Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome Part 42

SOW'S WOMB, CRACKLINGS, UDDER, TENDERLOIN, TAILS AND FEET _v.u.l.v.ae STERILES, CALLUM LUMBELLI COTICULae ET UNGELLae_

[251] SPAYED SOW'S WOMB [1]

_v.u.l.v.ae STERILES_

STERILE SOW'S WOMB (ALSO UDDER AND BELLY) IS PREPARED IN THIS MANNER: TAKE [2] LASER FROM CYRENE OR PARTHIA, VINEGAR AND BROTH.

[1] The v.u.l.v.a of a sow was a favorite dish with the ancients, considered a great delicacy. Sows were slaughtered before they had a litter, or were spayed for the purpose of obtaining the sterile womb.

[2] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.

[252] ANOTHER WAY _ALITER_

TAKE PEPPER, CELERY SEED, DRY MINT, LASER ROOT, HONEY, VINEGAR AND BROTH.

[253] SPAYED SOW'S WOMB _v.u.l.v.ae STERILES_

WITH PEPPER, BROTH AND PARTHIAN LASER.

[254] ANOTHER WAY _ALITER_

WITH PEPPER, LOVAGE [1] AND BROTH AND A LITTLE CONDIMENT.

[1] Wanting in Lister.

[255] CRACKLINGS, PORK SKIN, TENDERLOIN, TAILS AND FEET _CALLUM, LUMBELLI _[1]_ COTICULae, UNGELLae_

SERVE WITH PEPPER, BROTH AND LASER (WHICH THE GREEKS CALL "SILPHION") [2].

[1] Tor., G.-V. _libelli_.

[2] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.

[256] GRILLED SOW'S WOMB _v.u.l.v.aM UT TOSTAM FACIAS_

ENVELOPE IN BRAN, AFTERWARDS [1] PUT IN BRINE AND THEN COOK IT.

[1] We would reverse the process: first pickle the v.u.l.v.a, then coat it with bran (or with bread crumbs) and fry.

II

[257] SOW'S BELLY _SUMEN_

SOW'S UDDER OR BELLY WITH THE PAPS ON IT IS PREPARED IN THIS MANNER [1] THE BELLY BOIL, TIE IT TOGETHER WITH REEDS, SPRINKLE WITH SALT AND PLACE IT IN THE OVEN, OR, START ROASTING ON THE GRIDIRON. CRUSH PEPPER, LOVAGE, WITH BROTH, PURE WINE, ADDING RAISIN WINE TO TASTE, THICKEN [the sauce] WITH ROUX AND POUR IT OVER THE ROAST.

[1] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.

[258] STUFFED SOW'S BELLY _SUMEN PLENUM_

FULL [1] SOW'S BELLY IS STUFFED WITH [2] CRUSHED PEPPER, CARRAWAY, SALT MUSSELS; SEW THE BELLY TIGHT AND ROAST. ENJOY THIS WITH A BRINE SAUCE AND MUSTARD.

[1] Full grown, also stuffed with forcemeat.

[2] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.

III

FIG-FED PORK _FICATUM_ [1]

[1] Tor. _De Sycoto, id est, Ficato_.

[259] WINE SAUCE FOR FIG-FED PORK _IN FICATO NOGARUM_ [1]

FIG-FED PORK LIVER (THAT IS, LIVER CRAMMED WITH FIGS) IS PREPARED IN A WINE SAUCE WITH [2] PEPPER, THYME, LOVAGE, BROTH, A LITTLE WINE AND OIL [3].

[1] Tor. _Ficatum, iecur suillum_.

[2] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.

[3] Reinsenius, _ficatum_ [_or sicatum_] _projecore_.

According to the invention of Marcus Apicius, pigs were starved, and the hungry pigs were crammed with dry figs and then suddenly given all the mead they wanted to drink. The violent expansion of the figs in the stomachs, or the fermentation caused acute indigestion which killed the pigs. The livers were very much enlarged, similar to the cramming of geese for the sake of obtaining abnormally large livers. This latter method prevailed in the Stra.s.sburg District until recently when it was prohibited by law.

[260] ANOTHER WAY _ALITER_

TRIM [the liver] MARINATE IN BROTH, WITH PEPPER, LOVAGE, TWO LAUREL BERRIES, WRAP IN CAUL, GRILL ON THE GRIDIRON AND SERVE.

Goll. Stick figs into the liver by making apertures with the knife or with a needle.

It is by no means clear that the liver is meant.

IV