Hummus - what is it and how to prepare it

There are so many different products unknown to Russian people. Granola, macarons, hummus and many other unfamiliar words fill our store shelves. This article will help you understand what hummus is and what it is eaten with.

What is hummus

Hummus is a traditional cold snack countries of the East, a unique example of cooking. Represents pate or chickpea puree, with the addition of olive oil, garlic and spices. For reference, chickpeas are a type of pea that look similar to a hazelnut kernel. That's why it got its name.

First of all, this dish will be of interest to vegetarians and those who are constantly looking for new diets. The hummus snack has an unusual piquant taste, and its energy value will greatly please those losing weight. Only 25 calories per 1 spoon of product.

The benefits of the main ingredient in hummus, chickpeas, are as follows:

• it contains a maximum of protein and a minimum of fat;
• rich in fiber;
• high concentration of all essential vitamins;
• amino acids that are good for the brain;
• regulates cholesterol;
• selenium is useful for the prevention of cancer and aging;
• normalizes blood sugar;
• stimulates the gastrointestinal tract;
• rich in iron, which is very important for the female body;
• helps build muscle mass.

This appetizer goes with everything and can be served as a sauce for pita bread, chips or bread. It is believed that using cutlery when eating this dish will spoil its taste. Therefore, it is forbidden to eat it with a spoon or fork. You can only dip pieces of bread into it.

Hummus Recipes

To prepare this snack you will need:

• half a kilo of chickpeas;
• olive oil 25-30 ml;
• sesame seeds 20 g or 6 tbsp;
• half a head of garlic;
• lemon juice 4 tbsp;
• zira 1/2 l.;
• salt and spices to taste.

Cooking method:

1. Fill the chickpeas with water, add a spoonful of soda and leave for 12 hours. This is done to make the chickpeas easier to boil, because the product is quite dry.
2. After this time, rinse the beans, place them in a saucepan and cover with clean water. The proportion is 1 part chickpeas and 4 parts water.
3. Place over low heat, cover and cook for about 2 hours. The water should almost completely evaporate and the product itself should become soft. Don't throw out the remaining broth, it will come in handy.
4. At this time, make the dressing sauce.
5. Place the zira in a frying pan and fry over medium heat for 5-7 minutes. The seeds should become fragrant.
6. Add sesame seeds and toast everything together over high heat for a couple of minutes.
7. The seeds should take on a golden hue.
8. Add oil to them and beat with a blender into cream. This sauce is called tahina.
9. Separate the finished chickpeas from the broth and grind into puree. It is recommended to add a piece butter, for tenderness. And the product itself should only be whipped while hot. This will make it easier to chop the chickpeas, and the seasonings will better reveal their flavor when heated.
10. Add broth, seed paste, garlic and oil. Stir again. In fact, it was the Russians who decided to add the broth. Eastern women prefer not to spare oil when cooking. It is quite acceptable to pour about 150 ml per 1 kg of dish. Also, don’t skimp on spices. What kind of oriental dish would it be without a lot of different spices?
11. The finished dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

In almost every country this dish is prepared in its own way, slightly modifying and complementing the classic recipe. You can find a recipe for this snack with the following ingredients:

• cheese tofu;
• almond;
• fresh dill;
• pulp pumpkins;
• soy;
• cucumbers without peel;
• ripe or completely green tomatoes;
• soy sauce.

But the American version of hummus is very different from all others, so we bring it to your attention.

For American hummus you will need:

• fresh herbs basil 100 g;
• boiled chickpeas 400 g;
• beans canned white, in its own juice 1 can;
• olive oil 3 tbsp;
• a couple of cloves of garlic;
• juice of a quarter of a lemon;
• salt and spices to taste.

How to cook:

1. Place the basil leaves in boiling water for 20 minutes.
2. Immediately pour ice water over them.
3. Place in blender and add remaining ingredients. Whisk.
4. Oil should be added gradually, to taste. So does lemon juice.
5. Basil greens can be replaced well with cilantro or parsley.

A recipe for hummus with eggplant or zucchini is also quite popular. It is based on the classic recipe, plus 400 g of eggplant/zucchini.

It is best to eat this dish for breakfast, as it is very nutritious and fortified. But you can also have it for lunch or dinner. The appetizer goes well with all types of meat and mushrooms.