Life and Art from FT Weekend The oldest cuisine in the world
12 snips
Dec 9, 2024 Discover the fascinating world of ancient Mesopotamian cuisine, with recipes dating back 3,700 years. Explore the culinary heritage of the Assyrian people and their influence on modern cooking. Personal stories highlight the evolution of cherished family recipes, linking past and present traditions. The emotional journey from rural Turkey to New York unveils the significance of preserving cultural identity through food. Each dish tells a story, connecting generations and enriching our understanding of heritage.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Stuffed Intestines
- One ancient recipe still made today is stuffed intestines, similar to the first sausage ever created.
- Smuni, Matay's mother, prepares them by stuffing sheep intestines with minced meat, parsley, garlic, and bulgur.
Ancient Ingredients
- The oldest recipes, found on clay tablets, include ingredients like lamb, onion, beets, leeks, beer, cumin, and coriander.
- These ingredients, used in ancient Mesopotamia, are still common in Assyrian cuisine today.
Making Kotle
- When making Kotle, a bulgur-crusted meat dumpling, patience and experience are essential.
- The shaping of each dumpling requires nimble fingers and a two-finger technique.
