Biblical lentil stew seller. Between a lentil stew and a source of living water

01.10.2019

Give for lentil stew
From the Bible. In the Old Testament (Genesis, ch. 25, v. 31-34), it is said that the son of patriarch Abraham Jacob was very jealous of his elder brother Esau, who was the eldest son and, accordingly, the main heir of his father. Once, when Esau was exhausted from hunger, “Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew ... and Esau neglected his birthright,” that is, for the lentil stew he gave his younger brother his seniority right.
Because he preferred material gain to family ties, Esau was cursed and became a stranger.
Allegorically: to give something dear for free, to make an unequal exchange at the expense of oneself.

Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. - M .: "Lokid-Press"... Vadim Serov. 2003.

See what "Give for lentil stew" is in other dictionaries:

For lentil stew to give: for a pittance, almost for nothing to give valuable Wed. They began to confuse me with you ... The same fist, they say, like all of them, bigwigs, burned out ... And I have a master's degree ... For lentil stew, as Esau sold his ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

Lentil soup. For lentil stew to give: for beztѣnok, almost for nothing to give valuable. Wed They began to confuse me with you ... The same fist, they say, like all of them, the bigwig, burned out ... And I have a master's degree ... For a lentil ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

Cm … Synonym dictionary

Change, betray; realize, sell, release; give, drop, drive, sell for thirty pieces of silver, slap, convert into money, exchange for lentil stew, hand over with all the giblets, sell, sell, peel off like sticky, ... ... Synonym dictionary

From the Bible. As stated in the Old Testament (Genesis, ch. 25, p. 31 34), the hungry Esau, the eldest of the twin sons of patriarch Isaac, sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for lentil stew, that is, special rights (in particular ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions

To be exhausted, to grow old, to fly, to be exhausted, to relax, to break down, to be exhausted, to become decrepit, to relax, to give, to dump, to endure, to deteriorate, to distribute, to weaken, to refuse, to weaken, to deteriorate, to grow weak, to hand over with all the giblets, ... ... Synonym dictionary

Esau- (biblical) - "hairy" - the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the elder twin brother of Jacob, was born covered with hair. I. was a hunter, a simple and unassuming person. Once, returning from a hunt hungry, he saw that Jacob was eating lentil stew, and ... ... Mythological dictionary

Diogenes- Diogenes of Sinop, son of the money-changer Hickesius. According to Diocles, his father, who was in charge of the state exchange table, spoiled the coin and was exiled for this. And Eubulides in the book About Diogenes says that Diogenes himself was engaged in this and then wandered together ... ... About the life, teachings and sayings of famous philosophers

BEING- the first book of the Pentateuch of Moses, containing a story about the creation of the world, the early history of mankind and the Israeli patriarchs. The name Heb. the title of the book ("Bereshit" at the beginning) corresponds to the usual one for Dr. Eastern tradition of naming books in ... ... Orthodox encyclopedia

Lentils are the first plant grown by humans for human consumption. Its rich useful beans, perhaps, played an important role in the history of mankind and helped people, as a species, survive under natural selection. The long culinary acquaintance of man and lentils made it not only an ingredient in delicious and affordable dishes, but also the heroine of a biblical parable.

What do we know about lentil stew?

Even in biblical times, lentils were widely cultivated in the Middle East, and their seeds were repeatedly found during archaeological excavations along with wheat and barley seeds.

It was grown by sowing before winter on small plots of plowed land, and already in late spring - early summer it was possible to harvest. Simple agricultural technology made lentils a frequent guest on the tables of the poor. Thus, lentil beans have been of great importance in solving the problem of human hunger since the Neolithic era.

There are suggestions that the slaves involved in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids were fed with lentil stew. And when in the IV century BC. In Athens, a law was passed allowing the use of wheat bread only on holidays; lentil stew became practically the only available to the poor.

Now lentils have remained more common in the cuisines of the Middle East; here you can more often find the aphorism about lentil stew than it is on the dinner table. But in vain, because this is a very useful and environmentally friendly product.

The parable of the lentil stew

The plot of the biblical parable of lentil stew

Lentils are mentioned more than once in the Bible (Ezekiel 4: 9; 2 Samuel 17:28 and 23:11), but the parable of Jacob and Esau is best known (Genesis 25: 24–34). The plot of this story revolves around human greed, ignorance, envy and hunger.

