Hummus is a delicious Middle Eastern dip or spread made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and spices. It’s commonly served with pita bread or fresh vegetables for dipping. While hummus may seem simple, there’s actually an art to plating and serving it in an appetizing way. Proper plating and presentation enhances the look and taste of hummus. Follow these tips on how to beautifully plate hummus to impress guests or just elevate a casual snack.
Should Hummus be Plated or Served in a Bowl?
Hummus can be plated or served in both a bowl or a plate. Here are some guidelines on choosing which serving dish works best:
– Bowls are great for serving hummus family-style at the table or buffet spread. They make it easy for multiple people to dip into the hummus. Use medium-sized bowls that keep the hummus mounded high rather than spreading it thin.
– Plating hummus works well for individual servings, especially when creating composed appetizer plates. You can artfully swirl and garnish hummus on rounds or square plates for a fancy presentation.
– If serving hummus as a snack with pita wedges or veggie sticks, shallow bowls or plates are ideal to give enough surface area for dipping.
– Fancy platters or trays with built-in bowls are a nice way to serve hummus for parties or gatherings. Arrange the bowls of hummus in the platter along with the accompaniments.
How to Plate Hummus
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to beautifully plate hummus:
1. Choose your serving dish. Opt for a shallow bowl, plate, or platter with a built-in bowl as outlined above. Make sure it’s large enough to hold at least 1 cup of hummus or more if needed.
2. Spoon and spread the hummus. Place a few large spoonfuls of hummus in the center of the dish. Use the back of the spoon to gently spread the hummus towards the edges, but leave some height in the center. You want to achieve a light, fluffy texture.
3. Create a swirl or peaked shape. For a dramatic effect, use the back of a spoon to swoop the hummus up into a swirl or peak shape. Start from the outside edges moving inwards to mound up the center.
4. Drizzle and garnish. Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of paprika, or a dusting of chopped parsley on top of the hummus. This adds flavor and visual appeal. Other garnishes like roasted red peppers, olives, or pine nuts also work well.
5. Add serving utensils. Place a spreader, butter knife, or bamboo skewers next to the plated hummus so guests can easily scoop and serve themselves.
6. Arrange accompaniments. Surround or artfully lean pitas, crackers, or fresh veggie dippers around the hummus. Group 3-5 accompaniments to provide variety.
Hummus Plating Ideas
Take your hummus presentation up a notch with these creative plating ideas:
– Swirl hummus into a round shape, leaving a hole in the center. Fill the hole with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle chopped parsley around the edges.
– Make hummus into a rectangular shape. Score wedges into the hummus like cutting a pie, then drizzle paprika infused olive oil in the crevices.
– Shape hummus into a pyramid mound. Skewer bite-sized veggies (cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, bell pepper chunks) on short bamboo skewers and insert decoratively into the hummus.
– Spoon hummus in a long line across an oblong plate. Alternate dips of various toppings like roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, feta cheese, cucumber.
– For individual servings, place hummus in a shallow bowl. Use a spoon to peak it decoratively. Top with toasted pine nuts.
– On a round plate, make a thick circle of hummus. Pile falafel balls, olives, and feta in the center. Surround with pita wedges.
Complementary Foods for Hummus
Hummus pairs well with a variety of dippers and accompaniments beyond basic pita bread. Offer an array of hummus complements:
– Fresh vegetables: carrots, cucumber, celery, cauliflower, radish, jicama, bell peppers, broccoli
– Roasted or grilled vegetables: eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, squash
– Crackers: pita chips, whole grain crackers, multi-seed crackers
– Bread: pita wedges, flatbread, baguette slices
– Tortilla chips or pita chips
– Cucumber rounds or celery sticks for scooping
– Olives: kalamata, green
– Nuts: pine nuts, walnuts, pistachios
– Dried fruit: apricots, cranberries, dates
– Chicken strips or chunks of grilled chicken
– Potato or tortilla chips
Hummus Dip Pairings
Expand the flavor profile by pairing hummus with complimentary dips like:
– Baba ganoush – eggplant dip
– Labneh – thick strained yogurt
– Muhammara – walnut and red pepper dip
– Tzatziki – yogurt, cucumber, and garlic dip
– Olive tapenade – olive spread
– Romesco – roasted red pepper and almond dip
– Guacamole
– Baba ganoush – smoked eggplant dip
– Yogurt and mint dip
– Spicy feta dip
– Charred scallion and salsa verde dip
– Fava bean dip
Offer 2-3 companion dips alongside the hummus for guests to sample. The variety turns a basic hummus plate into a rich mezze spread. Place smaller bowls of the extra dips around the featured hummus.
Hummus Presentation Tips
Follow these plating tips for flawless hummus presentation every time:
– Make sure your hummus ingredients are combined thoroughly so you have a smooth, creamy consistency for plating.
