Would you xmas hummus?
December 19, 2018 8:56 AM   Subscribe

Is a gift of hummus kind of lame?

(First, apologies. I'm having a particularly bad case of my usual holiday blues. Xmas just isn't my jam, for the most part.)

Backstory: For ages, we have been doing xmas eve at my cousin's home. Since we're all quite grown, as are our kids, any gifts shared have been in the form of small bits of home-made yummies. Things I've made and given in the past have been things like biscotti, peach/habanero hot sauce, and chile verde. However, this year, my heart and head really aren't in the spirit of the season (worse than usual) and I've come up blank with an idea for anything special.

I do, however, make a pretty swell roasted-garlic hummus, which everyone seems to really like. But, it's not anything unique or anything. Anyone can make it, and I've brought it to parties before, so it definitely won't be a surprise or "omg, you really made this?!?" thing. But, it's all I can think of to make, and I'm running out of time to pull anything together.

I'll probably also include some naan. Hopefully one of the local Indian markets carries something a bit more...hand-made-ish...than what the supermarket does. I've tried making my own and it didn't go well, so that option is out.

Anyway...Is getting some hummus for xmas kind of lame? An "obviously you didn't make any effort" gift? Or, is it more of a "let's eat it!" thing, and I'm just stressing this wayyyyy too much?

Thanks, all. Have a happy.
posted by Thorzdad to Food & Drink (27 answers total)
 
If you package it up in a jar or other niceish looking container with a bow made of burlap and tartan ribbon it'll be christmassy af.
posted by phunniemee at 8:59 AM on December 19, 2018 [22 favorites]


Yeah just Christmas it up. I'll be honest, it's not his-and-hers Mercedes, but it's a gift, and it's good, and it's made by you, and presumably these people know and love you and will continue to do so even if their eyes aren't bulging out of their heads at the fabulousness of your gift.
posted by HotToddy at 9:02 AM on December 19, 2018 [5 favorites]


I would totally love that as a gift.

As Tiny Tim said: A Merry Christmas to all; Good hummus, every one!
posted by mochapickle at 9:03 AM on December 19, 2018 [8 favorites]


I think if you wrap it up nice and it tastes good, it won't come off as low effort.

I think what you're feeling is maybe a nagging sense about what kinds of food are usually given as holiday gifts and this is a bit outside that range.

Usually, holiday gift food is something that a person can stick on the shelf for a while and save as a treat for a special occasion: candy, jam, sauces, etc. People have tons of stuff around and out to eat at the holidays anyway, so giving them something that's fresh and demands to be eaten right away isn't usually what's done. That's the convention, anyway.

Doesn't mean you can't deck it out like phunniemee says and still sell it. And if the particulars of the gathering will let people dig right in on this without detracting from what the host has going on, it may even be great.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:04 AM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


I can't tell if all the edible gifts are shared among everyone there or if the hummus will go to someone specific.

Either way, though, if someone brought some delicious homemade hummus as a gift, I'd be all over that. If it's for an individual, yeah, package it nicely or whatever, but I don't think that matters too much.
posted by darksong at 9:05 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


I can't imagine being disappointed in a gift of hummus, but I might love hummus more than the average person. Just stick a Christmas bow or a nice gift tag on it and you're all good. (I'd be even happier if you threw in a box of nice crackers or something along those lines.)
posted by anderjen at 9:08 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


I would be delighted if someone gave me yummy homemade hummus for Christmas! I wouldn't expect any gift more than that from adult cousins. Put a ribbon on it or something if you want to be festive, and tell them it's made with love.
posted by beandip at 9:18 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


I too would be delighted to receive this & proud or at least relieved to give something homemade at all. Suggestion for tag/label with the Xmas bow: Scrooge McDuck yelling "Bah Hummus!" unless that's too passive-aggressive, I know I can lean that way around the holidays
posted by miles per flower at 9:21 AM on December 19, 2018 [5 favorites]


In addition to naan, you could include some fancy crackers if you wanted to add some "bulk" to the gift!
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 9:26 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


I don't Christmas anymore, but any homemade food item that is edible will make me happier than literally anything anyone could buy me.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:28 AM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


So I think hummus + naan is a potentially challenging gift because it's perishable and can't be stored for long periods at room temperature. If you are giving the gift to someone at their house, where they can store it properly, it is a perfectly fine gift. My concern would be that recipients might be traveling long distances over the holidays to their homes or other travel destinations after receiving this gift -- you would know whether that's the case better than I would. Because hummus needs to be kept refrigerated, it is hard to travel long distances with it. It also can't be taken in a carry-on on an airplane in quantities of more than 3.4 ounces because of its paste-like consistency. Likewise, naan will go stale very quickly if it can't be stored properly.
posted by phoenixy at 9:28 AM on December 19, 2018 [19 favorites]


If it's for eating at the party, it's a great idea, especially if you present it with a tray of nicely presented crudites and crackers; it's a nice lighter option to offset the standard fatty fare and will be appreciated.

Edit: for extra festiveness that is totally authentic and flavor-appropriate, sprinkle it with sumac (red) and zaatar (green) or a decorative blob of red pepper relish and sliced green olives!
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:33 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


I like hummus well enough, but I would be surprised to get such an immediately perishable gift for Christmas. With all the parties and the big meals and whatnot, I'm not sure I would find time to eat it before it went bad.

I wouldn't be upset or think you were a bad person or anything, it just might go to waste.

