Interestingly, what we most commonly think of as "salad" would most likely be incomprehensible to the people whose word for salt, which lead to the term salad in the first place.
As I understand it, the Romans did like salted foods, but these were more likely "salted" in the way Russian often uses the term, "pickled."
Russian has the idea of "solyonnie" tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, etc. This is not simply sprinkling salt on them and eating them. This is how they are "put up," preserved for future eating.
I wonder what the ancient world would think of our weird "salads," both kinds, today.
Salad
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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You mention tomatoes. Of course ancients, even
Europeans, especially Italians who use them for everything,
did not know of tomatoes. It was the "new world" and
its colonization by Europe which brought that
fruit/vegetable to them. So many foods - those in
salads today - came from North/South America after
the 1492 incident.
Europeans, especially Italians who use them for everything,
did not know of tomatoes. It was the "new world" and
its colonization by Europe which brought that
fruit/vegetable to them. So many foods - those in
salads today - came from North/South America after
the 1492 incident.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----
Aha, Luke! You are absolutely right! Not only tomatoes, but turkey, potatoes, capsicum-bearing peppers (what we consider hot peppers, or chilis today,) edible squash such as pumpkin, zuccini, and summer squashes (as opposed to Old World gourds that were used only as vessels and for fiber,) chocolate, tobacco, peanuts, corn, sorghum (I think,) muscadine, Concord, and scuppernong grapes, and on and on. Thank you, Cristobal.
Beck
"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
Re: Salad
They would recognize them at once for what they are. Here is Apicius, writing at the time of Christ in ancient Rome about both fresh and pickled salad:Interestingly, what we most commonly think of as "salad" would most likely be incomprehensible to ...[ancient] people ... I wonder what the ancient world would think of our weird "salads," both kinds, today.
(Formula 109) Endive and Lettuce Salad: "Endives [are dressed] with brine, a little oil and chopped onion. Instead of real lettuce, in winter the endives are taken out of the pickle [and are dressed with] honey or vinegar"
He records several recipes ("formulas") for salad dressings that would pass muster in any fine restaurant today. Curiously (or not, considering our modern word for the dish,) each of Apicius's dressings is based on brine (i.e., heavily-salted water)
Google ISBN 0-486-23563-7 if you like really traditional cookery
Beck
"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Yet more emasculation! I don't mind sliced cucumbers and diced carrots and tomatoes, but, please, don't slice and dice me!I was just “poking” a little salad fun at Slava, tossing a few puns her way—vegetable verbiage, if you wilt. I hope she takes it all with the grain of salt and doesn’t become bleu.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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