Hummus is a delicious Mediterranean dish that has countless uses. I answer all your hummus-related questions like: Does hummus need to be refrigerated? How do I eat hummus? Can I cook with hummus?
What is hummus?
Hummus is a thick sauce or paste-like consistency. It is usually made with chickpeas, tahini, olive oil and spices. It’s easy to find at any grocery store, but you can also make it at home with the help of a food processor.
This is a dish that has had many thousands for years, but has recently become even more popular. It is originally from the Middle East but is slowly being altered to fit popular culture.
Does hummus need to be refrigerated?
Yes, keep your hummus in the fridge. Most foods should not be left for more than 2 hours. When hummus is bought from the supermarket, it is usually processed with additives to preserve its freshness. This allows the dip to be more stable under different conditions.
So try to return your hummus within 2 hours of removing it from the fridge. However, it may take around 4-6 hours. While this is not ideal, it is still safe to consume.
Additionally, once opened or prepared, hummus only has a shelf life of about a week! If you’re using very fresh and minimally processed ingredients, maybe less. That means as soon as you open a can of hummus, the countdown begins!
How to eat hummus
Hummus makes a great dip, spread, or even a crust on top of chicken!
If you want to use it as dive try it with:
- pita chips
- Warm naan
- Celery, carrots or other vegetables
- tortilla chips
make one Chicken with hummus crust Dinner is easier than it sounds. Simply place a chicken breast in an ovenproof dish that has been drizzled with olive oil. Next, apply a layer of hummus. Add more spices on top. Flip the chicken breasts and repeat the process. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes (make sure the chicken is at an internal temperature of 165 degrees before eating). Add some vegetables and a potato and dinner is ready!
Health Benefits of Hummus
There are PLENTY health reasons why you should include hummus in your diet. Since chickpeas are the main ingredient, this dip is a good source protein. On average, 1/4 cup of hummus contains only about 100 calories and 3g protein. 3g might not be a lot of protein, but even as a dip it’s a nice addition!
In the same 1/4 cup serving of hummus there are approx 2.5 grams of dietary fiber. You should aim for around 30g of fiber per day. Incorporating hummus into your day takes you one step closer to that goal! If you want to learn more about fiber, read my article “Fibre: An Important Carbohydrate”.
A high quality hummus is made with a high quality extra virgin olive oil. This oil is considered a “healthy fat”. This means that it is an important aspect of your daily diet and contributes to satiety.
The central theses
- Hummus is a Mediterranean pasty dip that’s thousands of years old
- Hummus is best kept refrigerated
- Hummus can be eaten in many different ways, not just as a dip!
- There are metric tons health benefits for hummus
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