The hummus, an ancient Middle Eastern cream based on chickpeas and tahina, is at the center of a dispute between different countries that claim its origin. This dish with an unmistakable flavor, celebrated every 13 May with a world day, is appreciated by both children and adults and represents a tasty way to increase the consumption of legumes. Despite the “hummus wars” between countries such as Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Greece, there remains a food full of nutrients and symbol of a weaser peace in the Middle East.
Have you ever tasted Hummus? It is a sauce based on chickpeas and sesamevery welcome also by children and a great way to encourage the consumption of legumes. Hummus is a really tasty preparation to be enjoyed by accompanying it with bread or raw vegetables. A world day is also dedicated to this ancient dish, which is celebrated on May 13th.
The ingredients
The basic ingredient is represented by the chickpeas, which are boiled and crushed or blended until a homogeneous cream is obtained, easy to spread. Today it is also easily found in supermarkets and restaurants in all of Europe, the Middle East and in Northern Africa, even if its origin is a small yellow because many countries claim paternity.
The name
The word “hummus” derives from Arabic and means precisely chickpeas, a legume that has been grown in Middle East For the first time 10 thousand years ago.
The full name is actually ḥummuinal bi ṭaḥīna, which means “chickpeas with tahini” which is a paste based on dark sesame. The name itself also seems to suggest that hummus originates in an Arab country, the most similar recipe had been written in Cairo in the 13th century which was made as well as with chickpeas, with vinegar and lemon, spices and oil, but without tahini or garlic. Ironically, the first recipe with Tahini is from Egyptian cuisine.
There are still those who claim that it is a Jewish food, mentioned in the Bible at least 3500 years ago, but Greece also claims it by saying that hummus is the basic food of their cuisine. The certain thing is that commercial traffic have allowed the circulation of goods between Greeks, Turks and other Middle Eastern peoples.
Where does it come from?
But Egypt, Greece and Israel are not the only contenders. Other Middle Eastern countries also claim hummus, among all, Lebanon. Charles Perry, president of the Culinary Historians of Southern California and medieval Arab food expert, according to which hummus was originally from Damascus because there was precisely the custom of mounting the food by keeping the bowl against the wall.
Curiosity about hummus
The reality is that currently nobody can say with certainty who, when and how the hummus was invented because everyone carries on their own theory. It might seem like a trivial question, but discovering its origins could be important for culinary identity. The already legendary “Hummus wars” They began in 2008 when Lebanon accused Israel of claiming what belonged to them instead.
The Lebanese sued the Israelis for copyright violation and asked the European Union for a petition to recognize hummus as Lebanese food. Currently the battle is still ongoing and it is not said that it ends soon. Despite these diatribes, this dish all over the world has become a symbol of a skitable peace among the countries of the Middle East, given that it is highly appreciated by both Palestine and Israel.
Certainly there is only the goodness of hummus, a delicious food, rich in proteins, potassium, iron, magnesium, folic acid, manganese, vitamin B-6 and fiber.