– Plate hummus for individuals in small bowls or plates. For family-style serving at gatherings, use larger bowls or platters.
– Shape and mound hummus attractively using a spoon or rubber spatula. Peak or swirl for texture.
– Dress up hummus with savory garnishes like pine nuts, olive oil, paprika, za’atar spice blend, or chopped fresh herbs.
– Chill hummus before plating for optimal thickness. Return to fridge between servings to keep cool.
– Arrangehummus accompaniments like veggies, pita, crackers neatly around the dip.
– Pair hummus with 1-2 other homemade dips like baba ganoush, tzatziki or store-bought options.
– Serve hummus with plenty of serving utensils: spreader knife, bamboo skewers, spoons, and small knives for cutting pitas.
Hummus Storage Tips
Properly stored hummus stays fresh for 5-7 days. Follow these storage tips:
– Keep hummus refrigerated airtight container if not serving immediately.
– Smooth the top of leftover hummus before sealing to prevent oxidation.
– Pour a thin layer of olive oil over the hummus surface to prevent drying out.
– Store hummus in the back of the fridge where temperature is most consistent.
– Transfer hummus to a shallow dish when ready to plate and serve.
– Refrigerate unused portion immediately after guests are done with a serving.
– Leaving hummus at room temperature promotes bacteria growth. Refrigerate within 2 hours of serving.
– Check for visible mold, which indicates spoilage. Discard if mold appears.
– Hummus can be frozen for longer storage. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before using.
Proper refrigeration prevents premature spoilage so hummus stays fresh, fluffy, and delicious when you’re ready to plate it.
How Long Does Hummus Last?
Here is a table summarizing how long hummus lasts refrigerated or frozen:
| Hummus Type | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Store-bought hummus (unopened) | 2 weeks past use-by date | Does not freeze well |
| Homemade hummus | 5-7 days | 2-3 months |
As shown in the table:
– Unopened store-bought hummus lasts about 2 weeks past its use-by date if refrigerated.
– Homemade hummus lasts 5-7 days refrigerated. For longer shelf life, freeze hummus for 2-3 months.
– Let frozen hummus thaw completely in the refrigerator before plating and serving.
– Discard any hummus that develops an off smell, watery texture, or visible mold.
Follow the timelines for refrigerator or freezer storage. Then plate your hummus with fresh garnishes right before serving for best quality.
Does Hummus Need to be Refrigerated?
Hummus must be refrigerated to prevent bacterial growth. Here’s why refrigeration is key:
– Room temperature allows bacteria to multiply quickly. Refrigeration slows bacteria growth.
– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandates refrigeration of any dips containing fresh vegetables or herbs.
– Commercial hummus relies on preservatives to stay shelf stable. Homemade hummus lacks these, so refrigeration is essential.
– Unrefrigerated hummus can develop mold within 3-4 days. Refrigeration extends shelf life.
– Cold temperature maintains the thick, creamy texture of hummus. Warm hummus becomes runny.
For food safety and quality, homemade and store-bought hummus must be refrigerated. The exceptions are:
– Sealed shelf-stable hummus until opened
– Hummus kept on ice or with cold packs for serving at events
– Hummus brought to room temperature just before guests arrive
Otherwise, keep hummus chilled in the refrigerator or on ice for plating. Discard hummus left at room temperature for over 2 hours.
Can You Freeze and Thaw Hummus?
Yes, hummus can be successfully frozen and thawed:
– Freezing extends the shelf life of hummus to 2-3 months.
– Freeze hummus in airtight containers leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Flat containers freeze faster than deep vessels.
– Smooth the hummus surface before sealing to prevent freezer burn.
– Thaw frozen hummus overnight in the refrigerator until completely soft and spreadable.
– Fluff and stir the thawed hummus vigorously to reincorporate any separated liquid.
– Taste and adjust seasoning of thawed hummus, adding more tahini, lemon, or salt as needed.
– Refreeze hummus only once for best quality. Discard if mold appears.
– Don’t thaw hummus at room temperature or rapidly in the microwave, as this encourages bacteria growth.
Freezing is an excellent way to save leftover hummus to plate in the future. Handle thawed hummus properly and plate it like fresh.
Conclusion
With the right plating techniques, hummus can transform from an everyday snack into an elegant appetizer for guests. Use shallow plates or bowls to artfully shape the hummus into a swooped peak or long line. Garnish with olive oil, paprika, pine nuts or herbs. Arrange colorful veggie dippers or crunchy pita chips around the hummus. Pair with complementing dips like baba ganoush or muhammara. Keep hummus stored properly in the fridge or freezer, then transfer to a serving dish when ready to present. Follow these plating guidelines to beautifully showcase hummus for any occasion.