Becoming A Hummus Connoisseur (2024)

FAQs

What is the hummus controversy? ›

The campaign against Sabra hummus started on the US West Coast 14 years ago, when anti-Israel activists began denouncing Sabra for donating food to the IDF Golani Brigade.

Eating hummus everyday can be part of a balanced diet, as long as you pay attention to the portion you choose and aim to keep it to around 2 to 4 tablespoons at a time. It's a nutrient-rich choice to have regularly. Hummus contains both protein and carbohydrates.

In Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon, it is a staple food, often eaten every day, not merely a dip but rather a main dish.

In culture

Hummus is often seen as an unofficial "national dish" of Israel, reflecting its huge popularity and significance among the entire Israeli population, which Israel's critics describe as an appropriation of Lebanese, Palestinian or Arab culture.

Sabra issued voluntary recalls of various hummus products in 2015 and 2016 due to potential contamination from listeria. This most recent episode dates back to March 2021, when the FDA discovered a tub of Sabra's 10-ounce Classic Hummus contaminated with salmonella during a sampling at retail.

A single serving of this mass-produced hummus is packed with five grams of fat, including one gram of saturated fat. While, yes, fiber- and healthy-fat-packed chickpeas are wonderful for reducing your cholesterol levels, the issue is that many of the added fats in this hummus come from the addition of soybean oil.

But both varieties should last up to 7 days in the refrigerator (for prepared hummus this applies once the container is opened). Like any food, hummus is perishable and is prone to spoilage. When the product no longer smells or tastes the same as it did when originally purchased or prepared, it is time to throw it out.

The answer is not to refrain from hummus completely—just don't eat the whole tub in one sitting and consider the fiber content of the other foods you enjoy with hummus (celery and carrot sticks are high in fiber).

Rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients. The classic ingredients involved in making a traditional hummus like chickpeas, sesame seeds and olive oil have beneficial properties including being anti-inflammatory. In fact, virgin olive oil is said to have an anti-inflammatory action which is on a par with ibuprofen.

Tahini adds a rich, nutty flavor that perfectly balances the earthy taste of chickpeas. The ratio of tahini to chickpeas in Israeli hummus is often higher than in other variations, making it exceptionally creamy and decadent.

What do Israelis eat with hummus? ›

A good plate of hummus MUST be accompanied by a few decent pitot (plural for pita bread). One eats the hummus by breaking of a piece of the pita bread, wiping it in the hummus and then popping it in your mouth.

It turns out that the earliest mention in the fascinating world of medieval Middle Eastern cookbooks of hummus is a 13th-century work attributed to the Aleppo historian Ibn al-Adeem (but that may alternatively have been written by an Ayyubid prince). The strongest evidence now points to Syria as the origin of hummus.

Where hummus comes from, it is a meal—in Israel, for example, it's served at hummusiyas in bowls for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But the grocery store containers we're all used to here in the States are packaged as snacking dips.

Chickpeas have been a part of the Mediterranean diet for centuries, they are even mentioned in Bible. Hummus is mentioned in the Book of Ruth: “Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the hometz.” So it is very likely that Jesus would have eaten hummus although there is no evidence.

No matter how you prefer to eat it, hummus is a tasty and healthy way to introduce more plant-based protein, fiber, and nutrients to your diet. US Department of Agriculture. Beans, Peas, and Lentils. MedlinePlus.

The battle began in 2009, when Lebanon claimed Israel was trying to steal its national dish, turning the dip of sesame paste and chickpeas into an avatar of hostilities in the Middle East.

The FDA has recently announced a recall of Sabra hummus products. The regulatory organization announced that the Sabra hummus was contaminated with salmonella, which could result in food poisoning. Our food poisoning lawyers are currently investigating Sabra hummus recall lawsuits.

Lebanon has held the Guinness Record since and considers itself the victor of the hummus war.