All in the Palm of his hand
Yep. It’s Palm Sunday again. And, that means people are going to break out in song, singing Hosanna. ‘Tis a silly song. But, it captures the Zeitgeist of the moment. But, what really happened on Palm Sunday? It was a purely symbolic event. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, symbolizing the return of the King of peace. People flocked to the streets to lay down palms in his path as a gesture of honor. He had the locals and the world All in the Palm of his hand.
Everyone took this as a sign of his greatness and divinity. But, was it really divine intervention or just political theater? To his believers it was a sign from the heavens. Educated people of the time read scriptures which foretold the return of the rightful king. Jesus rode a donkey. At the time, if a returning king entered a town on a horse, it meant war. But, a donkey symbolized peace. So, the return of Jesus to Jerusalem on a donkey meant he would be “the prince of peace”. Of course, the Roman occupiers and the Jewish oligarchs didn’t see things that way. They had control of the city. And, Jesus’s symbolic use of a donkey, coupled with the reception of the people, was a true threat to their rule.
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Stagecraft All in the Palm of his hand
Jesus knew his return to Jerusalem would stir up trouble. And, he knew the right things to do, since he was a student and teacher of scripture. he and his apostles lived a quiet and understated lifestyle. And, they walked most places. The fact that he requested a donkey tells you he knew exactly what he was doing. This was premeditated provocation. So, it’s no wonder he would be arrested and executed within a week. Remember, democracy wasn’t a thing then. Jesus tried to ignite a popular uprising. And, look where that ended up. On Sunday, he had people All in the Palm of his hand. By Friday, many of the same people were calling for his crucifixion. Way to throw someone under the bus.
Was it a plan?
Biblical interpretations call it a plan. But, was it really? Or did he get cocky? Here was a seemingly harmless man preaching peace, using the symbols of the day to provoke a populist uprising against an oppressive government. Obviously, he planned the return. Does that mean the resurrection was also staged? There are theories that the whole thing was faked. We aren’t going to get into all that here, though. Just remember, there is a difference between the biblical and historical Jesus. This holds true for all historical figures. There is always a behind the scenes story. And, at the time when miracles or historic events take place, it’s not like people know they are in an historic event. They do what they do. And, the fact that Jesus provoked the Romans, and the Romans struck back is undeniable.
Jesus and the Romans both put on a show. And, Jesus as the savior didn’t really become a thing until some time after. At the time, Jesus was a celebrity of sorts. But, not a politician. Think of it this way, You have a bunch of hippies saying, “whoa man, you’re doing it all wrong. Give peace a chance.” While a message like that may resonate, it won’t penetrate the civic structure of government. John Lennon tried that in the 70’s in a democratic society. It didn’t go very far. And, had little effect on governmental structures. How do you think that message sat with an autocratic empire? Exactly, death within a week.
What does this have to do with cooking?
Pretty much: nothing. But, it does create some historic context for the day. And, the palms are a potent symbol of idolatry and peace at the same time. Either Jesus was a suicidal nut or divinity incarnate. Even after the resurrection, he was still one of many saints, profits, or representatives of a religious canon. The Romans still had their gods, as did the Greeks, Norse, Egyptians, Jews, and others. It’s all about market share. Even the most popular religions don’t have a monopoly.
So, there’s your link to food: market. Okay, a different kind of market. But, a market none the less. So, it’s time to go to the market and get some hearts of palm to celebrate palm Sunday. Why should the fronds get all the glory? They are flashy and helpful in crude building. But, let’s not waste the rest of the plant. For more on the use of palm plants, see our post from last year.
Getting to the Heart of it
So, today, we bring you a recipe for hearts of Palm. If you aren’t familiar with them, they are the center of the stem of a palm plant. The plants grow multiple stems. And, while one is ready, others are maturing. And, the process repeats. Thus, they are a sustainable food. The outer bark and leaves are removed and they are processed. Fresh hearts of palm are not a common item. So, this is one place where we would recommend canned. They are like sticks that get boiled.
The flavor is relatively neutral, evocative of artichokes or white asparagus. And, they make a great salad, puree, or soup. Try mixing them with artichokes for a wonderful Mediterranean salad. Or they go nicely with seafood, chicken, or a host of other ingredients. You can find them in Asian, middle eastern, Mediterranean, and tropical cooking. Or you can incorporate them into any kind of dish. How about a Hearts of palm Chowder on a chilly new England afternoon?
Today’s recipe is something that you can put together in a short period of time, so you have plenty of time to watch Jesus Christ superstar. It’s light and refreshing. Serve with a light white wine like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Hosanna!
Corriander Seared Scallops on Pureed hearts of Palm with Asparagus Salad
Ingredients
- Extra Virgin Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 large Can hearts of palm
- 1/2 Cup Diced Shallot
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Ginger
- 1 Cup heavy Cream or Cream of Coconut
- 1/2 tsp Coriander powder
- For Scallops
- 1 to 1 1/2 Lb large Sea scallops size 20/30 or larger
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1/2 tsp Ground Coriander
- 1/2 tsp Cumin, ground
- 1/2 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- For Asparagus Salad:
- 1 Bunch Asparagus
- 1/2 Cup Thin Sliced Red Onion
- 1/4 Cup Julienne Red Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Dill
- 1 Medium Lemon
Instructions
- Prep the Asparagus Salad: Cut the Asparagus into 1 to 2 inch lengths. Blanch in Boiling salted water until al dente. Cool down in iced or cold water.. Drain well. Cut the rest of your vegetables. Toss all ingredients with a the juice of 1/2 a lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Keep chilled until service. Don't make too far in advance or the acid from the lemon will discolor the asparagus.
- Make The Puree: heat a light coating of olive oil over medium high heat in a heavy gauge pot. Add in the shallot, garlic and ginger. Saute until translucent and aromatic. Rough chop, and Add in the Hearts of Palm and coriander powder. Stir. Then add the cream. Bring to a simmer and reduce. Stir as needed. Reduce the liquid until it becomes a coating. Then, remove from heat and puree in a food processor until smooth. Return to the pot to heat at service time.
- Sear the scallops. Mix the seasonings and herbs in a little olive oil and the juice from the other half lemon. Add in the scallops and toss until well coated. Refrigerate 1 hour before cooking. To cook, heat a saute pan over high heat. Add in the scallops in a single layer. Sear each side until nicely browned, about 2 minutes per side. Cook a little longer if needed to cook all the way through. Actual cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the scallops. They will become firm to the touch and shrink a bit.
- Plate the dish: Gently re-heat the puree. It doesn't have to be screaming hot, but warm enough. Make a line of the puree. Top it with the scallops. Then put the asparagus salad around or on top of the Scallops. Drizzle the extra juice from the salad over the scallops. Serve immediately.