Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome

SERVE. [79] ANOTHER WAY, MASHED _CUCURBITAS FRICTAS TRITAS_ FRIED [1] PUMPKIN, SEASONED WITH PEPPER, LOVAGE, CUMIN, ORIGANY, ONION, WINE BROTH AND OIL: STEW THE PUMPKIN [in this] IN A BAKING DISH, TIE THE LIQUID WITH ROUX [mash] AND SERVE IN THE DISH. [1] V. Baking the fruit reduces the water contents, renders the purée more substantial. G.-V. _Tritas_--mashed. Tor. connects _tritas_ up with pepper, hence it is doubtful whether this dish of pumpkin is mashed pumpkin. [80] PUMPKIN AND CHICKEN _CUCURBITAS CUM GALLINA_ [Stew the pumpkin with a hen, garnish with] HARD-SKINNED PEACHES, TRUFFLES; PEPPER, CARRAWAY, AND CUMIN, SILPHIUM AND GREEN HERBS, SUCH AS MINT, CELERY, CORIANDER, PENNYROYAL, CRESS, WINE [1] OIL AND VINEGAR. [1] Tor. _Vinum vel oleum_; List. _vinum_, _mel_, _oleum_. V [81] CITRON _CITRIUM_ [1] FOR THE PREPARATION OF CITRON FRUIT WE TAKE SILER [2] FROM THE MOUNTAINS, SILPHIUM, DRY MINT, VINEGAR AND BROTH. [1] List. _Citrini_--a lemon or cucumber squash. [2] Tor. _Silerem_; List. _sil_, which is hartwort, a kind of cumin or mountain fennel. VI [82] CUCUMBERS _CUCUMERES_ [Stew the] PEELED CUCUMBERS EITHER IN BROTH [1] OR IN A WINE SAUCE; [and] YOU WILL FIND THEM TO BE TENDER AND NOT CAUSING INDIGESTION. [1] Usually cucumbers are parboiled in water and then finished in broth; most often after being parboiled they are stuffed with forcemeat and then finished in broth. [83] CUCUMBERS ANOTHER WAY _ALITER CUCUMERES RASOS_ [Peeled cucumbers are] STEWED WITH BOILED BRAINS, CUMIN AND A LITTLE HONEY. ADD SOME CELERY SEED, STOCK AND OIL, BIND THE GRAVY WITH EGGS [1] SPRINKLE WITH PEPPER AND SERVE. [1] Tor. _bis obligabis_--tie twice--for which there is no reason, except in case the sauce should curdle. List. _oleo elixabis_--fry in oil--obviously wrong, as the materials for this stew are already cooked. Sch. _ovis obligabis_--bind with eggs--which is the thing to do in this case. [84] ANOTHER CUCUMBER RECIPE _ALITER CUCUMERES_ CUCUMBERS, PEPPER, PENNYROYAL, HONEY OR CONDENSED MUST, BROTH AND VINEGAR; ONCE IN A WHILE ONE ADDS SILPHIUM. Sounds like a fancy dressing for raw sliced cucumbers, though there are no directions to this effect. VII [85] MELON-GOURD