Super Bowl Foods: Hummus Dip!

Hummus is practically going mainstream- it can now be found at Trader Joe's, and even a few grocery stores. It's finally getting its deserved recognition as a flavorful bean dip that's healthy too!

Used to be, I'd get a lot of funny looks if I brought hummus to a party. That would be followed by an explanation to the query, "What is it?" A simple explanation: "It's a Mideastern style bean dip." Ah, then folks could nod. Bean dip- that's not too wacky!

It's good to see a renewed interest in healthy foods made with simple, whole food ingredients. Back in the 70's, I'd really gotten into the vegetarian "scene", reading up on the (then-ground-breaking) info laid out in "Diet for a Small Planet". It's good to know that more current research has revealed that it's not necessary to get the ratios of beans to grains to nuts to seeds in such exact quantities at any given meal, as was proposed in the original book, to give a person adequate protein. Later studies proved that the body is able to pull proteins together even if some of the components are eaten at different meals on any given day. Whew! Way back then, I'd actually tried to get the ratios down, on the foods I was preparing, to insure that hubby and I would get our full quota of protein. It was a limiting formula for someone who loved to cook!

I've noticed that my Hummus Recipe is getting a lot of hits lately. There must be a few others thinking like me: Hummus would be perfect to bring to a Super Bowl Party! But why go to a recipe page? Why not just go to Trader Joe's? I'll tell you why: It's a whole lot cheaper to make your own! Also, I like that I can pick up dry organic garbanzo beans at the health food store, and make my organic hummus economically. Yes, you can use canned beans; it is quite a time-saver if you haven't planned ahead. But if you can plan ahead, simply cook up those garbanzos some evening when you can let them simmer for hours until tender. It doesn't take much effort, at least. Once they're cooked up, you drain 'em and just process them until smooth. And a pound of those garbanzos makes quite a bit more than any can. I just freeze some of the extra; I leave some of them whole, freeze little packets of them, and add them to salads as needed.

There's more to the hummus recipe; a key ingredient is the sesame butter. Now that's where a person can get hung up. Tracking down sesame butter can sometimes be quite a task (also sometimes called "tahini"). Health food stores should carry it, but an easy alternative is to substitute sesame oil for the sesame butter. At least it will give you all the flavor you'd hoped for, even if it isn't quite as authentic. (Most people wouldn't notice.)

There are a few other tricks to making hummus. I like to have a slight citrus bite to mine, which isn't really accomplished just by adding lemon juice. So I process some fresh garlic with some lemon rind first (before adding the cooked beans); I cut a thin layer of peel off of the lemon, which is easier on my knuckles than zesting it with a zester. I'll be processing the mix anyways, so why not, right?

A lot of recipes call for additional seasoning; cumin powder is a popular one (as seen in this recipe). Yes, there are variations. Add spices to suit your tastes, or just go with the refreshing flavor of lemon, sesame, and garlic. Make the whole snack even healthier by using toasted pita triangles for dipping.

I found it interesting to see this presentation of hummus, given the great fear many people have of "fat". Olive oil is often added, in a little pool in the center, to Middle Eastern dips. Folks may get concerned about exceeding their fat quota of the day, and yet they might not think twice about chowing down any number of foods loaded with hidden fat (Starbucks drinks, chips, to name just a few). And yet olive oil is actually something our bodies can use: Oil in a form that will nourish! Another important feature about olive oil: It is so satisfying. Are we ever really ahead in our battle of the bulge, if we're eating pounds of non-fat processed foods (because it has "no fat")?!?! A few tasty morsels of something like hummus (complete with its olive oil and tahini) can be so much more satisfying (as mentioned in "Hummus Diet: Because it Works!").

Well, I really won't care too much who wins on Super Bowl Sunday. Just give me my hummus and I'll be happy!