 | |
| Alternative names | Musabbaḥa, mashausha |
|---|---|
| Course | Breakfast |
| Place of origin | Levant |
| Main ingredients | Chickpeas, Tahini, parsley, lemon juice, garlic |
Musabbaḥa (Arabic: مسبحة), also known as msabbaḥa, mashausha[1] (Arabic: مشوشة), is a runnier variation of hummus made up of whole garbanzo beans and tahini.[2] It is popular in the Levant.
Etymology
[edit]
The full native name in Arabic is hummus musabaha, with root sabaha meaning "swim", referencing the fact that the chickpeas are "swimming" in the tahini and olive oil.[3][4]
History
[edit]Syrian author Zafir al-Qasimi wrote in his 1960 book Dictionary of Damascene Industries that hummus shops in Damascus often sold msabbaha alongside hummus b'tahina and taskiyeh, he described msabbaha as a dish of mashed chickpeas and tahini combined with whole chickpeas topped with samneh and pine nuts, with a variation of it topped with oil instead.[5]
Ingredients
[edit]The main difference between msabbaḥa and hummus is the texture. In contrast with hummus, the chickpeas here remain whole.[6] Author Paula Wolfert describes it as "deconstructed hummus".[7] It sometimes contains hard-boiled egg, and like hummus, it is typically eaten with pita bread.[8]
A variation of msabbaḥa common in Damascus serves chickpeas and tahini with melted butter, pomegranate or lemon juice, and pistachios or pine nuts.[9] In Lebanon, it is known as masabaḥa or mashawsha, and may be served with a hot sauce condiment with side dishes. It is also sold prepackaged.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Gil Marks (2010). Encyclopedia of Jewish Food. Wiley. ISBN 9780470943540.
- ^ Kassis, Reem (25 Jan 2023). "Hummus, Tahini and Other Tastes of Home in Jerusalem's Old City". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ^ Kehdy, Bethany (1 January 2014). The Jewelled Kitchen: A Stunning Collection of Lebanese, Moroccan and Persian Recipes. Watkins Media Limited. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-84899-135-4. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ^ "ترجمة و معنى سبح بالإنجليزي في قاموس المعاني. قاموس عربي انجليزي المعاني مصطلحات صفحة 1". Almaany. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ^ Al-Qasimi, Zafir (1960). قاموس الصناعات الشامية - القاسمي [Dictionary of Damascene Industries - Al-Qasimi] (in Arabic). pp. 166–168. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ^ Shooky Galili (May 31, 2007). "Land of hummus and pita (a hummus glossary)". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
- ^ "A New Spot in Elkridge Serves Authentic Palestinian Food—and Really Great Hummus". Baltimore Magazine. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ^ Gil Marks (2010). Encyclopedia of Jewish Food. Wiley. ISBN 9780470943540.
- ^ James Grehan (2007). Everyday life & consumer culture in 18th-century Damascus. University of Washington Press. p. 107. ISBN 9780295801636.
- ^ Haim Handwerker (May 12, 2004). זה לא סתם חומוס, זה הומוס [This isn't just hummus, this is hoommus (translated)]. Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2008-03-07.
