The chickpea, which forms the basis for delicious hummus, actually was brought by Phoenicians to the Middle East about 7,000 years ago. Since that time, hummus has been added to a range of recipes throughout Middle Eastern cultures, even making its way to other regions of the world as a lovely side dish or dip. So what is hummus, exactly?

Hummus ingredients include the chickpea first and foremost, but after that they change dramatically among the various hummus brands on today’s market. There are many hummus dip flavors on the market too, including red pepper, spinach and artichoke, spicy, jalapeno, lemon, roasted garlic and roasted pine nut, and sun dried tomato. The spread normally is a good match for pita and other breads too, though lately it has made its way into various recipes for main dishes and as a sandwich spread. Generally speaking, hummus dips contain only about 25 calories and just 2 grams of carbohydrates for each tablespoon, as well as 1 percent of the daily recommended value, for riboflavin, calcium, B6 and potassium, making them delicious accompaniments to virtually anything.

When anyone asks what is hummus, normally the response is met with a mix of confusion and delight. For someone knowing the answer, all of the aforementioned information usually is brought up, as are anecdotes on hummus’ history and its various uses. When anyone asks what is hummus, then, the answer will be very specific, yet it will range too in terms of uses and flavors.
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