove of garlic, cut into four. Next, 80 ml of Tahini, 50 ml lemon juice, 1 C chopped parsley, 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 C teaspoon salt, and 1 pinch of cayenne pepper.
Keep in mind that these ingredients will help serve around 4 persons. In total, the dish should not take more than 10 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
Authentic Hummus: the best hummus (Long Recipe)
If you plan on making authentic hummus, you need to start preparing the main ingredient of your traditional hummus the night before. To do that, you are going to put the dried chickpeas in a bowl, cover them with cold water and leave them for a night.
The next day, you are going to drain the chickpeas and place them inside a pot of cold water that you will bring to a boil. Once it does, let it simmer for around 45 minutes, drain the chickpeas and save the cooking juices. The juices will be poured into a bowl and the membranes will be removed as much as possible.
Then, grab some tahini and mix the chickpeas along with a peeled and quartered garlic clove and some lemon juice. Continue mixing while adding some cooking juice to achieve a creamy, smooth and homogenous taste.
To make the best homemade humus, make sure that the taste is the same across. If you intend to serve the dish to your guests, keep in mind the taste. The taste comes from the Tahini. Generally, the dish should not constitute more than 30% to 40% of tahini.
Authentic Hummus: The Short Recipe
If you happen to be short on time, you can opt for the short recipe version of hummus that is equally delicious. The best thing about this guide to homemade hummus is that you can easily prepare humus within a very short period of time if you suddenly have friends or family members coming over for a meal.
Grab some canned chickpeas from your local superstore and put them inside a pot of water inside the can. Add 2 garlic cloves and some chicken soup powder. If you want, you can also add some sweet potatoes and herbs, etc. Let the chickpeas boil for around 5 minutes.
Then, shift the chickpeas into a bowl, adding 3 tablespoons of cooking juice. Next, using some tahini, mix it with the chickpeas along with a peeled and quartered garlic clove and lemon juice. Mix while adding some lemon juice if needed to obtain a creamy, smooth, and homogenous taste.
What is hummus made of?
In the majority of regions, where hummus is served as a dish, is usually made of cooked chickpeas having been reduced to a very smooth puree and mixed with the tahini. The creamy mash produced as a result is topped or seasoned with lemon juice, salt, and crushed garlic. Finally, hummus is served cold with some olive oil and sprinkled with chili and ground cumin.
Benefits of Hummus
Since hummus is consumed and is a favorite amongst many around the world, some people question its benefits. Fortunately, it has some nutritional benefits to offer. As hummus mostly constitutes chickpeas, which is rich in vegetable proteins, you get almost all your daily nutrients from the main ingredient.
Unlike animal proteins, the ingredients used in hummus do not increase blood pressure and help protect against diabetes and bad cholesterol levels. Adding tahini provides vitamin E and lipids. The latter is known to be an excellent anti-oxidant and helps replenish the skin.
Garlic is also another beneficial ingredient that is known for its mineral content and anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties. At the same time, Cumin helps promote digestion and fresh lemon juice provides Vitamin C.
However, even though there are some great nutritional benefits offered by hummus, but people already suffering from calorie concerns should avoid it, as the dish is high in calories. According to some, it has more or less the same amount of energy that you get from a cheeseburger made in a fast-food restaurant.
Is Hummus Really Healthy?
Yes, healthy hummus can offer many benefits but like with everything else, consuming excess hummus can raise health concerns. There is no doubt that the dish is packed with antioxidant nutrients, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, etc.
On the other hand, some studies state that regular consumers of hummus and chickpeas tend to have a lower waist circumference and BMI as compared to those who do not eat them. Additionally, some studies suggest that hummus might help compensate for the blood sugar spikes from foods with a high glycemic index.
Conclusion
The popularity of hummus is increasing all over the world for all the right reasons. It is easy to prepare, does not take too much time, and can be served and used in different ways. Moreover, it is a powerhouse of essential nutrients but people conscious of their calorie count should be careful. This guide will surely help you prepare a mouth-watering dish, within no time, should your friends and family members decide to give you a visit.