WineLife365

Occasionally we all need a change of pace in our daily lives.  So today I felt like exercising my desire to write about something else besides wine.  Why you ask?  Because, change is sometimes good, and also because man cannot live on wine and cheese alone – right?  Well…maybe.

Today I had an itch to write about hummus.  I know…I hear you all laughing right now.  It might sound gross and possibly a little “foo-foo”.  But trust me – it tastes good and it’s good for you.  So before you blow off this post or start to make faces, pull up your chair and read some more.

Hummus anyone?  

What the heck is hummus?  Hummus is a traditional middle-eastern food that in most cases is either composed of chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, or great northern white beans.  Another key ingredient used in making a chickpea based hummus is called tahini.  Tahini is a paste that is made from crushed sesame seeds.

Hummus is a great and healthier alternative to cheeses that are much high in saturated fat and cholesterol.  Both chickpeas and great northern white beans are great sources of protein, potassium and fiber.  Furthermore, tahini is also a good source of protein, along with vitamin E which is an antioxidant.  So, together these ingredients make for a very healthy and tasty snack.

How do you eat hummus?

You just spread or dip hummus onto crackers, pita bread, or flat bread.  You can also cut up some cucumbers, red onions, and tomatoes and have them as well with hummus.  I’ve also used it as an alternative to salad dressing.  Just spread a little hummus on your salad plate, and pile the salad on top.  Basically, you have plenty of options.

Where can I buy hummus?

You can buy hummus in the deli department and sometimes around the produce section of the grocery store.  Most stores carry a bunch of different variations.  I’ve been on a Trader Joe’s hummus kick over the past few months.  A few of my current Trader Joe favorites are the White Bean & Basil Hummus and the Mediterranean Hummus.  The first one is composed mainly of great northern white beans.  The second hummus is primarily composed of chickpeas, or garbanzo beans.  Both are outstanding in my opinion.  Believe it or not, BJ’s and Costco have a pretty tasty tub-size (literally, it’s the size of your tub) tahini hummus from a brand called Sabra.  It’s not too hard to scarf down a king size container of Sabra hummus – believe me!

What do I drink with hummus?

Beer is pretty awesome with hummus.  But don’t go for the heavier style beers.  Pale ales, white/wheat ales go very well with different types of hummus.  Here are a few beers that I enjoy with hummus:

-          Blue Moon Belgian-style white beer

-          Saranac white ale

-          Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale

-     Magic Hat beer (a variety of ales)

And if you’ve got a little coin in your pocket, you might want to try a Allagosh White Belgian beer.  And if you really want to drop a pretty penny on a good beer, then Chimay Beer is the best of the best, my friend!

Finally, did you really think I could go without mentioning wine at all in this post?  Sauvignon Blanc is a match made in heaven with hummus.

How do I make homemade hummus?

Hummus is pretty easy to make.  All you need is a few key ingredients and a food processor is very helpful.  Follow this link for a fairly simple recipe from WiseGeek.com.

See, change can sometimes be good, and a little detour once in a while won’t kill you.  So stop laughing and making those “that sounds nasty” faces, and try a little hummus!

Share and Enjoy!

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