Hummus is a delicious mediterranean dish that has countless uses. I will answer all of 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 texture. It is typically made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and spices. It is easily found in your everyday grocery store but can also be made at home with the help from a food processor.
This is a dish that has ben around for thousands of years but has recently become even more popular. It originally comes from the Middle East but is slowly being altered to fit in with popular culture.
Does Hummus Need To be Refrigerated?
Yes, keep your hummus stored in a refrigerator. For most foods, they should not be left out for more than 2 hours. If purchased from the grocery store, hummus is typically processed with additives to help maintain its freshness. This allows the dip to be more stable in different conditions.
So, try to return your hummus within 2 hours of taking it from the fridge. But, it can last about 4-6 hours. This is not ideal, but is still safe to consume.
Along with this, hummus only lasts about a week after opening or making! If you use very fresh and minimally processed ingredients, possibly less. That means once you crack open a container of hummus, the countdown is on!
How to Eat Hummus
Hummus is great as a dip, spread, or even encrusted on chicken!
If you are looking to use it as a dip try it with:
- Pita chips
- Warm naan
- Celery, carrots, or other veggies
- Tortilla chips
Making a hummus-crusted chicken dinner is easier than it sounds. Simply add a chicken breast to an oven-safe dish drizzled with olive oil. Next, smear on a layer of hummus. Add any additional seasonings on top of it. Flip the chicken breast over and repeat. Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (ensure the chicken is at an internal temperature of 165 prior to consumption). Pair with some veggies and a potato and dinner is all set!
Health Benefits of Hummus
There are AMPLE health-based reasons as to why you should include hummus in your diet. With chickpeas being the main ingredient, this dip is a nice source of protein. You average 1/4 cup of hummus only has about 100 calories and 3g of protein. 3g may not be a ton of protein, but it’s a nice addition from just a dip!
In the same 1/4 cup portion of hummus there is about 2.5g of fiber. You should be aiming for about 30g of fiber a day. Including hummus in your day helps you get one step closer to this goal! If you’re interested in learning more about fiber check out my article, Fiber: An Important Carbohydrate.
A good quality hummus will be made with a high quality extra virgin olive oil. This oil is considered a ‘healthy fat’. That means it is an important aspect of your daily diet and aids in satiation.
Key Takeaways
- Hummus is a Mediterranean paste-like dip that is thousands of years old
- Hummus is best kept refrigerated
- You can eat hummus in more ways than just as a dip!
- There are tons of health benefits to humus
If you want to know about all things health and wellness follow along on Instagram! I also share fun and exciting recipes that you may not see here on pieceoflulu.com!
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