Abstract: A traditional method for making, pasteurizing and packaging preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, that involves a continuous process in which the temperature does not deviate more than 50° C. from the cooking step until just prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the method comprises cooking the chickpeas from 110° C. to 125° C. while under pressure, which is followed by adding raw ingredients to the cooked chickpeas at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 85° C., which is immediately followed by a pasteurization at approximately 75° C. Only after this pasteurization step is the temperature reduced in a multi-step cooling process. The as-made, fresh and preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, is packaged into containers by transferring the finished food product that is maintained at a temperature ranging from 5° C. to 10° C.

Abstract: A food package comprising a container having a sealed top layer and comprising a fresh, preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, which includes no preservatives and exhibits a total yeast and mold counts of less than 10 CFU/g at 28 days after production when stored at 2° C. to 8° C. The package includes a headspace between the fresh hummus and the top sealing layer, the headspace comprising a modified atmosphere which is nitrogen rich, such as 70% N2:30% CO2.

Abstract: A traditional method for making, pasteurizing and packaging preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus that involves a continuous process in which the temperature does not deviate more than 50° C. from the cooking step until just prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the method comprises cooking the chickpeas from 110° C. to 125° C. while under pressure within the closed vessel, which is followed by adding raw ingredients to the cooked chickpeas at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 85° C., which is immediately followed by a pasteurization at a temperature ranging from 70° C. to 80° C., such as approximately 75° C. Only after this pasteurization step is the temperature reduced in a multi-step cooling process. A fresh, preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus made according to the present method is also disclosed.