AL FRESCO DINING
HUMMUS
A dish so deliciously iconic, the whole world continues to debate about its origins
A chickpea and tahini delight, hummus is so widely adored that everyone, from the Greeks to the Turks to the North Africans to the Arabs, claims it as their own. The argument over the origin of this humble staple has been raging since ancient times and will no doubt continue long into the future. A related gastronomic battle has also seen countries compete to make the largest bowl of hummus – a Guinness World Record that Lebanon has held since 2010, thanks to a rather staggering 10,452kg (11.5t) serving. Its origins can be traced to 13th-century Egypt, but legend says it was first created by 12th-century sultan Saladin.
top tip…
Dried chickpeas can be replaced with tinned varieties: simply skip the soaking process and forgo the use of bicarbonate of soda
