An Alphabet Of Things I Like: H

~ beetleypete

Hummus. (Humous)

As you can see, it is sometimes spelt differently.

I had never heard of this dip until I went to Greece for the first time, in the 1970s.

This is what it contains.
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas or 1 1/2 cups (250 grams) cooked chickpeas
1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice (1 large lemon)
1/4 cup (60 ml) well-stirred tahini, see our homemade tahini recipe
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

I had usually avoided ‘Dips’, which were becoming popular then in England. That was because most were mayonnaise-based, and I never cared for mayonnaise. However, I did like garlic, and when I was presented with hummus and warm pitta bread as a starter in a restaurant in Greece, I immediately loved it.

It was hard to find when I got back to london. With the exception of a few specialist shops in the Greek and Turkish districts of the city, shops did not sell it.

That soon changed, and it is now for sale in every supermarket in Britain.

If you have never had some, and like the taste of garlic, you should definitely try it!

65 thoughts on “An Alphabet Of Things I Like: H”

  6. I am all caught up with your Alphabet now, Pete…Hummus is a lovely thing and I need to make some…I noticed in the comments someone mentioned tahini…
    Tahini is also cheap and easy to make …quick toasting of the Sesame Seeds (1 cup), then into the mini blender, 2/3 tbsp Olive oil added gradually a quick whizz, scrape down the sides another splash Olive oil another scrape bit more oil and a quick whizz repeat until you get your required consistency and voila…The tahini is done…Make Hummus and Enjoy!

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    1. When I have had it in Greece, and something similar in Turkey, it was coarser, and had more oil on top. I actually like the smooth supermarket version. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  19. I remember my sister bringing this taste back from Israel after she spent some time in a Kibbutz, I guess in the early 80’s. She always used to make her own, a tradition that I have continued, although I took it a step further and started to make the tahini as well, once I found out it wasn’t that complicated.
    Thank you for the reminder, I must see if I can find the sesame seeds and start a batch 🙂

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  21. I love garlic, but I’ve never had hummus. That said, it’s also one of the ingredients that my stomache doesn’t agree with much, so I’m not likely to give it a try to be honest. (Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like it though…have the feeling that I would😀)

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