This Fridge Staple Is Used For Chips And Veggies, But It Belongs On Fried Eggs For Added Fiber

Fried eggs are a breakfast staple. They're simple, and perfectly delicious as is. But when have we ever been okay with leaving food as is? More flavor is more flavor, and additions are especially welcome when they're both easy to execute and nutritious. Hummus happens to be both of those things, and makes a tasty supplement to crispy, yolky fried eggs. You probably have a container in your fridge right now, though it's more often used as a dip for baby carrots and broccoli florets. This is a shame, because hummus adds some serious flavor to the staple breakfast dish.

Hummus also packs a punch when it comes to fiber. The chickpea- and tahini-based dip has 3 to 4 grams of fiber per ¼ cup, though this varies based on brand and preparation. This, paired with the protein in eggs, makes for an incredibly filling and nutritious meal. To pair, simply spread a bit of hummus on a plate (¼ to ½ cup of hummus per egg is a good start), then fry up your eggs and place them atop the hummus. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste and enjoy. You can also use toast, or bits of tortilla or flat bread, to scoop everything up. Dress this dish up further with toppings or alternative preparations for even more flavor.

Serving up fried eggs atop plain hummus is a delicious and simple meal idea. It's also a great jumping off point for further culinary exploration. The easiest way to play with this recipe is to make or buy flavored hummus. Using a spicy roasted red pepper hummus, for example, adds a bit of freshness and smokiness that works well with eggs. If you want something more savory, go for garlic hummus, or caramelized onion hummus for a sweeter touch.

If you want more flavor but want to stick with classic hummus, add some toppings instead. It's a great use for olive tapenade, which brings a rich, savory flavor. A spoonful of chili crisp gives instant texture and spice, or sprinkle a bit of feta for a cheesy twist. Add a bit of dill and lemon zest for a solidly Mediterranean take (don't forget that olive tapenade), or go Italian and drizzle some pesto on top. This makes for a lovely, bright breakfast dish ripe for spooning onto toast or enjoying as is. This is your meal. You can have it exactly as you like it.

The easiest way to boost the fiber in this dish is to supplement or replace the chickpeas that serve as the base of the hummus. Using higher fiber legumes, such as black beans or cannellini beans, helps boost fiber and also gives your hummus a new flavor profile. The fiber boost from this change isn't negligible: a ¼ cup of black beans or cannellini beans has 4 grams of fiber compared to the 3 grams found in chickpeas. This, combined with the 1 to 3 grams of fiber in 2 tablespoons of tahini, the other essential ingredient in hummus, makes for a downright fiber-dense dip to pair with eggs.

To make, simply swap out black beans or cannellini beans for chickpeas in your go-to hummus recipe, or adjust your hummus recipe to fit the altered flavor profile your new beans bring. A white bean hummus, for example, might call for the addition of some dill, and adding chipotle powder to a black bean hummus gives your dish a more Southwestern flair. It's the perfect starting point to a new twist on huevos rancheros. Pairing eggs and hummus may seem simple on the surface, but it unlocks a whole world of dining possibilities.