In ancient Palestine, the birthright was of great importance. It provided the eldest son with tremendous privileges and advantages over other children, since he inherited the lion's share of the inheritance and received the support of his father. In fairness, it is worth noting that, along with all the advantages, birthright is a great responsibility. Indeed, after the death of his father, the care of his widows and younger children fell on the shoulders of the elder brother.

So, the youngest of the two sons of twins of the progenitor of mankind Isaac was Jacob, who was born just a minute later, holding his hand to the heel of his older brother Esau. Like other inhabitants of Palestine in those days, the eldest of the sons was engaged in hunting, and the youngest in cattle breeding.

One day Esau returned very tired and brutally hungry from a hunt. He entered the tent of his younger brother and the first thing he smelled was the scent of the lentil stew that Jacob was preparing. Esau was so hungry, and the lentils so fragrant (according to some Bible scholars, they were Egyptian lentils that Esau hadn’t tasted yet) that he was ready to give up for everything.

Jacob asked to give him the right of his birthright, and Esau, not tormented by long hesitation, agreed. So, without showing due diligence, Isaac's eldest son lost all his privileges to please his gluttony.

Since then, the aphorism "sell for lentil stew" has been used in situations where a person sacrifices something meaningful and important to please his base passions or something that does not matter.

Benefits of lentils

Are lentils good for you?

In addition to the fact that lentils are one of the most ancient cereal crops, which mankind began to eat in biblical times, it is very useful for the body. Better and clearer about its benefits will tell the numbers.

Iron, which is very necessary for a growing child's body, pregnant women and everyone, without exception, for the normal functioning of hematopoiesis, is contained in 100 g of lentil beans in an amount of 6.6 mg.

Also, 100 g of boiled lentils contain 356 mg of phosphorus, 72 mg of magnesium, 38 mg of potassium and a sufficient amount of B vitamins.

In our time, when there are too few regions with ecologically clean conditions left on the earth, lentils, due to their ability to self-purify and not accumulate toxins and harmful substances, have become practically the only one in which one can be absolutely sure of environmental friendliness.

Doctors recommend eating various dishes from lentils for patients with diabetes mellitus, people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Because it is able to regulate blood sugar levels, it contains adequate amounts of fiber, potassium and magnesium.

Lentil Chowder Recipes

Lentil soup lean

Lenten

The amount of protein in lentils is only slightly inferior to meat, so a soup made from it, cooked in water or vegetable broth, will turn out to be quite satisfying. And so that an equal sign cannot be put between the words "lean" and "fresh", corn oil for roasting vegetables and fried sesame seeds will enrich the taste of the dish.

The proportions of the required ingredients:

2000 ml of water or vegetable broth;
200 g red lentils;
200 g carrots;
200 g of onions;
18 g garlic;
50 ml corn oil;
30 g sesame seeds;
20 g table salt.

How to make a lean lentil stew:

Put the lentils in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Then transfer to a saucepan, pour water (vegetable broth), salt and put on the fire to cook;
In the meantime, prepare the onions and carrots. Peel the tear and cut into small cubes. Chop the peeled and washed carrots into thin slices. Fry both vegetables until tender in corn oil, add chopped chives at the very end of frying;
In parallel, in a dry frying pan until a light caramel shade, fry the sesame seeds;
After the lentils are cooked and even boiled a little, put the fried vegetables in a saucepan. Let the broth boil for about five minutes, then turn off the heat, add sesame seeds to the pan, stir, cover and, after 10 minutes of infusion, can be served.

With meat

Lentil stew with meat

If you prepare a lentil stew with meat, then such a first course will be easy to satisfyingly feed a large family. For lentil soup, you can use any meat: beef, pork, or chicken. Fresh or dried herbs will add flavor to the dish.

To make lentil stew with beef, you need to take:

2000 ml of drinking water;
300 g of beef pulp;
150 g lentils;
200 g potatoes;
120 g carrots;
80 g onions;
6-12 g of garlic;
30-40 ml of refined vegetable oil;
dried basil, bay leaves, black pepper, herbs and salt to taste.

