Kandaulos facts for kids

Kandaulos (pronounced kan-DOW-los) was a special and fancy dish from Ancient Greece. It came from a place called Lydia and was a popular luxury food. This rich, savory treat became a new favorite in Athens around the early 300s BC.

A Greek writer named Athenaeus, who lived much later (around 200 AD), wrote that kandaulos came in three different types. One type was sweet, like a flat cake. Another type was savory, made with meat, broth, and breadcrumbs. It's not clear what the third type was, or how all three were related.

What Was Kandaulos?

Kandaulos was a famous dish known for being very luxurious. The people of Lydia were known for their love of fancy foods, and this dish was a perfect example.

Different Kinds of Kandaulos

There were at least two main kinds of kandaulos:

• Sweet Kandaulos: This version was described as a flat cake. It was likely a dessert or a sweet treat.
• Savory Kandaulos: This kind was more like a meal. It was made with cooked meat, breadcrumbs, and a rich broth.

A Recipe for the Savory Dish

Athenaeus shared a short recipe for the meaty version of kandaulos. This recipe came from Hegesippus of Tarentum, a Greek writer from the 300s BC who wrote about cooking and making cakes.

Hegesippus said that the Lydians had three types of kandaulos because they loved fancy eating so much. The savory kandaulos was made from:

• Boiled meat
• Bread crumbs
• Phrygian cheese (a type of cheese from Phrygia, another ancient region)
• Anise (a spice with a licorice-like flavor)
• Fatty broth

This mix would have created a rich and flavorful dish, perfect for a luxurious meal in ancient times.

The Name Kandaulos

The name kandaulos might be connected to the Lydian word Kandaules. This word was sometimes used as a title for the gods Hermes and Heracles. It was also the name or title of a Lydian king.

See also

In Spanish: Kandaulos para niños