Hummus is a healthy culinary staple in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine that has been enjoyed in the area for a millennia. Used as either an appetizer dip or as an addition in many popular dishes, hummus is simply prepared from the same ingredients used in the earliest hummus recipes recorded in 13th Century Egypt. Hummus is prepared from cooked and mashed chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a dash of salt. In Lebanon, they love hummus so much that in May of 2010 they set the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest dish of hummus ever prepared. 300 chefs came together in a village near Beirut to make a batch of hummus that weighed approximately 23,000 pounds!

 

If you don’t have the space in your apartment to accomplish that kind of feat you’ll still be able to enjoy National Hummus Day with a serving of delicious, homemade hummus. Stop by The Hummus & Pita Co. in Chelsea for a plate of Chef Haim Ben-Simon’s hummus, made from a recipe that has been handed down through generations. Today, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., for only 99 cents, the eatery will be offering their patrons platefuls of their original flavored hummus, topped with chickpeas, premium olive oil, and a dash of paprika. So you don’t have to eat the hummus with a spoon, even though you might want to, complimentary baskets filled with pita chips, baked fresh on site, will be set on each table made from recycled bowling alley lanes.

Want to enjoy a whole meal of hummus greatness? The possibilities are endless at The Hummus & Pita Co. You can completely customize your meal by choosing from the delicious varieties of Start It (proteins), Make It (how it’s plated—pita (plain or wheat), laffa, bowl, or plater), Fill It (fillings),  Top It (garnishes), and Sauce It (sauces). Check out their menu on their site for a full listing of ingredients.

We suggest starting with either the taboon oven-cooked chicken breast or the falafel. Make it a platter so you can get more of a variety of fillings. We love the Israeli couscous, the Spanish eggplant, and the tabuleh, a salad made from bulgur grains, finely chopped parsley and cilantro, tomatoes, garlic and seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Your meal won’t be complete without one of Hummus & Pita Co.’s sauces. If you want to spice up your meal go for the red-hot harissa sauce or go for another Mediterranean and Middle Eastern staple, tzatziki yogurt sauce. Still have room for dessert? Their rugelach, made fresh daily, are absolutely the best way to round out this meal dedicated to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare.