|
|
 Porpoises are small cetaceans related to whales and dolphins, though the word has been used to refer to any small dolphin. Rarely eaten now, it appears in several medieval receipts, usual served with frumenty (Cury 1390, Austin 1440) An image of a dolphin from Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4º, Folio 60v It is referred to in later documents as the ‘mereswine’, suggesting the charming idea that there may have once been a freshwater (mere) porpoise, now lost and forgotten, presumably because we’ve eaten them all – with frumenty. We’re obliged to @HenryBluntDD for pointing out that “‘mere’ in Middle English could mean any body of water, from pond to ocean, fresh or salt. It originally meant “sea” and the compound “mereswine”, inherited from Proto-Germanic, preserves that use. And, sadly, European River Dolphins never evolved.”  Original Receipt in the 15th Century ‘Austin Manuscripts’ (Austin 1440)Ffirmenty wit Porpeys. Take faire almondes, and wass them clean, and bray them in a morter, and drawe them wit water through a streynour into milk, and caste it in a vesse. And then take wete, and bray it in a morter, that al the hole ho be awey, and boil it in faire water til it be wel ybroke and boyled ynowe. And then take it from the fire, and caste thereto the milk and let boil. And whan it is yboyled ynowe, and thik, caste there-to Sugur, Saffron, and salt; and then take a porpeys, and chyne him as a Samon, And set him in faire water. And whan it is ynowe, baude it, and leche it in faire peces, and serve it fort with firmanty, and cast there-on hote water in the diss.  |
|
MORE FROM Foods of England... Cookbooks ● Diary ● Index ● Magic Menu ● Random ● Really English? ● Timeline ● Donate ● Royalty ● English Service ● Food Map of England ● Lost Foods ● Accompaniments ● Biscuits ● Breads ● Cakes and Scones ● Cheeses ● Classic Meals ● Curry Dishes ● Dairy ● Drinks ● Egg Dishes ● Fish ● Fruit ● Fruits & Vegetables ● Game & Offal ● Meat & Meat Dishes ● Pastries and Pies ● Pot Meals ● Poultry ● Preserves & Jams ● Puddings & Sweets ● Sauces and Spicery ● Sausages ● Scones ● Soups ● Sweets and Toffee ● About ... ● Bookshop ● Email: [email protected] COPYRIGHT and ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: © Glyn Hughes 2022 BUILT WITH WHIMBERRY |