Expert: Maria - 12/4/2004

Question
HELLO
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD ANSWER SO OF MY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THE TIME

1. WHAT DID ANCIENT ROMENS EAT

2. WHAT IS ONE OF THE RECIPIES

THANKYOU VERY MUCH
JOSHUA

Answer
Hello Joshua,

Here are my answers to your questions.

1st.Question:WHAT DID ANCIENT ROMANS EAT ?
ANSWER:
The Romans used to eat:
-fishes (sardines, anchovies, etc.);
-shellfishes;
-meat like beef, mutton, pork, lamb, chicken, geese, ducks, doves and other wild fowl, deer, even frogs and snails;
-vegetables like asparagus, beets, cabbage, courgettes, leeks,onion, beans, peas and chickpeas, lentils and, of course, green, black olives and olive oil;
-cheeses and sausages;
-eggs;
-a variety of breads, both dark and light, and moreover a kind of flat bread.
-porridges of grains, such as barley, wheat and  spelt.
-a variety of fruits, both fresh and dried, including apples, pears, pomegranates, plums, blackberries, cherries and mulberries.
-wine, of course, and goat's, ewe's  milk.

2nd.Question: WHAT IS ONE OF THE RECIPES ?
ANSWER:
I can mention some recipes that are taken from an old Roman cookbook (Latin ‘De re coquinaria' meaning ‘On Cookery') by Apicius (born 25 BC).

Here they are:

1- a Roman fish sauce called ‘Garum'or ‘Liquamen' in Latin.
'Garum' was in fact a very popular pungent Roman fish sauce used as a condiment. The Romans fermented a fatty fish in brine and added other flavourings to make the ‘garum'.

2- Green Beans
Cook beans with Liquamen, oil, leek and spices. Serve.

3- Fried Veal
*Ingredients:
800g - 1kg  veal
300g   dried raisins (sultanas)
1 tblsp  honey
2 tblsp  vinegar
200ml    wine
100ml    oil
100ml    Liquamen
pepper, celery seeds, cumin, oregano, dried onion to taste
*Instructions:
Fry veal in olive oil until well done.  Mix raisins, wine, vinegar, honey, oil, Liquamen and spices together in an extra pan, shortly boil the sauce.  Pour over the veal, then leave the meat for 10 minutes in the sauce and cook on low heat. Serve.

4- Chicken
*Ingredients:
1  fresh chicken
100ml  oil
200ml  Liquamen
1 branch of leek
fresh dill, coriander, pepper to taste.
*Instructions:
Start to fry chicken and season with a mixture of Liquamen and oil, together with bunches of dill, leek and fresh coriander.  Then cook approximately 1 hour. When the chicken is done, moisten a plate with  a thick must syrup, put chicken on it, sprinkle pepper on it, and serve.  

Have a nice day.
Maria