Did you know that, although hummus has been a popular food in the Middle East for hundreds of years, it was not really known on the American cuisine scene until the 1970s? Even then it was only popular in health food stores, and took several decades to reach the majority of consumers. Today, it is available in most grocery stores around the nation as a popular and tasty spread. Interested in knowing more about hummus and its uses? Here are three facts you might enjoy.

1. Why Hummus Dips are Good for You

Hummus is one of those food angels that will bless your diet with less calories and better nutrition without having to sacrifice taste, texture or quality. Not only does hummus not contain saturated fat and cholestol, but it is a great source of protein and dietary fiber. It has fairly high amounts of iron and vitamin C. Not bad for some mashed up chickpeas!

2. Different Types of Hummus

Traditional, plain hummus usually has chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, and garlic. This is the base of most hummus types, but beyond this there are hundreds of combinations. Popular hummus flavors include red pepper, roasted garlic, chipotle, sun dried tomato, old spice, and more. Hummus is flexible in the flavors it can accomadate, which also helps make it a popular healthy substitution for ingredients like mayo, sour cream, and cheese.

3. Recipes with Hummus Spread

Did you know that the largest dish of hummus, which set a Guiness World Record, weighed more than 4 tons? If you’re looking for unique ideas for serving hummus, there are several popular options available to you. One quick, easy idea is pin wheel veggie wraps. Take a wrap and cover it with hummus. lay veggies in he middle of it all. Wrap them up, then cut into bite size pieces for a delicious, easy hors d’ oeuvre. You can also make deviled eggs using hummus!

What are your favorite recipes with hummus spread? Let us know in the comments! More like this.