Hummus is a spreadable dip that is traditionally made from chickpeas. (In fact, hummus is the Arabic word for chickpea.) It's also one of the oldest foods known to humankind, dating back to ancient Egypt.

Hummus is probably one of the best known Middle Eastern foods, due to its popularity worldwide. This chickpea-based dip can be found in most grocery stores in North America and on many non-Middle Eastern restaurant menus.

If you frequent Middle Eastern restaurants and eat hummus, you know that hummus tastes different everywhere. Some types of hummus have a zesty lemon flavor, some have a strong garlic flavor, some hummus dips are mild, and yet others are spicy. When making your own hummus at home, you'll want to keep your own taste buds in mind. Part of the fun of making hummus is that it's a versatile recipe, that you can adjust easily to suit your own culinary preferences.

Hummus is perfect for enjoying as an appetizer with pita wedges, crackers, tortilla chips, or vegetable sticks. You can also use it as a flavorful condiment for sandwiches and wraps. Also, you can even freeze leftover hummus.

When serving hummus as a dip, you can drizzle a bit of olive oil on top or sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes for a more interesting presentation. Other add ons include roasted garlic, preserved lemon, chili oil, green salsa, and smoked paprika. Serve hummus in brightly colored bowls to add excitement.

Here are some excellent hummus recipes that have a variety of ingredients to make traditional Middle Eastern hummus even more enticing.