It’s Hummus Day! Well, who knew? But if every other mode of employment, family member, alcoholic beverage or dog can have its day then there is every reason to pronounce a ‘Hummus Day’ too! ChicP present a range of truly addictive spreads that work as meal ingredients as well.
Founded by Hannah McCollum, ChicP is a company that is taking a fresh look at a vegetarian favourite. This young company was set up to expand the ‘healthy dips’ offering in supermarkets. They have the distinction of Great British Entrepreneur Award: Entrepreneur to Watch 2021, along with a host of other accolades. They are ethical, appealing, and their range of chickpea products is outstanding.
Hummus has become something of a staple with those who love the flavour and texture of chickpeas. But ChicP has enhanced that standard dish and presents hummus with more complex profiles, but with all the charm of the original.
Over the past five years, Hannah has cooked in the UK and all over Europe, predominantly as a private chef. She would often transform the leftover salads into dips for the next meal. Well, that’s inspired and practical, and should give all of us some ideas for reducing our own culinary household waste, as well as saving some money.
Adorable, admired and appreciated
The ChicP Hummus range takes advantage of raw vegetables, and those veggies might be referred to as quirky, misshapen, ugly or unwanted by those looking for aesthetic perfection. When those unloved veggies are made into a dip, they become adorable, admired and appreciated.
ChicP Hummus is a perfect addition to a sandwich for a casual lunch, but also as a topping for smart dinner party canapes. I have tried four ChicP varieties and they differ in flavour, colour and texture, giving plenty of scope for a striking presentation. A bit of coordinated garnish and your nibbles platter will be memorable. ChicP Hummus is produced in a BRC High Care Facility which is free from nuts.
Raw Beetroot and Horseradish Hummus is a rich purple-red with natural colour from the beets. The ingredients are well-balanced, giving a slightly sweet spread.
Herby Hummus is a fresh green pot full of antioxidant herbs. It’s flavourful and is perfect with a little grating of Parmesan cheese as a topping for a bowl of pasta. Dinner will be ready in minutes with very little effort. Great as a spread for a chicken sandwich.
Wonderful as a starter
Carrot, Ginger and Turmeric Hummus is perhaps my preferred pot, although three of us had a taste test and we each chose a different favourite! This has a smoother texture than a couple of the others and I guess that’s from the carrot. Love the warming hint of ginger. This would be wonderful as a starter for an Indian meal. Buy some mini poppadoms to dip.
ChicP Velvet Hummus is new to me. It’s a silky smooth hummus made from different grades of chickpeas mixed with the classic Tahini. The company will soon be working with a UK farmer to use the first UK-grown chickpeas. Three cheers for that. It will lower the carbon footprint, support our local farmers , help combat climate change, and also add to UK food security. Hummus is gluten, dairy, nut and pesticide free. The only allergen is sesame seeds.
ChicP Hummus is well worth seeking out. Their products are healthy and, just as important, delicious. I am not a vegetarian but ChicP is on every shopping list. Their pots inspire my meal plans and cut out a lot of work. A guilt-free winner and a guilt-free pleasure!