The History of Food
Roman Empire · 1st Century BC
Moretum
Roman Herb, Garlic & Fresh Cheese Spread
The Roman farmer's breakfast, pounded in a mortar: garlic, hard herbs, fresh cheese, olive oil and vinegar — a green, punchy spread eaten with coarse bread.
Prep
12 min
Calories
190 kcal
Macros C/P/F
5/11/14 g
Health rating
4.4 / 5
High-ProteinNaturally Gluten-Free
Following the pseudo-Virgilian poem Moretum, line by line.
Ingredients
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 small bunch celery leaf
- 1 small bunch fresh coriander
- 1 sprig rue (substitute a few rocket leaves)
- 120 g fresh sheep's cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Coarse salt
Method
- 1Peel the garlic and pound it in a stone mortar with the salt until it becomes a paste.
- 2Add the herbs a handful at a time, working the pestle in circles until the mass turns deep green.
- 3Crumble in the cheese and continue pounding until the mixture binds.
- 4Trickle in the oil and vinegar while working, until it holds together as a single ball.
- 5Shape into a round and eat with hearth bread — Simylus ate his before dawn, before ploughing.
