The Origin of Hummus. The World's Best and Yummiest Spread!

Many cultures would love to claim hummus as their own, but unfortunately, because hummus has been around for so long, the exact origin has been lost. Right? No.

Hummus, (also “houmous,” “humus,” “hommus,” or “hommos”) is an Arabic word meaning chickpea. So we know it originated in the Arab world. Case closed.

This spread is made from cooked and mashed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. It is that simple yet it is a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B, and protein. Hummus is also rumored to be an aphrodisiac.

The earliest records date back to the 13th-century cookbooks featuring “hummus”. Chickpeas have been cultivated throughout the Middle East and India for thousands of years. Chickpeas are not only packed with protein, fiber, and folic acid but also have historically been ground and used as a coffee substitute.

Hummus is a popular dish in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Hummus is becoming a global superfood. Today, Hummus has undergone innovation (might be against the hardcore hummus fans) with an infusion of natural herbs such as basil, red pepper, beets, and others. 

Why Hummus is Awesome

Hummus is also gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free. The spread pairs perfectly with snacks such as Wheat Thins, apples, pretzels, carrots, celery, bell peppers, pita bread, and pita chips. Of course, Hummus goes hand in hand with falafel and shawarma! 

In May 2010, Hummus broke world records. The Guinness World Record for the largest dish of hummus weighed in at approximately 23,000 lbs. This hummus, made by 300 cooks in the al-Fanar village in Lebanon, included eight tons of chickpeas, two tons of tahini, two tons of lemon juice, and 155 pounds of olive oil.

This article was previously published on UAE Moments.To see the original article, click here