Where is hummus originally from

Cookbooks from 13th-Century Cairo describe a dish made of cold pureed chickpeas, vinegar, pickled lemon and herbs and spices. No garlic?

Back at Akramawi, I sat at a communal table where I met Noam Yatsiv, a tour guide from the Israeli port city Haifa, who takes his hummus very seriously. He told me that he eats hummus five times a week and has a dog named Hummus, and that hummus comes from Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine.

Yatsiv shrugged. There should be an international law. But the hummus solidarity I found on my travels was the result of a different question. If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc. This has now been corrected. Also, This article has been updated to reflect the ongoing conflict between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights.

These are packed with locals starting at breakfast and crowded out by tourists. Masabacha or hot hummus is a full hummus-based meal eaten for breakfast or lunch.

A huge portion of hummus is served individually, topped with shakshouka , chickpeas, cumin, paprika, chopped fresh parsley, and a whole brownish looking egg which is boiled in black tea. Custom dictates using raw onion scales to scoop the hummus and biting into long green peppers that are served on the side. One thing to note is that hummus is traditionally served in a red clay bowl with raised edges, allowing for convenience of scooping.

Also, for proper eating etiquette, twist your wrist in a clockwise motion instead of dipping right in. No matter where hummus comes from, the important part is using good quality ingredients and making it from scratch.

Soak dried chickpeas or garbanzo beans with baking soda overnight to soften them instead of using canned preserved ones. Squeeze fresh lemon juice, mince whole garlic cloves, blend in tahini paste, extra virgin olive oil, and kosher salt. Balance the measure of each of the ingredients based on your personal preference. His first choice, however, would be Damascus, the capital Syria.

He believes that modern hummus originated in Damascus. The reason for this lies not in the recipe itself, but rather in the plate in which it was served. Hummus is traditionally served in a red clay bowl, gently whisked around so that it piles up along that edge.

This particular type of bowl traces its origin to Syria, and to the rich aristocracy in the city. Join the ZME newsletter for amazing science news, features, and exclusive scoops. More than 40, subscribers can't be wrong. So Perry believes that 18th century Damascus is likely where hummus, as we know it today, originated. They sued Israel for copyright infringement and issued a petition to the European Union to acknowledge hummus as a Lebanese food.

Regular consumption of olive oil also helps in blood pressure levels. Hummus Variations Spicing up the classic hummus is easier than you think. You can choose to keep some of the liquid to add it later to the hummus mixture. Take out the skins of the chickpeas by soaking them in water and rubbing them.

You should be able to see the skins float as you rub. In a blender or food processor, put all your chickpeas in with 2 cloves of garlic.

If your cloves are smaller, go for 3 or 4. Add in half a teaspoon of salt. You can add more or less to taste. Pour 5 tablespoons of Tahini and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Squeeze the lemons in. Work the processor for at least minutes for silky smoothness. Adjust to your taste by adding more salt, tahini or olive oil. Serve on a plate and add garnish to taste. Here are some ideas to give some variety to your hummus dishes: Beetroot Hummus : Add beetroot to give your hummus a vibrant colour and a burst of sweet beetroot flavor.

Chilli Hummus : Add some red hot chillies to the food processor when you are blending the chickpeas to give your hummus a burst of heat. Pumpkin Hummus : Add a cup of cooked pumpkin to your chickpeas while they are blending.

Pine Nuts and Fresh Parsley : Add some browned pine nuts and fresh parsley to your hummus for some extra tang. Sweet Hummus : Add some figs or honey to the hummus recipe. Spinach and Feta Hummus : Add some colour and texture to your standard hummus recipe with these two healthy ingredients. Labneh Labneh is its Arabic name, but if you are trying to look for it elsewhere, it is known as either strained yogurt or Greek yogurt. Tabbouleh Served as a traditional starter in some Arab homes, the Tabbouleh, also spelled as Tabouli, is a vegetarian dish best for those who are diet-conscious.

Fattoush If Tabbouleh requires ingredients to be finely chopped, the Fattoush does it otherwise. Hummus Of course, who could forget hummus and its delicious variations?

What are chickpeas? Where do chickpeas come from? Incorporate Chickpeas to your Diet Chickpeas contain great amounts of nutrients that may help prevent some health conditions. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.