Jokes aside, the findings are significant because they give us a better understanding of how the agriculture revolution, which started in the Near East region of Israel, Jordan and Egypt, came about and spread to the rest of the world.

Fava beans, or ful in Arabic and Hebrew are a much loved part of the hummous breakfast eaten in the Middle East, but people thousands of years ago loved them too!

The joint study by researchers of the Weizmann Institute and the Israel Antiquities Authority, examined the fava seeds exposed in archaeological excavations in recent years at Neolithic caves and sites in the Galilee region of Israel.

A plate of hummous with ful

Ancient man loved hummous too the researchers showed:  Seeds found at the prehistoric sites show that the inhabitants’ diet at that time consisted mainly of fava beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas. Not meat or bread.

The multitude of fava seeds (pictured above in rock) found at the Neolithic sites excavated in the Galilee during the past few years indicates the preference placed on growing fava beans. The dating of the seeds, which was done at the Kimmel Center in the Weizmann Institute, indicated a range of dates between 9,890 to 10,160 years ago.

These well-preserved seeds were found in excavations, inside storage pits (granaries) after they had been husked. The seeds’ dimensions are a uniform size–a datum showing they were methodically cultivated, and were harvested at the same period of time, when the legumes had ripened.

According to the researchers, keeping the seeds in storage pits is also reflective of long-term agricultural planning, whereby the stored seeds were intended not only for food, but also to ensure future crops in the coming years.

The researchers added, “The identification of the places where plant species that are today an integral part of our diet were first domesticated is of great significance to research. Despite the importance of cereals in nutrition that continues to this day, it seems that in the region we examined (west of the Jordan River), it was the legumes, full of flavor and protein, which were actually the first species to be domesticated.

“A phenomenon known as the agricultural revolution took place throughout the region at this time: different species of animals and plants were domesticated across the Levant, and it is now clear that the area that is today the Galilee was the main producer of legumes in prehistoric times.

“This is a process that lasted thousands of years, during which certain characteristics of wild species changed, and domesticated plant species were created. To this day, most of the chickpeas grown in the country are cultivated in the Galilee region.”

These are chickpeas that Israelis enjoy, mainly as a hummous dip, spread or as a bowl they dig into for breakfast.

The post Time to settle the debate? Oldest ful and hummus beans found in Israel appeared first on Green Prophet.

Hummus, the centuries-old Middle Eastern bean paste, is ready for its close-up. According to a report released by food industry trend-trackers Baum and Whiteman, hummus will emerge as America’s “it” food in 2015.  “Once a niche product here, eaten primarily by Arab and Israeli immigrants,” says the report, hummus is matching the meteoric trajectory of Greek yogurt as the nation’s next food fetish.

Hummus’ popularity in the states is rising for a few simple reasons. The light snack aligns with healthy eating. The report confirms this, “Hummus is high in protein and fiber and low in fat, so it touches lots of dietary bases.”

Next, it tastes great.  Every hummus lover knows that the food’s versatility trumps its bland appearance. Serve it old school with a splash of olive oil and a side of tabbouleh.  Shift its flavor with lemon or extra garlic, some chili, roasted peppers, or nuts. Traditionalists may scoff, but its characteristic mildness is a magnet for culinary creativity – consider the hummus ice cream dreamed up in Tel Aviv!

Then there’s the muscular marketing campaign begun over a year ago by the Brangelina of Big Food – beverage giant Pepsi and the world’s top-selling hummus brand Sabra.

Pepsi owns Israel-based Sabra, and they’ve teamed up on long-term production plans (working with America’s nearly extinct tobacco farmers to make a switch to chick peas). Pepsi packs promotional power and launched an advertising campaign to lure snackers away from salsa. Their plan is working – Sabra hummus is the now National Football League’s “official dip”.

In 2006, 12% of American households bought hummus (most Middle Eastern consumers make hummus at home – it’s a simple process. See a version from Green Prophet’s resident foodie – link here – and another from a Haifa hummus shop – link here). In the US, the paste is pitched as fast food – sold in grocery stores in throwaway plastic containers – famously skewered in a hilarious music video by Arab-American Remy Munasifi (link here).

According to the report, hummus sales reached $800 million in 2012, a massive increase from $16 million in 2006. Today, 20% of US households now buy hummus, and the number is rising in part due to distinct deviations from the chickpea base – Baum and Whiteman cite versions blended with “beet, pumpkin, Thai chili, spinach, artichoke, guacamole, edamame, cilantro chimichurri, and lemongrass.”  (There’s even kale hummus, although the trend report declared kale to be on its way out of foodie favor.)

So as Remy’s video presaged, 2015 will be “all about that paste”.

Image of hummus from Shutterstock

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Arabs eat hummous with religious fervour. And it’s true: mamma usually does best. As this Arab American in this video points out, if it comes in a plastic container, it is not hummous. Not the kind you want to eat any way.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLGUFaizAHs[/youtube]

For a great laugh watch the video above. And for a great hummous recipe you can do at home, click here for Green Prophet’s killer hummous recipe – not that paste!

Also did you know that you can spell hummous and number of ways? The creamy chickpea spread, full of protein is made is with tehina, lemon and oil. It’s also spelled hummus, humus, humous- you name it.

The post Hilarious Arab American (and dancing mom) explains why paste is NOT hummous (VIDEO) appeared first on Green Prophet.