Cooking steps:

Prepare meat broth. For him, the beef needs to be washed, dried, removed all the films, then it can be cut into small pieces and boiled, or it can be boiled in a whole piece and then cut into pieces or disassembled into fibers;
rinse to clean water, just like in the recipe for lean stew. Let the water drain a little and put it in a saucepan with broth. Cook until soft. Depending on the variety chosen, this will take from 15 to 40 minutes;
Fry peeled and chopped onions and carrots until soft in vegetable oil. Those who love the taste of carrots in their first courses can cut the carrots into thin slices, and use a coarse grater for the rest;
When the lentils are soft, place the diced potato tubers in a saucepan and cook until half cooked. Next, vegetable frying, salt and spices are sent to the soup;
After adding all the ingredients, boil the broth for about five minutes. Insist for some time under a closed lid (10-15 minutes) and you can invite your family to the table.

You can watch a video recipe for making lentil stew here:

Lentil Chowder Serving Traditions

Cooked lentil stew can, of course, be poured into plates like any other first course, or you can serve it differently.

Since the main ingredient of the soup has been known to mankind since time immemorial, it can be poured into small clay pots, from which it can be eaten with wooden spoons. Such a serving, despite its apparent simplicity, can be called a restaurant service, emphasizing the ancient history of the dish.

Lentil stew is a rather hearty dish, so any additions to it will be superfluous, a few slices of bread or lavash will be enough. Lean chowder can be served with chopped eggs and fresh herbs.

Finally, you should pay attention to one culinary one. Having decided to cook lentil stew, you should definitely add basil and laurel leaves to it. This is not done to add a spicy taste to the dish, but for another purpose. The substances contained in these plants contribute to the rapid absorption of plant proteins, which are rich in lens-like lentils.

Lentil Chowder Price

For twenty long years, the happy couple, Isaac and Rebekah, waited for the birth of their son, until finally two twins were born, who were named Esau and Jacob. The birth of the first child, and even the long-awaited one, is always a great happiness, and the birth of two sons at once is doubly happiness: double support for parents in old age, support for each other in the future. But was it so in this family? Did love and mutual understanding reign among the four members of this small family, were the brothers friendly and happy with each other?

The Holy Scripture tells us that even before the birth of sons, the future mother felt that something was wrong: “The sons in her womb began to beat, and she said: if so, then why should I? And she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her: Two nations are in your womb, and two nations will come out of your womb; one nation will become stronger than another, and the greater will serve the lesser "(Gen. 25: 22-23). The firstborn (firstborn son) was Esau.

From the very birth, there was no understanding and mutual affection between the brothers, and they were different people both in character, occupation, and in assessing life priorities. Parents by their attitude towards their sons also did not contribute to the development of mutual affection between brothers: "Isaac loved Esau ... and Rebekah loved Jacob"(Gen. 25:28). And then one day something happened, at first glance unremarkable: Esau, tired and hungry, returned from the field towards evening and saw that Jacob had cooked lentil stew: “And Esau said to Jacob: Give me this red, this red one to eat; for I am tired ... "(Gen. 25:30). The most common request, isn't it? But its consequences were far from ordinary, and moreover, tragic. Jacob, in response to his brother's request, promised to feed him, but on one condition: in exchange for the birthright.

“Esau said, behold, I am dying; What is in this birthright to me? Jacob said: Swear to me now. He swore an oath to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew ... and Esau despised his birthright "(Gen. 25: 32-34).

Today, many find it difficult to understand the difference between an older brother and a younger brother, as well as how seniority can be sold or bought. What did this concept include in ancient Israel? The birthright was of great importance and advantages:

1. the right to a double portion of the inheritance.

2. the title of priest in his family, which means a special closeness to God and special God's blessings.

3. from his kind the Messiah was to come, promised even to Adam, that is, the Savior Jesus Christ.

And these are the benefits Esau easily sacrifices for a bowl of stew. The momentary feeling of hunger overcame everything in this man!

At first, the thought suggests itself that perhaps he was not a particularly smart person? But the subsequent acquaintance with his further life tells us about Esau, as an intelligent and very pragmatic man. What is the matter then?

