May 24, 2020

Lockdown Blog 41: How much houmous is too much houmous?

Hello there! Just a quick thought today (okay, two). The first is this. At a time when we're all stuck at home, usually stationed perilously close to our fridges while we're working, I imagine that many of you, like me, are snacking - often. I have a range of favourite snacks that tie me over from breakfast to lunch, and then from lunch to dinner (and rarely also from dinner to breakfast), including (but not limited) to cherry tomatoes (preferably on the vine), cucumber sticks, cashew nuts and - when I'm feeling especially naughty - squares of dark chocolate. But there is one that reigns supreme above all others. Served typically (in our household) with either lentil chips or carrot sticks, houmous is the clear victor over all other bites-to-eat, and is a very worthy breakfast item (on toast, perhaps with feta and harissa) and appetiser, as well as a light refreshment in-between. Now, the question I raise is this one. Are we eating too much? I always think it's a pretty nutritious thing: made predominantly of chickpeas, garlic, lemon and olive oil, and only incorporating tahini when you're feeling particularly indulgent. But, right as I spy the final remnants of today's 430g tub being snaffled, I wonder - are we mainlining too much of it? (You should know that my favourite kind is the one incorporating caramelised onions and covered in chillis.)The second (quicker) question: which spelling is better? The (predominantly) American "hummus", or the slightly more prolix "houmous" preferred in English supermarkets? I cannot decide. Should anyone have strong thoughts on the subject, I'd love to hear them. For now, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend (and don't deny yourselves any delicious treats - especially not hummus/houmous).