Hummus

Hummus is a dip made from blended chickpeas, tahini, salt, pepper, cumin, and olive oil. It is served as part of the traditional mezze platters and is a great accompaniment for meat. Chickpeas (cicer arietinium) are a product of western Asia, in particular the Levant, a region that incorporates southeastern Turkey, Iraq, and northern Syria. Chickpeas are an extremely versatile legume and can be grown in many different types of soils and environments. Soils naturally rich in nutrients are essential, but the chickpea was cultivated in ancient Egypt in dry and water-starved environments, in the deep silty loams of southeastern Turkey, and in the Far East.