Now that the new year is well under way, how are you doing with your New Year’s resolution to eat healthier? If you fell off the bandwagon, not to fret, there are several easy ways to get back on track, and one of those is hummus dip recipes.
Hummus is a spread that consists of boiled chickpeas — also known as garbanzo beans — that have been mashed or pureed along with fresh lemon juice, fresh garlic, and sea salt. Some variations call for the addition of tahini, a sesame seed paste that adds an additional nutty flavor and creamy consistency, as well as a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Traditionally, hummus is garnished with a sprinkle of paprika, chopped parsley, lemon wedges, and additional olive oil.
Sound too good to be truly good for you? It’s not. Hummus is the not-so-guilty-pleasure that’s actually good for your health, being as its free of saturated fat and cholesterol. Simply by swapping your favorite condiments for hummus, you can cut back on unwanted calories and fat. For example, the calories in roasted red pepper hummus are far less than those found in mayonnaise. While the calories in roasted red pepper hummus are on the low side, it’s still full of robust flavor, making it the perfect condiment for spreading, dipping and topping your favorite foods.
While hummus dips are fairly new to the American palate, they’ve been around for a long time. Did you know that the earliest documented recipe for a food similar to hummus dates back to 13th-century Egypt?
As Americans began to become more health conscious and immigrants began bringing their culture and food to the states, hummus dips began appearing in American grocery stores during the 1960s and 1970s. However, it was often confined to the health food section. It took decades, as well as the introduction of appealing flavors, before hummus became mainstream. Now it seems, Americans can’t enough of this tasty and nutritious dip.
