What might cause a tangy flavor in hummus?
I'm pretty sure that this is an intended flavor; there's a great and authentic middle eastern restaurant nearby and their hummus tastes noticeably tangy. Others in the Yelp reviews have commented on the same flavor, so it's not a bad batch. It's almost as if there's a fermented ingredient that has the same kind of "tang" as kimchi. Their babaganoush doesn't have this same tang.
Is there a secret fermented ingredient in some hummus recipes that might give off this flavor?
Best Answer
[not a definitive answer]
Making good hummus is non-trivial. I think roasting sesame seeds is as volatile as roasting coffee beans with a few seconds or degrees changing the flavour drastically.
It's quite possible the tangy flavour comes from the way they process their sesame seeds. I've had Israeli hummus (from Jerusalem) and it tasted very different from the stuff you get elsewhere. Much smoother and more 'settled' flavour, and likely similar to the tang you describe (almost umami). The ingredients didn't have anything specific listed that could do that. It also could be the lemons or the zest.
Anecdotally, a local hummus manufacturer told me he gets his sesame seeds from that part of middle east because they lead to better tasting hummus.
Next time you're there, please ask the chef. most of the time, they'll share something new with you. (I've been curious as well ever since tasting that particular hummus).
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Why is my hummus so sour?
If you open your container of hummus and notice a sour smell to it then it is safe to say that you should just throw it away. It has spoiled and the bacteria have started to grow and your hummus isn't safe to eat anymore.How can I make hummus taste less sour?
4) Fresh-squeezed lemon juice Store-bought lemon juice always tastes stale and sad, and it will make your hummus taste stale and sad. Buy lemons and your humus will taste fresh and delicious.How do you fix too much lemon in hummus?
To cut lemon flavor in a dish, you can add baking soda to neutralize the excess acidity. Add \xbc of a teaspoon per 1 cup of liquid. Stir and taste. Other ways to mask too much lemon flavor include adding sugar or honey, adding cheese, or diluting the sauce.What should hummus taste like?
At the first look, you will know that hummus is like a creamy paste with an umami flavor. I mean that hummus tastes like meaty, savory deliciousness that enhances its flavors. Moreover, with some other ingredients like garlic, lemon juice, salt, etc., hummus also tastes rich and garlicky.How to Make Hummus That's Better Than Store-Bought - Easy Hummus Recipe - Updated
More answers regarding what might cause a tangy flavor in hummus?
Answer 2
The recipes I've seen include both lemon juice as yogurt. I suppose the tangy flavor comes from the lemon.
Answer 3
I've made hummus from scratch multiple times. The effervescent/fermented flavor you taste may be due to how long the restaurant soaked the chickpeas for. There are different schools of thought on what makes the most nutritious hummus: using chickpeas that have been soaked 1-2 days before they sprout or 2+ days, which means that they would have sprouted by then. I have heard of people using chickpeas that have sprouted quite a bit, after a soaking duration of 4-5 days. Apparently doing so eliminates enzyme inhibitors. I have also read of people using raw, sprouted chickpeas to make hummus, which I have not tasted.
I think that the flavor you are referring to may be due to the restaurant using heavily sprouted chickpeas or raw, sprouted chickpeas to make the hummus. That's my guess.
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