And the whole problem was that Esau looked carnally at the birthright, from the position of momentary profit. Let's try to look at the problem through the eyes of Esau: people in those days lived for a long time, more than a hundred years, and therefore his father Isaac could live for another 80-90 years, and until then the birthright would have remained unclaimed, and lentil soup was in front of hungry Esau now ... In addition, he probably did not attach much importance to his promise: at the right time, which will not come very soon, it will be possible to change everything.

However, when such a moment came, nothing could be changed: Jacob received the blessings of his father, as the firstborn son, with all the rights and privileges of the head of the clan. But I got it by deception: “When Isaac grew old and his eyes were dimmed, he called his eldest son Esau and said to him: ... behold, I have grown old ... go to the field and catch me some game, and prepare me food, which I love ... so that my soul may bless you before I die "(Genesis 27: 1-4). Rebekah overheard this conversation, and, wishing that her beloved son Jacob would get her father's blessing, went for a trick: “… She said… to Jacob… go into the flock and take me two kids… I will cook from them a meal for your father, which he loves; And you will bring to your father ... "(Genesis 27: 5-10). Jacob liked the plan very much, but he was embarrassed by one circumstance: if his father took him by the hands, he would immediately guess about the deception: "... my brother, a shaggy man, and I am a smooth man ..."(Genesis 27: 11-12). But even this obstacle was removed: Jacob was dressed in Esau's clothes, and his mother covered his hands and neck with goat skins.

As a result of all this, Jacob received the blessing intended by his father for his brother, thereby "legitimizing" the acquired birthright. "And Esau hated Jacob ... and said ... the days of mourning for the father are approaching ... and I will kill my brother Jacob."(Gen. 27:41).

What an interesting chain of events! What amazing personalities, sons of Isaac!

Esau at first neglects his birthright and without hesitation gives it to his brother for a bowl of stew, then tries to correct his mistake, hoping to receive his father's blessing, but when he is convinced that what he has done cannot be reversed, he decides to kill his brother.

Thus, the initial disregard for spiritual values leads to envy, hatred, open enmity and lust for murder. But the matter will not be limited to the framework of one family, as we will see later, this led to moral and spiritual degradation, and then the death of an entire people, the ancestor of which was Esau, as well as to hatred and war between two fraternal peoples (historical and prophetic study of this chain events we will consider in detail in the chapter "Eagle's Nest").

Now let's trace the features of the character of Jacob, who highly appreciated all the advantages of the birthright, and, above all, spiritual ones. Rebekah must have told her beloved son about God's promise that “the greater will serve the less,” but Jacob did not want to patiently wait for God to fulfill this. He decided to act on his own and by far from the best methods: knowing Esau's impatient nature, he took advantage of his brother's fatigue and hunger and bought the birthright from him in exchange for a stew, and then cunningly "took possession" of his father's blessing.

And today among people there are a lot of Esau, who in their daily life often make a choice in favor of momentary attraction, while sacrificing eternal spiritual and moral values. This choice may relate to watching obscene films, magazines, gambling, visiting discos, nightclubs, drinking alcohol, drugs.

At the same time, many today, like Esau, think that nothing bad can happen, just try once, see only once, go only once, listen only once ... But often only one single time decides the whole future fate of a person and his loved ones. If today everyone who faces this or that choice, before this or that road, would give himself a little trouble to think whether this choice would not be the first step into a bottomless maelstrom, into a fast whirlpool, from which there will be no way out, how many happy people there would be today , prosperous families. Having taken only one step in the wrong direction, a person falls into the kingdom and power of Satan, from which one can get out only with God's help, and then, if a person understands where he is and wishes to turn to God for help. This choice can relate to both entertainment and business issues: speculation, fraudulent documents, receiving bribes, illegal buying and selling, violation of state laws, etc. All this today, unfortunately, is very widespread.

You remember, we said that Esau was guided by obtaining immediate benefits, as if, while not killing or robbing anyone. So today people, wanting to get immediate benefits, also do not rob or kill anyone, and they are also proud of their intelligence and pragmatism. But this benefit is so often elusive. All this is confirmed by everyday life.

