Which Arabic cookbook includes the 13th-century recipe called hummus kasa?
Answer
Kitab al-Tabikh
Answer
Kitab al-Tabikh
The Arabic cookbook that includes the 13th-century recipe called hummus kasa is Kitab al-Tabikh.
The recipe appears in the cookbook written in 1226 by Muhammad bin Hasan al-Baghdadi, whose work is commonly known as The Book of Dishes, or Kitab al-Tabikh. Its hummus kasa combines puréed chickpeas with tahini and vinegar, rather than lemon juice. It also includes a range of herbs, spices, and nuts, and does not use garlic.
This is not quite the same as modern hummus. The preparation was rolled out and allowed to rest overnight, while contemporary hummus is usually served as a soft dip or spread. The name can also cause confusion because Kitab al-Tabikh is a generic title shared by several medieval Arabic cookbooks, including a 10th-century work by Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq. In this question, the relevant book is al-Baghdadi’s 13th-century cookbook.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026