One of the most well-known figures in history is Jesus of Nazareth, who many scholars believe was born between 6 and 4 BC and whom Christianity accepts as the Messiah. He is the central figure in the New Testament of the Bible, where his life and work are described in detail.

These texts also mention some of the foods he consumed. The Gospel of Matthew, for example, tells of the miracle in which Jesus fed five thousand men, in addition to women and children, by multiplying two fish and five loaves. It is quite possible that he himself ate this simple food. The texts also indicate that he consumed figs, which are nutritious and satisfying. The Gospel of Mark describes how one day Jesus became hungry, saw a fig tree and headed for it, but found no fruit.

From the biblical descriptions of his life, it is clear that Jesus professed Judaism. This means that he probably followed kosher laws and avoided certain foods such as pork and seafood. What he ate is not known, but historians have made educated guesses based on the era, his social status, and the foods typical of the regions in which he lived and preached.

Broad Beans

The lands of Israel are often described as “flowing with milk and honey,” a reference to their fertility. Fruits such as grapes, pomegranates, and citrus fruits are abundant there. Legumes are also widespread and have been consumed for millennia. Archaeological excavations in Galilee have uncovered ancient broad bean seeds, which are rich in protein and carbohydrates and were an important source of energy (Jesus himself often traveled on foot). Broad beans are also an affordable food, which is important since he did not belong to the wealthy strata of society.

Two important Jewish texts, the Talmud and the Mishnah, mention broad beans, indicating that they were part of the local cuisine at the time. The Mishnah describes a dish resembling a mash of broad beans, olive oil, and garlic. This is reminiscent of the modern Middle Eastern dish ful medames, which is still eaten today.

Lamb

Lambs were particularly important in the time of Jesus. They served as both food and a religious symbol. The Old Testament and the Torah contain numerous descriptions of sacrificial lambs. The book of Numbers states that the Israelites were required to offer daily sacrifices. According to Dr. Tova Dickstein, a specialist in biblical cuisine, meat was present in the diet, but rather as a rare treat, since it was expensive.

The most famous occasion for eating lamb was the Passover (or Easter) holiday, in which Jesus participated. This feast is the basis for the Last Supper described in the New Testament.

As part of Jewish tradition, Jesus probably ate lamb every year at this time. In addition to it, bitter herbs, bread, and olives may have been on the table.

Ashishot

Biblical cuisine historian Dr. Tova Dickstein mentioned a dish called ashishot in an interview with i24 News. It first appears in the Old Testament as a food that gives strength. The exact composition is not entirely clear, but according to the Mishnah, it probably contains lentils. Later texts in the Talmud suggest that it is a type of lentil pancake.

In the book “Food in Biblical Times,” author Miriam Feinberg Vamos presents a recipe for ashishot that uses ground red lentils, flour, olive oil, honey, and cinnamon. The mixture is fried in olive oil and served with honey. It is quite possible that a similar dish was known and prepared in the time of Jesus.

Depending on the season, fruits and nuts could be added. Just as we add various ingredients to pancakes today, they probably used raisins or dates when they were available.

Illustrative photo: Ashishot/Ashishim Pancakes