It must be remembered that each of our actions, and often our words, has its own consequences, near or far, creative or destructive. Take, for example, the most common situation, the career of an aspiring businessman. A young man, who wants to create his own business and have a quick result, goes first to one, at first glance, insignificant offense, then to another. Having amassed some capital, there is a desire to increase it by investing in a profitable deal, and so on ad infinitum - there is no limit to desires, you want more and more, but at the same time, someone will certainly have more money, and a better apartment or house, and a more luxurious car, a younger and more beautiful wife, etc. All this leads to envy, hatred, revenge, and finally, to crimes.

So, Esau's example teaches us to avoid rash actions, to be very attentive to the choices that each of us makes almost every day. In addition, we should be very responsible about our words and promises.

On the example of Esau, we can see the bottomless abyss, where a person is drawn by his envy.

It was envy that caused the older brother's long-term hatred and enmity towards the younger, which almost ended in murder.

As we study the book of Genesis, we are convinced again and again that the Bible is an excellent guide to all life's problems and issues. In particular, the patriarchs give you and me advice on how to learn how to avoid envy:

You should not envy those who acquired wealth and fame by unrighteous means, since all this will not only not bring a person happiness, peace and tranquility in this life, as evidenced by polls of American and European millionaires, but will also be the cause of their eternal destruction.

You should always remember that there are always people next to you who are much worse off than you. Even if you only have one pair of shoes, remember that there are those that don't.

To whom much is given, much will be demanded from those.

For very many people (you may be included in this number), riches and honors can be a stumbling block that blocks the path to eternity. Perhaps that is why you are deprived of them.

Remember that there is no limit to human desires, and there will always be someone luckier and happier than you. Therefore, appreciate what you have, and do not torment yourself with what you cannot have.

Finally, let's say a few words about Jacob and people like him.

Unfortunately, today there are few Jacob, that is, people for whom the most important thing in life is spiritual values, those who strive to possess them at all costs.

These include the desire to know the truth, the thirst for knowledge of God and His ways, His commandments, the desire to be like Christ and bring your life in line with His will.

And the life of Jacob teaches us that God will certainly bless this desire and this desire in man, and under no circumstances will he leave you.

From crafty deceivers, such as Jacob was at the beginning of his life, we will certainly become victors, like him, if we only entrust our life and our problems into the hands of the One who will never deceive, never fail, and will give us happiness in this life and eternal life in the future.

P.S:
Violation of spiritual values leads to unforeseen consequences for us and those around us.

Oparin A.A. Keys to history.
Archaeological research of the book of Genesis

“BLESSED DRAPE. Biblical stories and recipes "- this is the name of the book by Anthony Chiffolo and Reiner Hesse, which was published by the publishing house" CoLibri, Azbuka-Atticus ". The authors are the priest Reiner Hesse and the historian and publisher Anthony Ciffolo is dedicated to the world of the Old and New Testaments, holidays, rituals and the everyday life of biblical heroes. Here are excerpts from the Holy Scriptures, and historical comments, and most importantly - recipes for dishes that biblical heroes and apostles ate.

We acquaint the readers of the site. Kitchen with excerpts from it. Here is the second part.

Birthright for Lentil Stew

And the time has come for her to give birth: and there are twins in her womb. The first came out red, all over like a skin, shaggy; and they named him Esau. Then his brother went out, and his hand held on to Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born [of Rebekah]. The children grew up, and Esau became a man skilled in hunting, a man of the fields; and Jacob is a meek man who dwells in tents.

Isaac loved Esau because his game was to his taste, and Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob cooked food; but Esau came in from the field, weary. And Esau said to Jacob: Give me something to eat of this red, this red, for I am tired. From this he was given a nickname: Edom. But Jacob said [to Esau], Sell me your birthright now. Esau said, Behold, I am dying; What is in this birthright to me? Jacob said [to him]: Swear to me now. He swore to him, and sold [Esau] his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went; and Esau despised the birthright.

(Genesis 25: 24-34)

Game contra soup

At the center of this unpretentious and very famous biblical story is hunger, greed, ignorance and a fair amount of envy. A great dish can be made with a mixture like this! This plot also gives us an idea of the occupations of the inhabitants of ancient Palestine, where Jacob and Esau grew up.

Some were engaged in cattle breeding, others - in hunting. Jacob and Esau, in fact, personify these two types. It clearly follows from the text that the truth is on Jacob's side, not only because he was able to obtain the birthright, but because his way of life is more orderly, civilized and not so dependent on circumstances.

