I’m in love with hummus. Some people always have milk in their fridge, I have hummus.
If we’re going to be a society fixated on convenience, immediate gratification and taste, I’m so glad that smashed and seasoned chickpeas are out there because they fit the bill better than anything else in all of those categories.
When the American hummus craze first kicked in, we went pretty conventional with it. You’d find carrot and celery sticks or maybe a bowl of pretzels next to a dish of store-bought hummus. Nowadays, I’m finding out of the box hummus all over the place, so I thought I’d share my three favorite ways to get this nutrition superstar into your mouth.
Middle-Asian. I’m so in love with Avocado and Cucumber Nori Rolls that there is a photo of this amazing wrap on the wall of my office in the waiting area. The combo of Middle Eastern hummus, avocado and cucumber marries perfectly with Asia in this nori-wrapped, un-sandwich that works uh-mazingly for vegan and vegetarian clients, as well as gluten-free eaters and those looking to slim down. If you’re bored with your usual salad, or looking for a carb-less sandwich. Give this one a go!
Transcending. If flavor is what you want, you’ve got to combine za’atar -- which is a blend of sesame seeds, thyme, sumac, salt and pepper -- with your hummus. I tried this one with a seasonal cucumber tzatziki hummus from Tribe and it was amazing. Make a bucket full and serve it up with endive leaves or on top of high quality crackers with thinly sliced radishes. I put it out alongside tapenades and bruschetta with a bottle of rose when I want to make a celebration get together. Per-fec-tion!
Portable-yum. I’ve been a cheerleader of individually portioned hummus from the minute I saw ‘em. I recommend all of my clients toss a hummus snacker in their lunch bag, gym bag, purse and office fridge because they are so easy to turn into a snack (with a handful of crudites) or meal (paired with soup, loaded onto a sandwich or piled on top of a salad) in seconds. They work as an after school snack for your picky eaters and hallelujah there’s no clean up for you!
Happy hummus eating, everyone. There are more ways to spread some garbanzo love than in a dish next to some veggies. Be creative and the deliciousness will follow!