#hummus

#hummus

Welcome to Snack Drop, a (new!) column where we give you the lowdown on all of the best new-to-market snacks that have landed on our desks each month. As editors and writers at a food magazine, we have a constant stream of products coming into the office and onto our desks. Yes, sometimes that means shiny new pans and high-tech air fryers or coffee gadgets -but a good chunk of the packages we get are filled not with gear... but with snacks.

Unfortunately, there was nothing classic about Ithaca's Classic Hummus. Instead of a balance of savory flavors from earthy garbanzo beans and nutty tahini, all we could taste was acidity. This hummus packed an overwhelming punch of both lemon and vinegar, which is great if Ithaca marketed this tub as a flavored variety. Most classic hummus recipes contain a squeeze of lemon juice to cut through the richness of the beans and tahini, but the lemon brings a subtle acidity as opposed to a primary flavor.

Hummus is a dish that's found in Middle Eastern cuisine and is made up of a base of blended chickpeas and tahini with lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. You can make hummus at home or find it in the refrigerated section of most grocery store delis. Though most brands offer a wide variety of flavors, the focus of this piece is on classic hummus, and which brand does it best.

During a kitchen renovation, having shelf-stable food options like hummus can help prevent hunger while appliances are out of commission.