Poume d'oranges facts for kids

Poume d'oranges was a special kind of meatball dish from the Middle Ages. It was made from pork and looked like an orange! People also called it pome dorreng or pommedorry.

This unique dish was often served at fancy English feasts for kings and queens. It even appeared on the menu for Henry IV of England's coronation!

What is Poume d'oranges?

Poume d'oranges was a type of meatball made from pork. The most interesting thing about it was its bright, orange color. Cooks made it look like an orange by covering it with a special glaze made from egg yolk. This made the meatballs shiny and golden, almost like they were "gilded" or covered in gold.

This dish was a popular part of Medieval cuisine, which is the food and cooking style from the Middle Ages. It showed how creative cooks were back then, making food not just tasty but also fun to look at.

A Taste of the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages was a long period of history, roughly from the 5th to the 15th century. During this time, food was very important, especially for big events like feasts and celebrations. Kings, queens, and nobles would have huge banquets with many different dishes.

Poume d'oranges was a dish fit for a king! It was even listed on the menu for the coronation of Henry IV of England. A coronation is a special ceremony where a new king or queen is officially crowned. Imagine eating orange-colored meatballs at such an important event! Recipes for this dish can still be found in old cooking books from the Middle Ages, called medieval manuscripts.

Where Did This Dish Come From?

The recipe for Poume d'oranges is found in old Anglo-Norman writings. Anglo-Normans were people who lived in England after the Normans from France conquered it in 1066. These writings show that European cooking was sometimes influenced by other cultures.

One big influence was from Arab cuisine. This happened because of history! For example, the Normans (who were related to the Anglo-Normans) conquered Sicily in the 11th century. Before that, Arabs had ruled Sicily for hundreds of years. Also, in southern Spain, a group called the Moors (who were also Arab and Berber people) ruled for many centuries. These connections helped spread new ideas and recipes, including how to make dishes like Poume d'oranges.

Another similar dish from the Middle Ages is called Teste de Turke.