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Hummus Elite
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Sunday - Thursday: 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM /
Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM /
Saturday: Closed / 201.569.5600
4
stars - based on 77
reviews
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What
is Hummus?
Favored in Middle Eastern countries as a delectable
spread or dip for a variety of foods, hummus is made
from chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) that have
been cooked until tender and then mashed. Additional
flavorings of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and
tahini (ground sesame seed paste) are later added to
the hummus as well.
Hummus is an ancient food, thought to be a favorite
of Sultan Saladan, a Kurdish Muslim who founded the
Ayyubid Dynasty in 12th century Syria and Egypt. Nutritional
information about hummus reveals it to be a healthy
dish containing proteins, carbohydrates and rich amounts
of vitamin C and iron. Chickpeas provide necessary dietary
fiber that is known to reduce cholesterol levels and
the risk of heart disease. Sesame seeds found in tahini
supply an important essential amino acid called methionine.
Several research studies have indicated that methionine
may inhibit diseases related to the normal process of
aging.
The method of eating hummus usually involves dipping
pita bread, flatbread, crackers or tortilla chips into
the hummus mix. Additionally, it can be found accompanying
fish, eggplant, chicken, falafel and meze. Meze is an
assortment of several dishes served at meals in the
Middle East and Mediterranean and consisting of chopped
meats, stews, vegetables and other dips.
Hummus is commonly garnished with chopped cucumbers,
tomatoes, cilantros, hard-boiled eggs and sauteed mushrooms.
Variations of hummus include hummus ful, a dish containing
hummus topped with a fava bean paste; and hummus mashawsha,another
popular dish in the Middle East consisting of tahini,
chickpeas and hummus paste.
Israelis include hummus in daily meals because the ingredients
follow Kashrut, or Jewish dietary laws that can also
be included with dairy and meat meals. Because it is
so popular in Israel, the people have designated it
as a national food symbol and even eat more hummus than
all the Arab countries combined.
People in the U.S. have recently begun embracing hummus
as part of their regular diet, with well over 16 million
Americans now eating hummus. Instead of consuming fatty
dips and spreads full of mayonnaise, health-conscious
people are opting for hummus when dining out at ethnic
restaurants serving Middle Eastern dishes. In addition,
chickpeas provide nutrients conducive to controlling
blood sugar levels, which makes it an excellent addition
to a diabetic's diet |
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