Is hummus a condiment
Is hummus a condiment? What makes a condiment a condiment? What makes something not a condiment? What makes something a condiment vs a sauce/seasoning/spread/ingredient?
Best Answer
Interesting question. While I realize that dictionaries are descriptive, they're what we have to go by for common usage, so let's consult three:
- Wikipedia: A condiment is a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food to impart a particular flavor, to enhance its flavor,1 or in some cultures, to complement the dish. The term originally described pickled or preserved foods, but has shifted meaning over time.
- Merriam-Webster: something used to enhance the flavor of food; especially : a pungent seasoning
- Cambridge: a substance, such as salt, that you add to food to improve its taste
Given that Hummus is usually treated as a food in itself, rather than as a spice or sauce to enhance another food, one could argue that it's not a condiment. However, it's not uncommon for veggie burger purveyors to top a sandwich with hummus, which would, in usage, make it a condiment. Certainly tahini sauce would be a condiment.
So, my answer: It Depends.
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Quick Answer about "Is hummus a condiment"
“Anything that can be eaten on its own — like a standalone dish — doesn't count as a condiment. Hummus isn't a condiment because you can eat it as a standalone thing.What is considered a condiment?
A condiment is a supplemental food, such as a sauce or powder, that is added to some foods to impart a particular flavor, enhance its flavor, or, in some cultures, to complement the dish, but that cannot stand alone as a dish.Is a dip a condiment?
A dip or dipping sauce is a common condiment for many types of food.What are examples of condiment?
Some condiments are used during cooking to add flavor or texture: barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, Marmite and sour cream are examples. Many condiments, such as mustard or ketchup, are available in single-serving packets, commonly when supplied with take-out or fast-food meals.What are the 7 condiments?
7 Condiments To Always Keep in Your Kitchen- Quality Olive Oil. I studied abroad in Spain during college, and if I only learned one thing it is this: olive oil goes on anything. ...
- Balsamic Vinegar. Another kitchen basic, this vinegar is olive oil's best friend. ...
- Sriracha. ...
- Honey Dijon Mustard. ...
- Ketchup. ...
- Soy Sauce. ...
- Nutella.
How to Make Hummus That's Better Than Store-Bought - Easy Hummus Recipe - Updated
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Answer 2
Beside the dictionary answers, I think is quite reasonable to think of condiments as those products that
impart tastes to food as well as nutritional values but are not easily or pleasant to consume alone;
impart taste but are of negligible nutritional relevance.
Among the first examples are oil and butter, among the second ones mustard and salt.*
This way hummus is food, a spread as a confiture or honey. This is my way to see.
*Edit Obviously salt is necessary for the organism but we normally get more than enough from food and drinks so the amount we add to taste is indeed a condiment. I am aware that seems circular reasoning but I am confident the "definitions" I gave above are quite clear.
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