Wild honey and almonds — the sweetness of the strong
Thick wild honey coating roasted almonds and shards of dry barley bread — a bite of pure energy, held in the palm and eaten on the go.
Thick wild honey coating roasted almonds and shards of dry barley bread — a bite of pure energy, held in the palm and eaten on the go.
Listen well, for few men can say such a thing: I took my meal from a lion's mouth. On the road, the beast my hands had torn lay dry, and behold a swarm had made its honey there. I scooped it with full palms and ate as I walked, telling neither my father nor my mother. Mix this honey with roasted almonds, wrap it in a cloth, and you will have enough to cross the hills of Judah without weakening.
- •Wild honey — a good ladleful (strength and binder)
- •Almonds — two handfuls (nourishing crunch)
- •Dry barley bread — a few pieces (structure)
- •Sesame seeds — a pinch (toasted flavor)
Wild honey and almonds — the sweetness of the strong
Thick wild honey coating roasted almonds and shards of dry barley bread — a bite of pure energy, held in the palm and eaten on the go.
Why this dish? This is Samson's quintessential dish: on the road to Timnah, he finds a swarm and honey in the carcass of the lion he had killed, takes it in his hands, and eats it as he walks. From this arises his famous riddle. This honey mixed with almonds is the strong traveler's snack.
Listen well, for few men can say such a thing: I took my meal from a lion's mouth. On the road, the beast my hands had torn lay dry, and behold a swarm had made its honey there. I scooped it with full palms and ate as I walked, telling neither my father nor my mother. Mix this honey with roasted almonds, wrap it in a cloth, and you will have enough to cross the hills of Judah without weakening.
Ingredients (period version)
- Wild honey — a good ladleful (strength and binder)
- Almonds — two handfuls (nourishing crunch)
- Dry barley bread — a few pieces (structure)
- Sesame seeds — a pinch (toasted flavor)
Ingredients
- Liquid honey (acacia or chestnut) — 150 g (sweet binder)
- Whole almonds — 150 g (crunch)
- Coarse toasted whole-wheat breadcrumbs — 50 g (structure)
- Sesame seeds — 2 tbsp (finish)
Method
- Toast the almonds and sesame seeds in a dry pan until fragrant.
- Warm the honey without boiling, then mix in the almonds, sesame, and toasted breadcrumbs.
- Spread the paste on an oiled sheet to a finger's thickness and let set.
- Cut into bite-sized pieces and wrap in a cloth for the road.
How it was made : Wild honey was the main source of sugar in the ancient Near East — cane sugar and cacao did not exist. It was harvested from hollow trunks, rock crevices, and, as in Samson's story, sometimes from carcasses dried by the arid sun. Mixed with dried fruits and seeds, it made the ideal snack for travelers and warriors.
The contemporary twist : Presented as small bars standing on a slate, like an 'ancient energy bar' — a nod to the Bible's most muscular hero.
Samson · Charactorium