Food Rivalry: Hummus Wars (Who Really Makes The Best Hummus Alert)

BBC News ^ | 11/24/2009 | Tim Franks

[goldstategop]

If there is one thing that you can find wherever you go in the Middle East - Jerusalem, Gaza, Beirut or Cairo - it is hummus, that mashed-up festival of chickpeas, olive oil, sesame paste, lemon juice and garlic. It should be touching - a food that unites.

But the Middle East is a place where passions are quick to ignite. And so, where there is hummus, there is also intense rivalry - over who has the best recipe, over who invented it, and over who can make the biggest bowl of it.

Last year, Israeli chefs came up with a huge vat of hummus to coincide with Israeli independence day. This year, Lebanese chefs managed to make a cool two tonnes of the stuff - and in so doing, not just set a new world record, but claimed the invention of hummus for all Lebanese.

THE BEST HUMMUS IN TOWN

Now the Israeli Arab town of Abu Ghosh is preparing to strike back. In six weeks' time, Abu Ghosh is planning to construct a four-tonne bowl of hummus.

[goldstategop]

Hummus. The stuff wars are made off. Best eaten as an appetizer with a side of pita for scooping it up.

Hummus

[Red Badger]

The Chines bought Hummus from GM..................oh, wait............

[Red Badger]

The Chinese bought Hummus from GM..................oh, wait............

[San Jacinto]

You eat it? I thought you spread it on the flower bed.

[goldstategop]

You eat with flatbread. Its typically served along with a plate of falafel. You slice open the pita stuff in falafel and scoop in hummus and season to taste. Ready to eat fast food.

[colorado tanker]

Hummus is good eats.

[RatRipper]

4 tons!!!!???? Sounds like a flatulent event of atomic proportions!!!!

I like really good hummus, though.

[goldstategop]

Start with pita. Add falafel and hummus. Add tahini sauce as condiment if desired.

[willgolfforfood]

What is that great big honkin' white blob made of? The one on the bottom?

No wonder that area of the world is PO'd 24/7.

[a fool in paradise]

Humas...

[goldstategop]

Sesame paste. Usually with a mixture of ground up chickpeas, olive oil and lemon juice. Its a very good appetizer - if you live close to a Middle Eastern restaurant you can get it.

[a fool in paradise]

Last year, Israeli chefs came up with a huge vat of hummus to coincide with Israeli independence day.

This year, Lebanese chefs managed to make a cool two tonnes of the stuff...

...In six weeks' time, Abu Ghosh is planning to construct a four-tonne bowl of hummus.

Wouldn't want to have a hummus-gap.

[San Jacinto]

It looks kind of like an armadillo that didn’t quite make it across the highway. Texas Roadkill.

[murron]

You can buy it at some grocery stores. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the brand I like, but it has a red rimmed lid on it, and the one I like the best is the garlic hummus. It’s smooth and creamy and very tasty.

[goldstategop]

I think its Sahara. Its an Israeli brand owned by Elite Foods of Israel.

[The Great RJ]

Trader Joe’s has some good hummus, but none is better than made at a little Lebanese restaurant in Sioux Falls, SD.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Anyone with a blender or a food processor can make it themselves, it’s very easy. A can of chick peas, some lemon juice, garlic, a bit of oil and some sesame tahini (available in just about any grocery store). Put it in the blender, turn it on for about 30 seconds and you’re done.

[Willie Green]

It looks kind of like an armadillo that didn’t quite make it across the highway. Texas Roadkill.

As long as the humus doesn't have any jalapeños, habaneros or chipoltes in it, I might give it a try.

[doodad]

Exactly. We make it from scratch including the chickpeas cooked in spices. Yum.

[LatinaGOP]

I’m kinda partial to Trader Joe’s Mediterranian Hummus....