Exotic Foods

Arabian Hummus

Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip, spread, or savory dish. Chickpeas are mashed and blended with tahini (condiment made from ground sesame), lemon juice and garlic. This salaciously smooth hummus is best served prettily swirled on a plate, speckled with spices and a gallimaufry of garnishes, which include olive oil, a few whole chickpeas, parsley and paprika.

Multiple different theories and claims of origins  of Hummus exist in various regions of the Middle East, but the earliest mention of it comes from Syria. We find mention of Hummus in a 13th-century cook-book, which is attributed to the Aleppine historian, Ibn al-Adim. Some other cook-books from Cairo, Egypt, in the 14th century have recipes of this dish that resemble ḥummuṣ is bi ṭaḥīna.

The Pita bread's exact origin is unknown. The versatile Middle-Eastern flat-bread is perhaps the oldest bread in existence today. This soft and thin bread provides the basis for a variety of popular Middle-Eastern foods. Around 4000 years ago, the Pita bread was of central importance to Babylonian culture of Mesopotamia, where the earliest-known written records and recipes of bread-making originate.

Video Link: Hummus

(Video: Courtesy Food Mela)

Mexican Tacos  

A traditional Mexican dish, Taco consists of a small hand-sized corn/wheat-based tortilla (round unleavened flat bread made from maize flour) topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling. A taco is made with a variety of fillings, including beef, pork, chicken, seafood, beans, vegetables, and cheese. It is garnished with various condiments, such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream, and vegetables, including lettuce, coriander, onion, tomatoes, and chillis. Taco is  a common Mexican street food.

Taco was a popular food before the arrival of Spanish in Mexico. The indigenous people traditionally ate tacos filled with small fish. One of the oldest mentions of the term, Taco, comes from a cook-book of 1836, Nuevo y Sencillo arte de Cocina, by Antonia Carrillo. Another mention of the word Taco comes from the novel, El hombre de la Situación (1861) by a Mexican writer, Manuel Payno. Tortillas were also known as tlaxcalli and were first made by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica before colonization. Tortillas are a cornerstone of Mesoamerican cuisine. Corn tortillas in Mesoamerica are known from as early as 500 BC.

Video Link: Taco  /  Tortillas

(Videos: Courtesy Aadis Channel, Natashas Kitchen)