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9 reasons to make hummus not war

A dip to some, a near-religious experience for others. Use dried chickpeas or tinned, we don't care. Eat yours with a spoon? We don't judge. Chickpeace, love and mung beans for all.

Hummus-b'lahmeh-(Israeli-hummus-with-spiced-lamb).jpg

1. Chickpeace for all

Can a country own hummus? So begins the Hummus War of 2008, with Lebanon sueing Israel for kitchen kudos of hummus. Hummus fanatic Trevor Graham made a documentary , going  to the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict to find out: "Could a regional love of hummus be the recipe for peace in the Middle East?"

2. We're not taking sides ... but this Israeli version is hard to beat

File this hummus recipe from  under "How to Dress Up Minced Lamb". Get the .
Don't overlook the origins of this much-loved ingredient.
Don't overlook the origins of this much-loved sesame paste. Source: Feast magazine

3. It′s the Beirut breakfast of champions

Do as the locals do in Beirut: sit down to a deliciously satisfying  for breakfast.
Fatteh with hummus
Source: Alan Benson

4. It′s really not that difficult

The secret: soak your dried chickpeas with bicarbonate of soda to avoid lumpy hummus (unless you like it that way). Get the .
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5. Okay, this smoked version is slightly difficult, but a winner

This from is on high rotation at Friday afternoon drinks at SBS Food HQ. Sure, you need to set-up a smoker (or a wok, in a cinch) to smoke the chickpeas but the trade-off is you can use tinned ones.

6. Break (flat)bread

Don't forget hummus′ best friend, homemade flatbread. We all love a Jatz, but you'll thank us for this traditional Turkish version of  from . (If you're a true hummus fanatic, though, you'll eat it with a spoon.)
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7. Against all odds, if you have leftover hummus

Then wrap this around it and call it lunch.
Beef shawarma with tahini sauce
Source: Feast magazine

8. Spread the love

We've swapped chickpeas for dried broad beans, added cumin and paprika, and hey presto, we have : a Moroccan dip masquerading as hummus. Shhh, don't tell Lebanon, Israel or Palestine.
Bisara Dip.jpg

9. Give thanks to tahini, the unsung hero

You've made the hummus, now use up that last bit of in the jar. Mmm, .
Sesame chicken and sautéed kale with miso tahini cream
Source: Feast Magazine

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2 min read
Published 1 April 2014 10:11am
Updated 28 September 2016 8:02am
By SBS Food bite-sized
Source: SBS

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