And although Esau was a favorite of his father, because he brought game into the house, which in those days did not often appear on the tables, the herder Jacob prevailed over him. We find the key to this turn of events at the very beginning, when it is reported that he was born, holding on to Esau's heel. From then on, Esau was destined to look back forever for fear of a dirty trick from his brother.

Esau enters Jacob's tent, brutally hungry. It doesn't matter to him what exactly his brother has prepared, it doesn't matter what he serves. Some Bible commentators believe that Jacob used Egyptian lentils that Esau had never tasted before; an unfamiliar seductive scent made him forget about everything (see Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, David Brown. A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. 1921). The food must have been very satisfying, because he quickly finished with it, got up and left.

Among the descendants of Abraham, the birthright was of great importance. The firstborn received an advantage over all other children born to his father. Usually he inherited the lion's share of his father's property, in Deuteronomy (21:17) it is explicitly stated that the father must give the firstborn "a double portion of everything that he has." This rule actually prohibits the father from supporting the youngest son at the expense of the older one. After the death of his father, the firstborn son became the head of the family with all the ensuing rights (to respect and property) and responsibilities (to take care of his father's widows, unmarried sisters and underage brothers). Either way, the birthright was extremely important, and Esau should have shown great discretion before yielding to his brother.

Brothers Dinner Menu

Bread. Lentils with rice. Cucumber salad with yogurt. Onions with lentils, nuts and fruits. Esau's Chowder. Baked goat cheese with herbs. Dried apricots and pistachios. Red Velvet Cake

In addition to the above chapter of Genesis, the lentils that Jacob fed his brother are mentioned three more times in the Bible (2 Samuel 17:28 and 23:11; Ezekiel 4: 9). There is reason to believe that lentils were widely grown in biblical times and were a common dish on the table of the poor. It was sown before winter on small plots of plowed land, and the harvest was harvested in late spring or early summer. She grew up to thirty centimeters in height and bloomed with small blue and white flowers.

Lentils, rich in protein and amino acids, vitamins A and C, are still popular in the Middle East, where mainly two of them are grown. The first produces large gray beans that are reddish on the inside. Before cooking, the top layer is grinded, leaving the red cotyledons. The husk is fed to cattle. This variety cooks faster than the smaller one, without red cotyledons (although it does appear reddish brown on the outside).

Lentils of this variety are eaten whole, without grinding the husk. In the recipes that we give, it is the second-class lentils that appear, with less of a hassle. Two of the dishes are vegetarian, the third is added with a little meat - for lovers of more hearty food. Each of them can feed many hungry people, and such a treat will cost very little!

Biblical bread

Of all the types of Middle Eastern tortillas, the tastiest of all are the easiest to bake - el hobutz

Would need: 1 pack of yeast, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, ⅓ cup warm water, 1 cup ground semolina, 2 cups wheat flour, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, 2½ cups water, 2 tablespoons ground semolina to sprinkle surface

Preparation: Heat the oven to 200 degrees. Put yeast, granulated sugar and water in a cup; stir and place in a warm place until the yeast doubles in volume. Meanwhile, combine flour, salt, sesame seeds in a large bowl. Slowly pour in a third of a cup of warm water, then the yeast mixture.

Knead the dough with your hands for 5-6 minutes, giving it the shape of a bun; Remove the dough from the bowl and knead for about two more minutes. The dough should acquire a uniform, viscous consistency. Cut the dough in two. Cover each part with a damp hot cloth and set aside for two minutes.

Pour ground semolina onto the work surface and roll into a bun from each half of the dough. Cover them with hot wet wipes, place on a baking sheet and leave for three minutes. Sprinkle the dough with semolina flour and roll the balls into flat cakes about 12 centimeters in diameter. Cover with hot, damp cloths and rise to a warm place.

Make notches on the surface of the dough with a sharp knife and bake for 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to 160 degrees and bake for another 25-35 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven. The bread is ready when it is covered with a brownish crust on top, and if you pat it, it "sighs" as if it were hollow. Cover it with a napkin and let cool. You need to cut the bread right before serving.

Yield: 12 large pieces.

