Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Doing what it says on the tin

Last week I plucked up my courage to visit a little shop near me that sells exotic Middle Eastern foodstuffs, shisha pipes and tea sets. I don't go in very often because it's not an especially pram-friendly space and I'm a bit scared of the owner. Actually, that's not entirely true. What I'm more afraid of is that I'll come home with a tea set and my own body weight in marbled chocolate pistachio halva.

Anyway, I went in on this particular occasion because I'd forgotten to buy chickpeas further up the road and couldn't be bothered turning back. Somehow the scary proprietor talked me into buying a tin of hummus along with the chickpeas - but luckily my limited cash reserves meant that was as far as we could go.


Now, I do buy hummus from the supermarket in a little plastic tub, but mostly I'm a DIY purist because the bought stuff tastes a little weird. I was prepared to give this tinned version a go - after all, it was made in Syria, surely they know what they're on about - but the first taste was pretty vile. Then I realised I had to do what it said on the tin - add lemon juice, olive oil and cumin. For once, those 'serving suggestion' instructions made sense. I'm not sure I'll be running out to buy it again, but it was a good experiment all the same.

What's your favourite thing in a tin? What's your favourite 'serving suggestion' from a packet?

P.S If you're nervous about making your own, try this very simple (and delicious) peanut butter hummus. You'll never buy it again! Pin It

10 comments:

  1. I've been meaning to make that peanut butter hummus for ages... glad to know it's good.

    Hmm, favourite thing in a tin... condensed milk perhaps for baking, or maybe tinned pears (love, love their texture!)

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  2. Lucy, add two cloves of garlic in addition to the lemon juice next time (check out my blog for humus recipe, if you like)
    my favorite thing in a tin is anchovies(for salads and sandwiches)

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  3. I think my favourite thing in a tin would be golden syrup. Do love homemade hummus, delicious.

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  4. i have two words for you .... asparagus rolls !!!!!!!!

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  5. I think I'm going to have to write a whole new post about things in tins... I love all of the things you've mentioned so far (though not in combination, it must be said!) And Paula, how did you know about my passion for asparagus rolls?!

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  6. Next step must be make your own it is really easy:)

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  7. My favourite thing in a tin would have to be artichokes! Good ones only please!! Although, admittedly the ones in glass jars are often 10 times better....

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  8. I always feel a bit funny about buying things in tins in foreign supermarkets...but I have to just believe that it is going to be ok...even if it is different! In France I buy pate in tins and it is soooo yummy. :)

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  9. You make your own hummus? KitchenMaid, you will go to heaven. My favourite thing in a tin is probably sardines, although anchovies are pretty good too.

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  10. Olives stuffed with lemon, in a tin. Lovely!

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Hello - thanks for stopping by. If this was real life I'd make you a cup of tea and open the biscuit tin, but in lieu of those things, let's have a chat anyway...