Weekly Roundup – Delicious Healthy Hummus-y Dips

Each year, hummus continues to grow in popularity. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise… after all, it’s a delicious, versatile, and most importantly, healthy dip. However, anyone who has spent time in the Middle East will tell you, our hummus pales in comparison to the ‘real thing’. Whether homemade or store-bought, American hummus just isn’t nearly as creamy or flavorful.

The one thing we do have is variety. From roasted red pepper to wasabi, a variety of flavors abound. And not only that, people are beginning to expand ‘hummus’ beyond the traditional garbanzo bean—you can now find hummus made with things like white beans, lentils, or sunflower seeds.

In the Middle East and I’ve never seen anything other than the plane Jane garlicky, lemony, oily hummus. While this is undoubtedly delicious… I’m still up for trying something different. Here are a few recipes to consider:

Black Bean Hummus from Allrecipes.com
This is a pretty basic hummus recipe; besides the choice of beans… but the addition of Greek olives kicks it up a notch.

Fresh Basil-White Bean Hummus from Food.com
This is an Italian inspired hummus which contains a bunch of fresh basil and parsley to give it a special flavor.

Sweet Pea Hummus from Food 52
The sweet peas are said to balance out the garlic and lemon to create a nice mellow, green colored hummus.

Indian Lentil-Pumpkin Seed Hummus from Veg Web
One of the most interesting combos I’ve seen. I’m sure the cumin and garam masala (an Indian spice blend) add a delicious kick!

Sunflower Seed Hummus from Life and Health
We were given this recipe by Chef Ron Russell of Sun Cafe in Los Angeles, CA and Plum Cafe in Sacramento, CA.  It has a deliciously mellow texture that’s perfect for veggie dips and sandwich spreads.

 
Even with all this variety, if you’re still looking for a great, traditional hummus recipe we have two for you to choose from.

Mediterranean Hummus by Life and Health (Video)
For how easy this recipe is to make, this is your best bet for basic hummus. It tastes surprisingly authentic. For me, this kind of hummus never gets old.

If any of you are looking for the ‘real thing’, hummus that tastes like it was made fresh in Lebanon, give this article by Food 52 a look. It might just contain the information needed to create the best hummus on the planet. Part of the process involves sautéing your chickpeas with baking soda and later mixing in ice water. It might be more labor intensive than your normal hummus recipe, but the results appear to be worth it.

Enjoy. صحة وعافية

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Jon Ewald, MD

Jon Ewald grew up in Minnesota and has a love for the outdoors. He obtained his medical degree at Loma Linda University, graduating in 2020. He is currently completing his residency in Radiology at University of Pittsburgh.

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