If it's more of a potluck contribution than an individual gift, then sure, hummus is great. Every party should have some.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:34 AM on December 19, 2018 [11 favorites]


The gift of yummy food is not lame but the gift of food poisoning is. As long as you can be assured that the total exposure time to non-refrigerated temperatures is in the safe zone, it's fine. But if the fridge is going to be to full of other things and it would just be sitting out for two or more hours, I'd graciously accept it as a gift but toss it when I got home.

Hummus does freeze fairly well, so you could prefreeze it such that it could safely sit out for a while.
posted by Candleman at 10:16 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


You mention they’ve had it before, and that you’ve brought it to parties, so that may be a factor in how well it goes over. If you bring hummus to a lot of family gatherings, especially if you bring it over the holidays, I can see people being a little underwhelmed. On the other hand, if your hummus always gets devoured quickly and everyone asks you to bring it, it could be an excellent gift, especially if you bring an extra-large amount or individual containers for everyone. It wouldn’t be suitable for anyone traveling, as others have mentioned.

(If you’re looking for other edible gift ideas, I’m loving homemade granola these days - it’s easy, inexpensive, and really really good.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:18 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


That's an awesome gift, and in keeping with your family's tradition of gifting fun food items. As everyone says, put a bow on it and be proud.

Instead of naan, you can easily make these really tasty homemade crackers which keep well (already being dry) and taste great with dips of all kinds (and you can switch up the flavours if rosemary and raisin aren't your thing):

Rosemary Raisin Pecan Crisps
posted by Pomo at 10:19 AM on December 19, 2018


If home made yummies are the things people give each other, I think hummus (especially with some nice naan and made to look fancy in some sort of package) is AOK fine. I agree with other people, you could make it look like more like a gift box of nonsense by including some other vaguely mediterranean stuff (pistachios, dried apricots, fancy almonds) but I think if the general theme is "yummies" and you make hummus that people like, you are good.
posted by jessamyn at 10:28 AM on December 19, 2018


If you make it and they like it then that's awesome. Doubly-so if you give both naan and the hummus.

I hear you about it being "not special," though, if you've done it before. Can you put it in a nice bowl, and make that part of the gift? Good-looking wood, or a Chrimastmas-themed image on it, or whatever? Or maybe add a recipe card for them to ry it, with a little whisk/knife/cutting board?
posted by wenestvedt at 11:15 AM on December 19, 2018


If it’s meant to be eaten then and there, sure. But I wouldn’t keep homemade hummus for 5+ days, like after the holidays are over, and eat it as it won’t be fresh.

In regards to hummus, have you considered making zaatar instead? Super low effort, looks cute jarred, and will last longer.
posted by vivzan at 11:32 AM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]


Cut a xmas tree shape out of a green bell pepper or other pepper for festiveness!
posted by gryphonlover at 11:56 AM on December 19, 2018


I would love CHRISTMAS HUMMUS more than Christmas Cookies- A++

Carefully cut a Christmas Tree out of paper as a stencil. Dust dried oregano on the stencil to make a tree on top of the Hummus. Dust around the tree with red paprika. You can do pine nuts for ornaments on the tree. Drizzle olive oil on the outside. Boom! CHRISTMAS HUMMUS.
posted by jbenben at 12:55 PM on December 19, 2018 [14 favorites]


"Lame" is dated, but hummus as a present is always welcome. Obviously you're putting effort into thinking about this! Go for it.
posted by aniola at 1:26 PM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


Seconding aniola on the usage of 'lame'. And I'm sorry but if I received hummus I'd internally roll my eyes. Take heart, though - evidently I'm in the minority here. If you enjoy making it and gifting it, that's important.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:39 PM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


I'd be worried about spoilage. Hummus is great and delicious, but I'd be worried about how long it had been unrefrigerated, etc.

I'd bake something instead.
posted by quince at 1:59 PM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


Is the order of the evening that everyone shows up, people open gifts of various yummies, and then everyone eats the yummies and eventually goes home with yummies in the tummies? Hummus is fine. If you're feeling like it's not enough, go a little overboard on the dipping implements. Like do two kinds of naan or whatever until the guilty-feelings leave you.

Is it that everyone shows up, people open gifts of various yummies, everyone eats some other spread of horse doovers or dinner or whatever, and then people leave with their yummies in bags? I would worry about hummus being perishable then.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 2:08 PM on December 19, 2018


If you're feeling like it's a little.....wimpy, maybe you could use it as a feature in a DIY gift basket. Thusly:

* Make the hummus and pack it in a pretty container.
* Head to your grocery store and pick up some simple appetizer-y things to go with it - small packets of nuts, bags of pita chips, fancy dried sausage, jars of pickles or stuffed grape leaves, a bunch of grapes, fancy honey, etc.
* Pack everything in a nice gift bag.

Presto - you've basically given them this, only since most of the things are all sealed up they have the choice of whether to use it all right away or save some bits for later.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:41 AM on December 20, 2018


You people are hilarious, acting like hummus is mayo or meat. It doesn't spoil that fast. Even less so if you use lots of garlic and pour a thin layer of good olive oil on top.

Hummus is awesome, tho I have to say I like the zaatar idea even better (but I adore zaatar. Also love the idea of a Christmas tree herb stencil for the top.
posted by liminal_shadows at 10:55 AM on December 20, 2018 [1 favorite]


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