Tags: Food
By Marina Shemesh
Hummus plays a large role in the Israeli diet. Wherever you may find yourself eating something, from a picnic at the beach, an end-of-year party or a conference in a smart hotel - there you are sure to find a plate of hummus.
There are even restaurants in Israel that ONLY serve hummus and no other kind of food. These restaurants, known as a "hummusia" in Hebrew are very popular and Israelis often argue about which hummusia serves the best hummus. Some people like their hummus with cooked fava beans and/ or boiled chickpea kernels, others insist on a boiled egg in their plate (not me!) and others just want a sprinkling of paprika and a dash of olive oil.
Which ever way you like to eat it, hummus is very healthy, very filling and a great vegetarian dish. It is made out mashed chickpeas (garbanzo beans), olive oil and seasoning.
A good plate of hummus MUST be accompanied by a few decent pitot (plural for pita bread). One eats the hummus by breaking of a piece of the pita bread, wiping it in the hummus and then popping it in your mouth.Yummm.... heaven!
And for those of you how thinks it sounds a bit messy - yes, you are right! That is why one is supplied with A LOT of napkins.
I have read in the newspaper that there are a group of "expert hummus eaters" who calls themselves the Hummus Circle. The members of the Hummus Circle travel around the country (probably in their free time) and rate the various hummus restaurants. Sort of like a Hummus Michelin! I think they keep the results to themselves though because I have never seen any leaflet or anything called "The 10 best Hummusiot in Israel".
I may not belong to the Hummus Circle and will probably not travel all around Israel to visit the various hummusiot ( plural for hummusia) but have lived for a while now in Israel and I know a decent hummus when I see...er..taste it.
Read the full article here.
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Tags: Food
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FAQs
In Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon, it is a staple food, often eaten every day, not merely a dip but rather a main dish. It can be found served warm, room temperature, or cold.
What is the healthiest way to eat hummus? ›
“Get creative with different veggies—sliced peppers, jicama, radish slices, celery, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, cucumbers, cauliflower, and broccoli florets are all great ways to change up what you dip into hummus,” Michalczyk says. You'll get a great crunch and tons of nutrition.
What is the cultural significance of hummus? ›
Despite its worldwide popularity, hummus retains its status as a cherished culinary treasure deeply intertwined with Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean food traditions, symbolizing a rich history of trade, migration, and cultural interchange.
Why is hummus so much better in Israel? ›
To some degree it depends on who you ask, but mostly Israeli-style hummus is smoother and creamier than most of the hummus you find in your grocery store. It has a lot more tahini — a paste made from sesame seeds — in it than some other Middle Eastern varieties of hummus.
Is hummus a junk food? ›
Hummus contains a number of healthy ingredients, especially compared with other popular snack foods. This may help people better manage their weight and diet, potentially improving heart health and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Why do you have to eat hummus within 3 days? ›
For starters, homemade humus will almost always spoil faster because store-bought, which is prepared in sterile and contamination-controlled environments. Homemade varieties will generally last anywhere from 3-4 days, whereas store-bought brands generally lasts 6-7 days after opening.
Is hummus more fattening than butter? ›
One Tbsp of regular butter with salt can have as much as 11g of fat; 7g sat., 100 cal., 30mg of cholest., and 85mg of sodium. Clearly, toast isn't as innocent as you thought. On the other slice, 1 Tbsp. of hummus has only 1g of fat; 0 sat., 23 cal., 0 cholest., and 53 mg of sodium.
Is hummus or chickpeas healthier? ›
Traditional hummus has a fat content 4-5 times that of chickpeas alone (Table 1), which may account for the improved blood glucose and insulin response, since dietary fat delays gastric emptying and therefore slows carbohydrate absorption [32,33].
What is the hummus controversy? ›
The campaign against Sabra hummus started on the US West Coast 14 years ago, when anti-Israel activists began denouncing Sabra for donating food to the IDF Golani Brigade.
What bacteria grows on hummus? ›
Hummus is very nutritious, but has a high water activity that supports the growth of several microorganisms, including spoilage microorganisms like Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli [6]. In addition, it is susceptible to microbial cross-contamination during preparation and post-processing [3].
Popular in Middle Eastern cuisine, it is usually eaten as a dip, with pita bread. In the West, it is now produced industrially, and is often served as a snack or appetizer with crackers or vegetables.
How do Greeks eat hummus? ›
There are so many ways to enjoy this protein packed, plant-based dip. Greek Hummus is typically served as part of a mezze platter or by itself with warm pita bread.
How do Jews pronounce hummus? ›
We need to remind everyone that it's pronounced HOO-MOOS, not HUH-MUS. (And that H is a guttural Hebrew chet sound, not a wimpy hay.) I learned the hard way that most Americans do not know the correct way to pronounce the name of this Mediterranean spread.
What is the difference between Greek and Israeli hummus? ›
According to Solomonov, “the secret to great Israeli-style hummus is an obscene amount of tahini.” Unlike Greek-style hummus which is heavy on garlic and lemon, Israeli hummus is all about the marriage of chickpeas and tahini.
Which countries eat the most chickpeas? ›
The highest per capita consumption of chickpea is Turkey (6.65 kg year -1 ) followed by India (5.37 kg year -1 ), Myanmar (4.54 kg year -1 ), Jordan (4.27 kg year -1 ) and Pakistan (4.11 kg year -1 ) (Yadav et al., 2007) .
Who is the largest exporter of hummus? ›
The largest exporter of hummus—an ancient food first recorded in 13th century Cairo and now a staple across the Middle East—is the United States.
Where does most hummus come from? ›
Historians know that it was probably somewhere in the Eastern Mediterranean area of the Middle East. But, it is a part of cuisines all over the world, including Egyptian, Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, and Syrian food. The name itself is Arabic for “chickpea,” but it is a symbol of many different regions.
What is the difference between Greek and Lebanese hummus? ›
However, there are differences; these countries would serve different traditional food with their hummus recipes, and would tend towards making their hummus with local ingredients—i.e., a Greek hummus would likely use Greek olive oil and chickpeas, whereas a Lebanese hummus would use ingredients sourced closer to ...
