OCT

9

Food 1: Middle Eastern Food: Hummus

GEOGRAPHY: History of Chickpeas

The word hummus, (which has various spellings) is an Arabic word meaning “chickpea.” Hummus is a Levantine Arab dip or spread that is made from chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) that have been cooked and mashed, then blended with tahini (a paste made from sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Chickpeas are a vegetable that have been cultivated throughout the Middle East and India for thousands of years. Some sources say that they were growing in the gardens of Babylon.

Many regions around the world claim to be the place where hummus originated. The fact is, that because hummus has been around for so long, and in so many different variations, the exact origin has been lost in antiquity. Several cuisine-related sources speak of a folklore tale in which hummus is described as one of the oldest known prepared foods. Others speak of a legend that hummus was first prepared in the 12th century by Saladin, however this claim is highly disputed.

Despite the fact that the exact known origin of hummus is unclear, we do know that the chickpeas, the main ingredient of hummus, were known to be cultivated in the ancient Mediterranean and the Middle East. Chickpeas
have been around for human consumption for several thousands of years. The chickpea was consumed in ancient Palestine, and was one of the earliest crops in Mesopotamia, as well as a common food on the streets of ancient Rome. It is also known that the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Socrates made reference to the nutritional value of hummus in their writings. Ancient recipes for hummus have also been discovered.

Hummus is a useful food in vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. When hummus is eaten with bread it serves as a complete protein, similar to other combinations of grains and legumes. Hummus is high in iron and vitаmin C, and has beneficial amounts of both vitamin B6 and folate. It is also a good source of protein, fiber and potassium. Due to the fact that chickpeas and sesame seeds are so beneficially healthy for us, and that it has been apart of the human diet for thousands of years, it is no wonder hummus has become known as a nutritionist’s delight.

"The History of Hummus." Top Food Facts. Ed. Shay Bock. Foodie Theme, 2014. Web. 28 June 2014. <http://topfoodfacts.com/the-history-of-hummus/>. 

TRADITIONS: In Mediterranian countries, groups gather for Mezza (pronunciation: mez-ah) in homes and restaurants. Mezze is a tray of appetizers and small, bite-sized foods eaten with your fingers or on small plates.  Popular Middle Eastern mezze include baba ghannouj, hummus, samboosak, and salads like tabouleh. Olives and pickles are almost always included in a mezze spread. 

What is Mezza in Lebanon?

Recipe: Hummas (view this recipe with photos)

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans 
• 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed - OPTIONAL
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.

Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Garnish with parsley (optional).

Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread, or cover and refrigerate.
For a spicier hummus, add a sliced red chile or a dash of cayenne pepper.

YOUR REFLECTION GOES HERE: 

      Paragraph 1 and 2: Summarize what you learned about the food. Include details discussed in the provided videos and links about the region and historical background of the food.  

Paragraph 3: In the last paragraph write a reflection. Share what you thoughts about the food. Would you make this again?  Would you share this with your family? What did you enjoy about this food? What did you take away from this discussion? What did you like and/or dislike about this food?

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Posted 1 week ago by Annie Almekinder

Before today I have never tasted hummus before and certainly have never tried making it either. I really had no idea where it came from or what it was made out of. I learned that humus is a Mediterranean dish that is very popular in the middle east such as Israel and Palestine. However the true origins of the dish are too hard to pin point due to its very old history. Regardless of its true origins, every middle eastern nation will claim that not only did hummus come from them but their hummus is the best. The funny thing is that most of the time their hummus is usually prepared the same. This is evident in the two videos provided above. 

Speaking of how it is prepared, I will go over the recipe as that is something new I learned as well. Making hummus was relatively easy, in fact all you need is chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and a blender. All you do is mix the right amount of each ingredient into the blender and then blend it until the mixture becomes thick and pasty. Afterward you lay it out and put a number of toppings on the hummus for added flavor. These toppings include paprika, powdered peppers, olive oil, and salsa. While hummus can be eaten with anything, I learned that most people eat with either pickles or flat bread. 

My thoughts about this food was that I really enjoyed making it but the taste...not so much. But, just because I didn't enjoy the taste this time around doesn't mean I'm giving up on the food. I think the odd taste was just due to my group's lack of experience with making the dish. I will definitely make this food again for my family to try. I enjoyed the taste of olive oil and the powdered peppers and could taste the potential for awesomeness but yet something was missing. I'm actually excited to try and make it again to perfect the dish. This was a cool way of expanding my culture and I look forward to learning about the rest of the foreign food on the way.