Lentils: Luck, Wealth, and Nutritional Benefits
Lentils are highly nutritious legumes linked to human history and various local traditions, such as those that speak of luck and wealth. Let's discover their history together.
With high nutritional value and very low fat content, lentils are a good source of complex carbohydrates and plant-based proteins. Low in fat, lentils also offer a significant amount of fiber: one serving covers about a quarter of the daily fiber intake recommended by the Italian Society of Human Nutrition.
Lentils also contain potassium, iron (which makes them suitable for those with anemia), and phosphorus. It's also important to mention their vitamin B1 and B2 content. Finally, lentils are gluten-free, making them particularly suitable for those with celiac disease.
Lentils are among the very first legumes to be consumed and cultivated by man.
In Ancient Egypt, they were believed to have nutritional and healing properties. In Ancient Rome, however, lentils were often eaten at banquets and were considered a good-luck food for celebrations.
They are also mentioned in literature, so much so that the Latin author Pliny the Elder, in his Naturalis Historia, cites them as a food with great nutritional value and capable of instilling tranquility. It even seems that the obelisk in the colonnade of St. Peter's Square in Rome (brought to the Eternal City at the behest of Emperor Caligula) crossed the Mediterranean protected by a gigantic cargo of lentils.
Even in the Bible, we find stories related to lentils, such as the story of Esau, Jacob's brother, who gave up leading the Jewish people for a bowl of lentils (Genesis 25:29-34), from which the saying "to sell oneself for a bowl of lentils" derives.
And what about the tradition of eating lentils to obtain wealth and prosperity? This is a custom already known in the Renaissance and has survived to the present day: the shape of lentils resembles coins, which is why we usually eat them on New Year's Eve, the last day of the year, as a wish for prosperity and wealth for the new year.
Lentils have also inspired some Italian sayings: "Non Vale una Lenticchia" (It's not worth a lentil) to indicate something or someone that has no value or importance.
Looking into a pot of lentils, on the other hand, means being dissatisfied with one's situation and longing for something better.
Although lentils are a food that unites people and spans history and tradition, not everyone knows that soups aren't the only way to eat them.
Lately, our cuisine has been rediscovering this food through delicious recipes such as:
lentil meatballs (read the full recipe here https://www.galbani.it/ricette/polpette-di-lenticchie">), risottos (read the recipe here https://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Risotto-al-cotechino-lenticchie-e-spumante.html), lentil gateau (read the recipe here https://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Mini-gateau-di-lenticchie.html).
Here, instead, we present one of the easiest recipes that brings together adults and children: lentil burgers.
- 200 g cooked lentils
- 1 slice of whole-wheat bread
- 1 onion
- 1/2 carrot
- extra virgin olive oil olive oil to taste
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Cook the sautéed finely chopped carrot and onion in olive oil, then add the cooked lentils. Season with salt and pepper for five minutes.
In a blender, break up the soaked whole-wheat bread and blend it with the lentils. Add the paprika and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Blend again until the mixture is fairly firm. Work the mixture with your hands and shape it into the classic round discs.
Heat a non-stick pan, grease with a little oil, and cook the burgers for a couple of minutes per side until the crust forms.
Enjoy! Appetite!
SOURCES
https://smartfood.ieo.it/alimenti/lenticchie/
https://www.terranuova.it/Chiedi-all-esperto/Legumi-storia-curiosita-usi-e-costumi
https://www.gamberorosso.it/notizie/tutto-sulle-lenticchie-curiosita-varieta-e-ricette/
