Hummus 101 — What are the basic types of hummus?

A viewer asked an excellent question the other day — “Can you give a breakdown of the different types of hummus?”

The four basic hummus dishes are as follows:

1. Hummus Gargirim — This is the most basic type of hummus, warm chickpeas on top of hummus. Typically garnished with tahini, olive oil, parsley, and spices.

2. Hummus Ful — Warm fava beans (AKA broad beans) served on top of hummus. The fava beans are usually garnished with lemon juice, olive oil, and spices.

3. Hummus Mashawsha or Msabbaha — This is my favorite. Crushed chickpeas mixed with garlic, tahini, and lemon served on top of hummus. I enjoy an extra sour Mesahua which strikes a nice balance when combined with the hummus, although each hummus place has a different style.

4. Hummus Meshulash — (Literally: Hummus Triangle) This is a combination of the three variations above. This is the best way to stress test a new hummus joint and find your favorite style.

Of course, this is just the basics. Many restaurants offer specialty toppings such as eggplant, mushrooms, pine nuts, shakshuka, caramelized onions, and meat/meat alternatives. The list goes on and on but this is best left for a different time.

Thanks to Samantha for the question and to Gargir Hazahav for making the best hummus in the neighborhood.

What is your burning hummus question? Let me know in the comments!