Hummus to impress

I know what you’re thinking: hummus is everywhere, and has become so passe that it couldn’t possibly impress your guests if you choose to serve such a plebian appetizer. I am here to silence you naysayers and offer you a variety of ways you can easily dress up hummus to make the most impressive party food around — in taste and presentation.

First of all, if you choose to buy the tub of pre-made hummus from the grocery store, please throw away the container. It may be handy, but it is not for serving. Get a pretty dish. And might I suggest a shallow platter as opposed to a deeper bowl. Presentation is (almost) everything….

After you’ve conquered your dish challenge, try these simple dress-ups to elevate your average hummus dip to a culinary masterpiece:

drizzle with raspberry vinaigrette, sprinkle with chopped fresh mint and decorate platter with fresh raspberries; serve with crispy crackers.
drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with paprika and chopped fresh parsley and embellish with chick peas (as in photo); serve with traditional pita.
make hummus with black beans instead of chick peas, and sprinkle with cumin and chopped fresh cilantro; serve with corn chips.
like spokes on a wheel, arrange slices of smoked salmon on top of hummus, sprinkle with caramelized onions and capers, and serve with toast rounds.
arrange Kalamata olives in an appealing design, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped fresh basil and chopped tomatoes; serve with bruschetta.

See if you don’t get more compliments with these easy hummus alterations at your nest party. You’ll never serve hummus in the plastic container again!

What other combinations tempt your palate?