If you were to ask a random stranger on the street whether hummus is Greek, they’d most likely guess that it is. After all, it’s not uncommon to find a dollop of our favorite chickpea dip accompanying a gyro sandwich or a Greek salad! However, while hummus is essential to Greek food, its origins are a bit murkier than you might suppose.
Especially as hummus has become a health-food staple, popular worldwide for its bountiful nutritional profile and array of mouth-watering flavors, its image has evolved. What was once a little-known delicacy commonly associated with Greek food, has now shown up on supermarket shelves with tasty varieties such as Thai Coconut Curry and Jalapeño Cilantro—definitely not flavors your average Athenian would be too familiar with!
So is hummus Greek after all? Read on… and next time you’re having a Greek salad and pita combo, you can impress your friends with some hummus history.
Is Hummus Greek?
If you were to ask most Greeks if hummus is Greek, they’d say yes. However, if you were to ask the Lebanese, they’d say it’s from Lebanon. And so it goes with Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and more— as it turns out, plenty of people would take offense if you called it Greek food! And the truth is, no one really knows for sure who’s right.
Drum roll… the oldest reference to hummus bi tahina are not from Greek food history, but rather from Cairo, Egypt, in the 13th century! While this is not conclusive enough to determine a point of origin, most historians agree that hummus was likely created in the Middle East, and eventually found its way to Greece. More insight into hummus history.
Just goes to show you that appearances can be deceiving. Just because you see a dollop of hummus next to your Greek salad and falafel plate, that doesn’t mean hummus is Greek!
Greek Salad and Food Ideas
If you’re dreaming of Greek foods you can prep with tasty hummus, we’ve got some ideas! Make sure to use HOPE Hummus so your dishes can be flavorful, organic, and free of synthetic preservatives. And if you want more ideas than you see here, check out our Instagram foodie community, HOPE Kitchen, or YouTube channel for hundreds of mouth-watering recipes!
Stuffed Pita Sandwich
How could Greek food get more classic? This hefty and delectable pita sandwich is like a Greek salad wrap, complete with Original Recipe hummus and vegan protein. You can always add meat, falafel, or whatever you like as well, but as is, this sandwich will put a smile on your face.
Greek Hummus Dipping Platter
If you want to prove that hummus is Greek, this platter’s your best bet! Simply spread a couple containers of Original Recipe hummus (or Black Garlic, if you’re adventurous) on a serving dish, then top with diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, red onion, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta, herbs, a squeeze of lemon, and a drizzle of olive oil! With all these veggies, this Greek salad dip will keep a party coming back.
Chicken Gyro
Ahhhh, gyros. A quintessential Greek food, these tasty wraps are equally good for a lunch at home or a quick assembly at work. Our version combines pita, red onion, cucumber, red onion, feta, grilled chicken, and Original Recipe hummus. If you’re feeling adventurous, maybe swap out for Kale Pesto or Red Pepper hummus!
Mediterranean Flatbread Pizza
Okay, this one’s basically a Greek salad on top of a baked pita. And it’s delicious. Take your Kalamatas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, arugula, and more, and throw it on top of a baked pita with some feta and Sea Salt & Olive Oil hummus. Last step: enjoy your Greek salad pizza!
We hope you’ve enjoyed these Greek foods inspired by hummus!
So… while we can’t prove that hummus is Greek per se, it’s still our favorite dip (along with innovative Cashew & Almond Dips, of course!). Whether you’re a traditionalist or you want to mix things up with creative flavors, there’s no reason your next lunch or dinner can’t take some inspiration from Greek food.
