Lora Iannotti
Recipe by M. Gulam Hussain, Habiba Hussain, and Hemendra Saha
Over our long evolutionary past, approximately 2 million years, we subsisted on foods collected through hunting, fishing, and gathering. Scientists have shown that hominins from the ancestor family of Homo sapiens or modern humans lived near water and consumed many different types of fish, including freshwater species like the punti in this recipe (similar to common carp). Rich in n-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin A, and other important nutrients, dietary fish is thought to have contributed to increases in brain size, stature, and other improvements to our health.
This recipe also contains several types of roots – radish tap roots (Brassicacae family), ginger and turmeric rhizomes (Zingiberacae family), and onion and garlic bulbs (Allium family). Because they were energy-dense and relatively easy to harvest, roots and tubers were also part of our evolutionary past. These herbs and vegetable roots from this recipe contain fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients, all very important for human nutrition. When you prepare and enjoy this delicious punti fish curry with white radish recipe, you are actually returning to your important evolutionary roots!
