- Hyphenly by Immigrantly
- Posts
- Hummus Wars and Chocolate Dips
Hummus Wars and Chocolate Dips
When it’s too hot to cook, what do we do? Reach for something cool and easy.
These days, for most Americans, that often means a trusty tub of hummus, some baby carrots and celery sticks, and calling it dinner.
It’s not just you—everyone is obsessed with hummus. Even Oliver Putnam from Only Murders in the Building can’t get enough of it.
So… what exactly is hummus?
Hummus is a creamy dip made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice—nutritious, filling, and vegan!
It’s also big business. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global hummus market hit $3.75 billion in 2023, with North America scooping up over 50%.
Like the US, hummus is a melting pot. Grocery store shelves are stocked with wildly inventive flavors: Tajín, black olive, roasted red pepper, dill pickle, even chocolate.
But as hummus is reinvented, some question where to draw the line between innovation and cultural appropriation.
Especially when the dish’s own origins are so disputed.
Hummus traces back to the Ottoman Empire, encompassing today’s Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and more. The so-called “Hummus Wars” broke out in 2009 and 2010 when Lebanon and Israel began one-upping each other with record-breaking hummus platters.
In 2009, Lebanon’s tourism minister, Fadi Abboud, declared hummus a Lebanese dish—and backed it up by creating a 4,532-pound plate of it.
Not to be outdone, Israel countered with a 4-ton hummus dish. Then Lebanon fired back with a 23,000+ pound version. However, according to NPR, “the EU did not allow Lebanon to register hummus as its own, because it is the food of an entire region.”
Hummus holds significance in a lot of Arab countries. And in America, the craze for hummus is not about to die out anytime soon.
At Immigrantly, we’re always looking for trusty recipes to follow.
In this episode of The Recipe with Kenji and Deb, the two professional cooks discuss their favorite hummus recipe and tell their listeners how they feel about flavored hummus.
Hummus, though not without its conflicts, is a dish that brings the Arab world together.
What’s a dish that brings you and your family together? We’d love to hear from you.
And while you’re at it, take our poll!
Culture Check-In: We want to hear from you!
What’s the most unique flavor of hummus you’ve ever tried? |
Podcast Pick of the Week
If you enjoy hearing food stories, check out Saadia’s conversation with Stephen Satterfield on Immigrantly’s flagship podcast. In the episode, Satterfield discusses the origins and cultures of different African foods in the US.
This newsletter was curated by Suhasini Patni.
Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.
We’re currently accepting blog pitches and offer a small honorarium—send your pitch to [email protected]
Visit us at www.immigrantlypod.com.