History of hummus
Hummus, the world-famous and much-loved paste that, has its roots in Middle Eastern cuisine. This creamy and velvety paste made from chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), lemon and garlic, has a history dating back hundreds of years. Although the exact origin of hummus is debated, it has undeniably been an important part of the diet for centuries in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine and Egypt.
Hummus is more than just a snack; in Middle Eastern countries it is treated almost as a staple food. Traditionally served with pita, fresh vegetables or as a side dish for meat and fish, hummus has become a symbol of hospitality and togetherness. In many Middle Eastern cultures, the preparation and consumption of hummus is a true ritual to not only satisfy hunger, but also to build relationships between people.
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What to season hummus with?
Classically, hummus is seasoned with garlic, salt and lemon juice. At Mr Cook, we have created a natural seasoning mix for hummus that enhances its original taste. See what Mr Cook's natural hummus seasoning contains and why it blends perfectly:
The base of any seasoning, which helps to accentuate the natural flavours of the other hummus ingredients.
The key ingredient that gives hummus its distinctive warm flavour.
An essential element of classic hummus that adds a hint of spiciness and depth of flavour.
Enriches the flavour of hummus, giving it a slightly spicy and sweet touch.
Adds a touch of sweetness and freshness to the flavour of the hummus, blending well with the rest of the ingredients.
Adds freshness to the hummus, and a hint of acidity is key to balancing the flavours of the hummus.
A classic ingredient that enhances the flavour and adds a touch of spiciness to hummus.
Responsible for adding extra spiciness to the hummus, there is very little of it in our mix, so you don't have to worry about the spiciness dominating the taste of your hummus. Lovers of spicy flavours must reach for an extra dose of chilli - in our opinion, chipotle chilli with a smoky note does the job!
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Hummus recipe with Mr Cook seasoning
Intrigued by our seasoning? Then there is no need to wait - let's make the perfect hummus! Here's our recipe:
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- 2 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
- 1 clove of garlic
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1-2 tbsp hummus seasoning Mr Cook
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh parsley to garnish
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Step-by-step hummus preparation:
1. Prepare the chickpeas for the hummus:
- If you are using dry chickpeas, pour water over them at a ratio of 1:2 (for 1 part chickpeas, two parts water). Leave for 12 hours. Then cook until soft. You can also use canned chickpeas, to save time.
2. Mix the tahini and lemon juice:
- In a food processor or blender, blend the tahini with the lemon juice to a smooth and creamy paste. Blending time should be no less than 1 minute. Add half of the lemon juice at this stage.
3 Add the remaining ingredients:
- Add the cooked chickpeas, garlic and Mr Cook hummus seasoning to the tahini and lemon mixture. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
4 Seasoning:
- Check the flavour and add the remaining lemon juice and Mr Cook hummus seasoning to taste if necessary. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little water or oil to get the desired consistency.
5 Serving:
- Transfer the hummus to a plate, pour olive oil on top and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve with pita bread or vegetables to dip.
6 Enjoy!
- Now you can enjoy the perfect homemade hummus you prepared with the help of Mr Cook seasoning.
Experiment with hummus
Have you already prepared the classic hummus? It's time to experiment! Hummus has gained popularity all over the world, so it's no surprise that many variations of it have been created. Below you will learn about popular ideas for hummus enriched with different ingredients, consider this as a source of inspiration and new ideas.
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Hummus with roasted peppers
Ingredients:
- All the ingredients from the recipe for classic hummus
- 1 roasted red pepper
Preparation:
- Add the chopped roasted red peppers to the classic hummus and blend until smooth.
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Hummus with added spinach
Ingredients:
- All the ingredients from the recipe for classic hummus
- 1 cup fresh spinach
Preparation:
- Add the fresh spinach to the classic hummus and blend everything together to a smooth paste.
Ingredients:
- All the ingredients from the recipe for classic hummus
- 1 ripe avocado
Preparation:
- Add the avocado pulp to the classic hummus and blend until creamy.
Ingredients:
- All ingredients from the recipe for classic hummus
- 1/4 teaspoon chilli pepper (or to taste), for the more adventurous we recommend habanero chilli - dose as desired;)
Preparation:
- Add the chilli peppers to the classic hummus and mix everything thoroughly.
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Hummus with sun-dried tomatoes
Ingredients:
- All the ingredients from the recipe for classic hummus
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil
Preparation:
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes to the classic hummus along with a little of the oil in which they macerated, and blend to a smooth paste.
The perfect hummus - Tips and tricks
Below you will find hints on how to make your hummus perfect. When you decide to make your own hummus you can tailor it to your preferences, it's this kind of experimentation that allows you to take your cooking skills to the next level.
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How do you get perfectly smooth hummus?
- Soaking the chickpeas: If you are using dry chickpeas, you need to soak them before cooking. A ratio of chickpeas and water of 1:2, soaking time of 12h. This will give the hummus a smooth texture.
- Blending: Blend the hummus for at least 5 minutes to achieve a silky texture. Mixing too short is a common mistake that is made when preparing hummus.
Read also: How to season chicken
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Optimum order for adding ingredients to hummus
- It is recommended that you first blend the tahini with the lemon juice to a smooth and creamy paste before adding the other ingredients. This will avoid lumps and ensure a uniform consistency. It's an inconspicuous but effective trick so it's worth remembering!
- Hummus is best stored in a sealed container in the fridge. It stays fresh and tasty for about 3-5 days.
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What if the hummus is too runny?
- Add more chickpeas: Adding extra thoroughly drained chickpeas to the hummus and blending until smooth will help thicken the mixture.
- Add sesame seeds: If you don't have extra chickpeas or tahini, ground sesame seeds can help thicken the hummus.
- Add nuts: Ground nuts, such as almonds or hazelnuts, can thicken the texture of the hummus and add an interesting flavour.
- Refrigerate: Place the hummus in the fridge for a few hours. Refrigeration often thickens the consistency of hummus.
- Evaporate excess water: If you have some time, you can gently heat the hummus over a low heat, stirring all the time to evaporate excess water. Be careful not to overheat or burn the hummus.
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What to do if the hummus is too thick?
- If the hummus seems too thick, you can add a little water (or the water you cooked the chickpeas in), gradually, until you reach the desired consistency. Adding olive oil can also help, but be careful not to overdo it.
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Experiment with additives
- Feel free to add your favourite herbs and spices! Mr Cook's hummus seasoning is a great base, but you can always adapt the taste to your taste by adding more garlic, peppers or herbs, for example.
Summary
We hope you found our hummus journey inspiring and will prepare your perfect hummus yourself! We encourage you to use our hummus seasoning - it will be our pleasure:). We would also like to take this opportunity to tell you that Mr Cook is a Polish family company specialising in condiments. We have been in business since 1982 and offer a wide range of spices and seasoning mixes. When we create blends for international cuisines we focus on authentic flavours and naturalness of the ingredients.
When you choose Mr Cook spice wholesaler, you are choosing a partner that supplies the best restaurants in the country. Our unique blends, herbs and liquid spices are just part of the range that has been created with professionals in mind. As a spice manufacturer, we make sure that our products are not only high quality but also inspiring. Check out what we have prepared for you and let Mr Cook introduce you to a world of extraordinary flavours and aromas.