Lentils with rice

Medjedarah - a dish of lentils and onions - often found on the menu of Middle Eastern cuisine

Would need: 2 cups lentils (about 400 g), 8 cups water, 2 large onions, ½ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons sumac, 1 cup brown or white rice, salt and pepper to taste

Preparation: Sort out the lentils (small stones may come across in it), rinse thoroughly and dry. Place in a large pot, add water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, fry the chopped onions in olive oil with the addition of sumac until caramelized. Add uncooked rice, onion and place in lentils. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or cold.

Yield: 8 servings.

Cucumber salad with yogurt

Cucumber salad with yogurt with its slight sourness is a light refreshing dish

Would need: 3 large cucumbers, juice of one lemon, 1 clove of minced garlic, 4-5 sprigs of fresh mint, finely chopped, 1 cup low-fat yogurt, ½ teaspoon salt

Preparation: Peel the cucumbers and cut into thin slices. Place in a fan on the bottom of a large chilled glass dish. Squeeze the juice of one lemon onto the cucumbers. Put chopped garlic and chopped mint leaves into a garlic press and season the salad with the resulting juice. Put the remaining mass in the press in yogurt, add salt, pour over the salad and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Yield: 6 servings.

Onions with lentils, nuts and fruits

This is a vegetarian version of Basai Badawi, a Bedouin dish. If you want to serve it with rice, add saffron or turmeric to the rice before cooking. This will add flavor to the dish and make the rice appear red.

Would need: 4 large onions, ½ cup boiled red lentils, salt and pepper to taste, ¾ cup low-fat yogurt, 2 tablespoons finely chopped dates, 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, 2 tablespoons raisins or raisins, 2 tablespoons bread crusts, a handful of chopped fresh parsley

Preparation: Preheat oven to 180 degrees. ¶ Peel the onions (do not trim off the ends) and place them in a large pot of boiling water. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 15-20 minutes, until soft. Remove the onion from the water and let cool. Using a knife and fork, carefully cut off the cap of the onion and remove the core, leaving the “uniform” about three-quarters of a centimeter. Combine lentils, salt, pepper, yogurt, dates, walnuts, raisins, and crushed bread crusts. Stuff the onions with this mixture. Mix the remaining minced meat with the onion cores. Place the stuffed onions in a heat-resistant dish, spread the minced meat around them and bake for about 20 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve with plain or red rice.

Yield: 8 servings.

Esau's Chowder

Esau's stew is such a gourmet that it was not a pity to give up all the privileges of the birthright for it.

Would need: 1/2 cup olive oil, 6 onions, chopped, 400 g diced veal 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 green pepper, 2 cups cherry tomatoes, 400 g lentils, 2-3 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper.

Preparation: Heat oil in a saucepan, add onion and fry until light golden brown. Add meat (lean!) And put to simmer, and in the meantime wash and chop the vegetables. Place the vegetables and lentils in the meat, add two cups of water and simmer until the lentils are tender (about an hour and a half). When the lentils are done, add salt. To prevent the contents of the pot from burning, shake it from time to time or add an extra cup of water. Serve hot in a bowl or platter with cucumber salad.

Yield: 6-8 servings.

Baked goat cheese with herbs

Since Jacob was a shepherd, he always had cheese and goat's milk on hand. Therefore, we offer this easy-to-prepare dish that goes well with lentil stew.

Would need: 200 g fresh soft goat cheese (feta cheese is not good - too dry), 5 small ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges; 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, a handful of parsley and sage

Preparation: Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Moisten your hands with water and form the cheese into an oblong ball. Place it in the middle of a greased skillet. Decorate with tomato slices around. Pour olive oil on top so that the cheese does not burn and turns brownish. Sprinkle with herbs on top and bake for about 55-60 minutes. Remove from skillet and let cool on a wooden cutting board. Serve with tomatoes. Serve dried apricots and pistachios separately. You can spread it on bread, the recipe for which is given above.

Yield: 6-8 servings.

Red Velvet Cake

In memory of Esau's nickname Edom ("red"), the meal is crowned with a wonderful cake called "Red Velvet". It is amazingly delicate, with a mild chocolate flavor and an unusual red color. To hide the main surprise - the red color - for a while, the cake is covered with a thick layer of white sugar glaze.

