Hummus has been a staple in the Middle East for hundreds of years. In fact, the earliest recorded recipe dates back to the 13th century. Some claim the recipe originated in Turkey. Others claim it's a Lebanese recipe, while some insist it's an Israeli dish. As with many Middle Eastern recipes, it's hard to determine the exact origin of the recipe and the matter will be argued no matter who you give the credit to. "Hummus" is the Arabic word for "chickpeas." In the Middle East, this dish is actually called "Hummus bi Tahina" which means "chickpeas with tahini."