WHAT IS A MARROWFAT PEA? Also known as mushy peas, this is a popular pulse in English cuisine as well as in Asian snacks. The marrowfat peas is thought to have been introduced from Japan in the early 1900s, These peas are a member of the Maro family (thus earning the nickname marrow). The latter […]
Archaeology of Pulses, Nuts & Grains
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Alfalfa Sprout
WHAT ARE ALFALFA SPROUTS? Also known as lucerne, these tiny green strands are actually a member of the pea family. These baby shoots of the alfalfa plant are harvested at a young age while still rich in vitamins and minerals. And as the plant grows, the leaves turn bitter making their flavor less desirable. In […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Sugar Snap Peas
WHAT ARE SUGAR SNAP PEAS? Also known as snap, butter or mangetout peas, they are a cross between snow and garden peas. The entire pea, including the pod, is edible despite having a thicker shell then snow peas. Delicious raw or blanched, they have a crunchy texture and sweet flavor. When hulling the sugar snap […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Green Peas
WHAT ARE GREEN PEAS? This is a generic term for three different types of these legumes- sugar snap, snow or English peas. English are the most well known in the West, famous for their round shape and difficulty in shelling. Garden peas come in many varieties and their vines tend to have tendrils over leaves. […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Pigeon Pea
WHAT ARE PIGEON PEAS? Like a cold war spy, this legume is known by many names. And while it’s called a pea, it’s actually a bean! Also known as a red gram or gungo pea, this pulse is most similar to a black-eyed pea in appearance. Originally domesticated several thousand years ago in either India […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Cous Cous
WHAT IS A COUS COUS? It is NOT a grain, it’s a pasta! Yes, that’s right it’s just semolina flour mixed with water and dried into tiny grains. However unlike with other pasta cuts like orzo, the section of the durum wheat grain that doesn’t grind well is used. The name is originally from the […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Pine Nut
WHAT ARE PINE NUTS? They are the edible seeds that are hidden in the overlapping scales of a pine cone. This is how a pine tree keeps its seed safe from cold temperatures, foraging animals and damp conditions where the nuts would decompose. Difficulty in harvesting these seeds is the main reason why they’re so […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Black Turtle Bean
WHAT IS A BLACK TURTLE BEAN? These oblong pulses are tiny in size (around a half-inch / 13 mm) and midnight black in appearance. The presence of the water soluble pigment anthocynin is responsible for its’ coloring. And much like an oreo, they have a white center. This member of the kidney bean family is […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Basmati Rice
WHAT IS BASMATI RICE? Rice in general are just a seed of grass that comes in three different sizes, short, medium and long. Basmati is a long grain rice predominantly grown in India and Pakistan. The name translates as “fragrant” which is a fitting description for this delicious cereal grain. Technically use of the name […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Almond
WHAT IS AN ALMOND? This edible “nut” grows in a tan, wooden shell. While it is technically the seed of a fruit tree, in every day terminology everyone calls them nuts. These trees can grow over 30 feet (9 meters) in height and prefer warm, arid climates. Originally native to the Middle East, over the […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Walnut
WHAT IS A WALNUT? One of the oldest food sources known to man, they are thought to have come from Persia over 9,000 years ago. The edible seeds of these stone fruits are well protected by its armor-like shell. The meat inside walnuts looks like a human brain with 2 lobes and a split down […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PULSES, NUTS & GRAINS – Peanut
WHAT IS A PEANUT? In culinary terms this is a nut but scientifically it’s actually a legume (plants the bear fruit in pods). The peanut is the edible seed. The name originates from Colonial America when settlers described it as a pea that’s shaped like a nut! They’re also known as goobers, ground nuts, pindars […]
