Whether you’re entertaining guests or you’re looking for easy appetizers, hummus is one of the most versatile ingredients you can find and incorporate into your daily diet.
Essentially, hummus is a spread that includes mashed chickpeas, spices, and fresh herbs. Because of its consistency, hummus can be applied to breads, crackers, and pitas, or it can be used as a dip. To liven up your hummus, add peppers and onions for texture or mix it in with pasta to sauce it up.
People all across the world indulge in hummus, but surprisingly enough, Canada happens to be a prominent global exporter of chickpeas, ranking as one of the top five in the world. In fact, from 2012 to 2013, Canada developed 200,000 acres of seeded land and harvested 158,000 tons of chickpeas.
According to Canada’s accepted Food Guide, three fourths of a cup of hummus (175 mL) can be swapped out for one Food Guide serving of meat. As far as hummus nutrition goes, if you scoop up a serving (2 tablespoons) of hummus, you’re consuming 130 mg of sodium. In a 2014 study performed by the Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, those who snack on hummus have a 53% lesser chance of becoming obese. Moreover, by eating hummus, people become 51% less likely to suffer from high blood sugar.
For fast and easy appetizers, here’s an authentic hummus recipe to make cheesy garlic bread:
Ingredients:
• 1 tub of garlic hummus
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1 loaf of French bread
• ½ cup of mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup of parmesan cheese
Cooking Directions:
1. Preheat your oven broiler.
2. Cut French loaf down the center the long way.
3. After combining the hummus with the garlic, spread the mixture inside the loaf.
4. Top the halves of bread with both cheeses, distributing them evenly across the bread. Set the split loaf into the oven, on a greased baking sheet.
5. When placing the bread in the middle of the oven, don’t set it too close to the broiler.
6. Leave the loaf to broil for about 2-5 minutes. Broiler temperatures depend on your unit, so don’t let your bread get too dark. Take it out once the edges are crispy and the cheese is thoroughly melted.
7. Once the loaf is done, cut the halves into slices and serve them up while they’re hot!
After your garlic loaf is complete, pop open another tub of hummus to create a nifty food tray for your guests. When it comes to recipes with hummus and uses for hummus spread, one of the best party appetizer ideas involves setting up a display.
To get started with your easy appetizers, grab a large serving tray and dress it up with doilies or colored paper. Layer the tray with cheeses, as well as cold and hot meats, such as lamb or turkey slices. As far as what to dip in hummus, you can add some pita pockets, bagel chips, and veggies, as well as crackers and pretzels.
Get creative and enjoy!