Would need: 2 ¼ cups sifted flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons cocoa 50 g (4 tablespoons) red food coloring, ½ cup vegetable fat, 1½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 a teaspoon of white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Preparation: Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease two cake tins with butter and sprinkle with flour. Mix flour and salt, set aside. Place the cocoa in a glass dish, gradually add food coloring, stir and set aside. Mix vegetable fat with granulated sugar, beat with a mixer for 45 minutes on medium speed. Add eggs one at a time, whisking for 30 seconds each time. Pour flour into sugar mixture, add buttermilk and vanilla. Add cocoa with dye, mix until the mass acquires a uniform color. Do not beat, otherwise the cake will be dry.

In a small cup, mix the vinegar and baking soda to extinguish the baking soda. Pour quickly into the prepared mass, mix gently so that the mass is soaked. Divide the dough into molds and bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow ready-made cakes to cool for 10 minutes before removing from the mold. When they have cooled completely, layer and decorate the cake with whipped cream.

Icing: 1½ cups granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon of tartar, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ cup water, 4 egg whites.

Mix sugar, tartar, salt and water in a deep bowl. Put on medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture becomes transparent. Beat the egg whites with a mixer until foam forms. Continuing to beat, pour the sugar mixture along the side of the dish in a thin stream so that it does not get onto the beater. Continue whisking until the foam thickens.

E. Chiffolo, R. Hesse Blessed meal. Bible stories and recipes / Anthony Chiffolo, Reiner Hesse: trans. from English N. Tsyrkun. - M .: KoLibri, Azbuka-Atticus, 2011 .-- 368 p.

Everyone knows the phrase "Sell for a lentil stew." I first heard it when I was a child. She pestered elders with questions: "What is lentil stew? How can you sell for it?" My wise dad explained that it is to give something very expensive in exchange for nonsense. What is dear to a person is honor, dignity, freedom. And nonsense - this is lentil stew, cheap swill. Much later, I nevertheless learned the origin of this phraseological unit.

It happened so long ago that it was written about it in the Old Testament. Isaac and Rebekah had two twin sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau was born a minute earlier, which means he was the eldest. Then there was such a law - the birthright. According to him, the eldest son was the main heir to his father.

The younger brother was smarter and more cunning than the older one. Somehow Esau got very hungry and asked Jacob to feed him. He agreed on one condition: to give him the birthright. As the Bible writes: "Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew .... and Esau despised his birthright." Such an unequal exchange happened in the Old Testament times. This impressed people so much that even after millennia the phrase about lentil stew is used on every suitable occasion.

I tried the famous stew for the first time in Israel. On cold winter evenings, my neighbor often cooked something. The smell of this dish penetrated my apartment. The head began to spin even on a full stomach. For several months I endured and wondered: what kind of fragrant brew is. In the end, she broke down and asked a neighbor, a native Israeli, to reveal her culinary secret. Tzipi did not make a secret: it was lentil soup - a favorite dish of the local population.

Many years have passed since I came to Israel. And many years ago, thanks to a kind neighbor, I learned how to cook this famous soup. My family, which has grown over the years, loves it very much when I cook it. In chilly weather, it is so good to eat hot lentil stew. You inhale its aroma and feel that with saturation comes the thought: "But life is getting better!" Sometimes I remember poor Esau and think: "Maybe he was not such a fool that he sold for lentil stew?"

For those who want to get a taste of history, here's a recipe.

For four eaters:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, finely diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 chopped tomatoes or 400g chopped canned tomatoes
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon of cumin
1 tablespoon crushed coriander seeds
Lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
1/2 cup red lentils
1/4 cup brown rice
6 cups vegetable stock or water
1/4 cup burgle or couscous
Salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons dried mint

Cooking method:

1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté onions and carrots for 3 minutes.
2. Add garlic and fry until aroma appears. Add tomatoes, spices and lemon juice and cook, stirring occasionally, for another minute or two.
3. Add lentils, rice and broth or water and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the burgundy, salt, pepper and mint, stir and cook for another 10 minutes, or until the soup thickens and the rice is tender.

Bon Appetit!

Illustration: "Jacob and Esau" 1844, Civica Pinakothek Tosio Martinengo (Brescia, Italy)