13,000 years ago a food was discovered that would alter history and diets forever. A seed of a plant originating in East Asia, lentils are an important facet of healthy diet. Ever since lentils have been discovered they have provided people with a viable source of sustenance. The wide variety of lentils paired with the health benefits and the rich history has kept lentils relevant up to the modern era.
Once considered a poor person’s food lentils have affected history through thousands of years and across the globe. The earliest archeological dating of lentils is from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic layers of the Franchthi Cave in Greece. The Greeks were one of the first groups of people to include lentils in their diet. The word lentil comes from the Latin word lens, since it is shaped like the double convex optic lens, similar to the shape of the human eye. The lentil grew in popularity during the old world agricultural boom along with other culinary staples such as wheat, emmer and barley. Lentils were considered as a cheap substitute for meat and were commonly eaten by poor Catholics during lent instead of fish. It was not until the enlightenment period during the 18th century that lentils would regain some of their fallen reputation. …show more content…
Probably the most popular lentil, the French green lentil is rich tasting with a strong pepper flavor. French green lentils also provide a good source of antioxidants. Another popular lentil is the black beluga lentil. Black beluga lentils look shiny and black when cooked, almost resembling caviar. The earthy flavor and soft texture of black beluga lentils compliments salads and pastas. The smallest lentil is the Le Puy lentil. The Le Puy lentil are named after the region in France which they are grown in. They provide a great source of magnesium, a necessary nutrient. There are over three hundred different types of lentils all varying in shapes, sizes, and