Sabra hummus is the kind of chickpea goodness that might make you stay up for a week, gamble away your savings, have unsafe sex with strangers and maybe even lose all your teeth. It’s junkie-fying.
And I know of what I speak because I spent seven years attending Mid East-related social functions, and ate so much hummus I couldn’t so much as look at a chickpea again. Let me tell you, Sabra brought the love flooding back.
It’s a complicated love. I read recently that Lebanon intends to sue Israel for calling hummus its own. I know it’s lunacy–and a copyright-law friend agrees–but I can see why Lebanon is a little testy. I hope the lawsuit at least means some well-paid work for some culinary historians.
But I’ve also gotta say, before Sabra, I’d never had a good commercial hummus I liked. Not one from Lebanon, or anywhere else. The Israelis may be late to the hummus game, but they’re really making up for lost time.
Now that I’ve got that little issue out of the way, I can tell the world all my wholesome thoughts about Sabra through the Sabra Fan Club, which Tamara tipped me off to.
I have never joined a fan club–not for a person, nor for a product. Especially not for a product that’s smooth and beige and not particularly exciting-looking. But this…I’m in. Mentally spending my coupons already.
Of course, because Sabra is made right here in Astoria, I could just drop by the factory and express my devotion in person, but that might scare them. I did buy Sabra in bulk once, to cater someone’s wedding. Like any big drug score, it felt dangerous. (Peter actually went and did the pick-up–I might’ve blown the deal by being over-eager.) Unlike in the movies, I did manage to pass the product on to the intended recipient, without OD’ing on it first.
Maintain, man. It’s all about maintaining. But a coupon can’t hurt, right?
Some of the sabra flavors I like. Some others, meh.
The best (but inconsistent–I don’t know if their batches are small or unscientific or what) commercial hummus I’ve ever had in the US is the fresh and easy store brand stuff. Access to it makes trips to LA (slightly) more bearable.
Yeah, they’re getting a little crazy with the flavors. I think I saw some fig business? But the underlying hummus is all exactly the same. It’s only the toppings that are different.
I like Cedar’s hummus, though I can get behind Sabra. Cedarses (ack! plural of a possessive! help, Zora!) artichoke kalamata flavor is particularly delightful, but it does stand well on its own without foncy accoutrements. But any time I’ve gone to a party and hummus has been present? Sabra. Crowd-pleaser every time.
Also: In sixth grade I joined the Corey Hart fan club. Awww, yeah.
I love Sabra Supremely Spicy. It is a lunch staple.
The olive one needs more olives and the garlic one needs more garlic.
Try a Morningstar Veggie Burger on pita slathered in spicy Sabra. Carrots optional.
I was so disappointed when I went to A&P yesterday and they were sold out of Sabra hummus. Turns out they’d had a big sale and people had snatched it up.
I agree about Sabra Hummos! But have you had the eggplant salad? It’s harder to find than the hummos, but oh so tasty!
Cedars hummus! That sounds Lebanese! Maybe when they read that they’re at least one person’s favorite, the Lebanese will call off their lawsuit. In the interest of world peace, I’ll have to do some side-by-side taste-testing.
And while I’m there, I’ll grab some eggplant salad. I can’t remember if I’ve tried it…
Corey Hart…dreamy.
Just read your hummus entry. If you want really great hummus (it’s pretty spicey), go to Carmel Grocery, on 108th Street in Rego Park (http://www.chow.com/places/35226). They sell olives, breads, cheese, dried fruit, coffee and spices, among other things. Also, get their pita bread to go with the hummus. Mmmm.
Thanks for the lead, Jackie!
The thing is Sabra is owned by Pepsi now…another ridiculous corporate monster – Cedar’s is a ruthless company making their hummus with Potato Starch not chickpeas.
No! Say it ain’t so! I should have guessed–no insanely tasty product made in my neighborhood can suddenly spread nationwide without some evil multinational bankrolling….