4 ms·
The "reconstructed" recipe omits the dried barley cakes mentioned in the original inscription. The barley cakes sound like they probably would've been similar t
by AdmiralAsshat 7y ago
The "reconstructed" recipe omits the dried barley cakes mentioned in the original inscription. The barley cakes sound like they probably would've been similar to Hardtack, and likely added to the soup to soften the bread and, perhaps, eventually dissolve it altogether to be used as a thickener.
The addition of beer into the recipe is also an interesting touch. That ingredient has all but disappeared from modern Middle Eastern cuisine due to the spread of Islam, but it certainly would not have been out-of-place in ancient Mesopotamia.
- 0xBABAD00C 7y agoThere are Armenian/Georgian lamb stew recipes that call for beer and wine, it's not uncommon in the Caucasus. It sounds plausible that it was common more to the south as well, prior to Islam.
- TheAdamist 7y agoThe dried barley cakes reminded me of ones used for making keptinis beer, which is an Interesting roundabout process. Documented on Lars blog along with other old beer making styles: http://www.garshol.priv.no/blog/394.html http://www.garshol.priv.no/blog/394.html