Hummus: origins and recipe

History of hummus

Everybody loves hummus. Made with chickpeas or maybe beans or lentils, hummus is always a good choice for a healthy snack or a nice appetizer, served with bread croutons, breadsticks and crunchy vegetables. It is also a great source of plant-based protein, a perfect option for vegans: you can get it in any store but it is so easy and quick to make at home. No one knows exactly how hummus was created: it probably originated from ancient Egypt, where chickepas were abundant and commonly eaten. The earlieast mentions of hummus date back to the 13th century, and the recipe soon became popular in Greece, too.

Making hummus at home is very easy. You can spread it on pita bread or pair it with raw vegetables. Here is our recipe.

Recipe for hummus

Ingredients

400g boiled chickpeas

3 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)

3 tbsp sesame or peanut oil

2 garlic gloves

Juice of 1 or 2 lemons

salt to taste

sweet paprika for decoration

Tabasco sauce (optional)

Reserve a few whole chickpeas for serving. Combine the remaining, olive oil, tahini, juice of one lemon, a pinch of salt, a splash of tabasco (optional), the peeled and crushed garlic cloves and a few tablespoons of the chickpea cooking water in a food processor and blend to a creamy and smooth purée. Taste it and adjust the seasoning to your taste by adding more lemon juice, or salt or tabasco. Hummus should have a strong and tangy flavour. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, sprinkle with paprika strained through a sieve and garnish with the chickpeas set aside. Serve with croutons.

by Michela Becchi