Symbolic meaning and use of broad beans in traditional foods of the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East

Journal of Ethnic Foods

Ali Abdallah¹  Antonella Pasqualone²  Carmine Summo² 

[1] Ahmed Oraby Street, Suez, Egypt;Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science (DISSPA), Food Science and Technology Unit, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Via Amendola, 165/a, I-70126, Bari, Italy;

关键词: Vicia faba;    faba bean;    Nutritional composition;    Anthocyanins;    Bioactive compounds;    Ful medames;    Puré di fave e cicorie;    Food of the dead;    Symbolic food;    Ethnic food;    Food culture;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42779-020-00073-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Broad beans (Vicia faba L.) are rarely consumed in Northern Europe and in the USA, whereas they are constantly present in the culinary habits of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. This grain legume is characterized by interesting nutritional properties because of high levels of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and dietary fiber, coupled with a low content of saturated lipids and the presence of several bioactive compounds. However, broad beans are much more than a cheap source of nutrients. Among the oldest domesticated legumes, they have also a cultural value linked to an ancient symbolic meaning. Generally associated with funerary rituals, broad beans have also a positive significance being “dead” seeds with a regenerative capacity. This review focuses on the social symbolism of broad bean consumption and its associated rituals. Furthermore, the culinary habits related to this legume are analyzed along different Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, from Egypt to Iran. Soups, thick gruels, and purees were found to be by far the most common culinary preparations. Using the Egyptian ful medames as a model, the study highlights a link between broad bean–based dishes in different countries, which arises from similar environmental conditions and from cultural interactions along trade routes. Enhancing the knowledge of these ethnic legume-based foods could improve the diet of Western countries by increasing the consumption of legumes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY