There are days that happen in our lives when we just end up eating a tub of hummus and crackers for a meal. But if you make it a loaded summer vegetable hummus, doing so feels way better! I first came to enjoy this dish at Al-Amir, way back when they had a location on St. Andrews Road, and it was called Damascus hummus. In the dim lighting of that location, it was hard to really see what all was on your plate, but it was nice because tearing into the huge pita and navigating the pieces of hummus-laden bread into your mouth was best accomplished when your dinner companions couldn't see that you were being insanely messy.
The Al-Amir locations have moved all over Columbia, to the point where I only know of one, on North Main Street where they do thankfully still have the Damascus hummus on the menu. But if you're not in Columbia, or not into going out to eat just yet, this version can get you a very similar experience! If you want it to be even more like theirs, try grilling the vegetables instead of sauteeing them inside. I just didn't want to wait for our charcoal grill to heat up because I was on the hunt for a fast and easy dinner, which is exactly what this is.
This is a very forgiving recipe, where you can use what you have in varying amounts to make a different dish each time. Again, you can also choose to grill your vegetables, which will add a layer of smokiness to the dish. If you want the smoke without the grilling, try sprinkling smoked salt atop this dish too. And speaking of a forgiving recipe, this also reheats really well too, if you want to double it. Just keep the vegetables separate, and assemble it later the same way after reheating the veggies in the microwave.
I made my own pita bread, because I made this recipe when we were really quarantining and only going to the store every two weeks, no exceptions. If you also want to make your own pita, I suggest this easy pita recipe. You can just as easily enjoy this with store bought pitas or even Stacy's brand pita chips!
Sumac
Let's talk about the sumac though! First of all, it's not the stuff that grows outside and gives you an awful rash. It's got a bright, citrusy flavor and is common in Mediterranean cooking.
Sumac is not an easy to find spice. I have never found it in a regular grocery store like Bi-Lo or Publix. I found the Spicely Organics brand at Whole Foods. So you may have to put some effort in to find this bright, lemony spice flavor, but it's worth it, no matter the brand. Order it online now or go to your favorite health food store with obscure products. You'll be delighted if you love citrusy flavors. I'm going to make a special order on Prime Now soon just to get another container of this since I used up the remainder of mine on this recipe.
Loaded Summer Vegetable Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 10 ounce tub hummus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 zucchini diced
- 1 yellow squash diced
- ½ red onion diced
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- 1 sprinkle sumac
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- olive oil or extra virgin olive oil to garnish
- 1 scallion chopped, to garnish
- pita chips
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large saute pan and heat over medium high heat.
- Once the oil is shimmering, add the garlic, onion, squash, and bell pepper. Season with the oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Saute for 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables begin to lightly caramelize.
- Use your own hummus recipe, or scoop the contents of a 10 ounce tub of hummus onto a microwave safe plate. Spread the hummus thickly on a plate and microwave for 30 seconds.
- Arrange the hot vegetables evenly on top of the hummus.
- Garnish with olive oil, sumac, scallions, and more salt and pepper as desired. Serve with pita chips.
Notes
Looking for other snacks that you can call dinner? Try beet hummus, customizable snack boxes, and a cheeseboard!