Moretum facts for kids
Moretum in the mortar
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| Type | Spread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Ancient Rome |
| Main ingredients | Herbs, fresh cheese, salt, oil, vinegar |
Imagine a yummy spread made from herbs and cheese! That's what Moretum was, a popular dish enjoyed by the Ancient Romans with their bread. It was usually made with fresh herbs, soft cheese, salt, oil, and a little vinegar.
Sometimes, people added different kinds of nuts to make it even tastier. All these ingredients were crushed together in a special bowl called a mortar. That's actually where the name Moretum comes from!
How Ancient Moretum Was Made
We know about Moretum from old writings. One recipe is in a poem called Moretum, which is part of a collection of writings called the Appendix Vergiliana. This collection is sometimes thought to be by the famous Roman poet Virgil.
Another Roman writer named Columella also shared recipes for Moretum in his book, De re rustica. This book was all about farming and country life. The version of Moretum made with pine nuts is often compared to pesto, a green sauce popular today!
