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A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

atlasobscura.com

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Re: A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

#21

Post by bluGill »

emblaegh wrote: post #6

> I mean, it’s ridiculous the number of eggs that they used. I often joke that an Andalusian would not have been able to get through a meal without eggs. I wonder if this is also the origin of so many egg heavy deserts in Portugal.

Eggs are easy to get - just keep a few chickens which will in turn eat your trash. So we would expect anyone allowed chickens would have them. Before 1800 95% of the world population was a farmer of some sort, so space for chickens was not hard to find - other livestock need more space, but chickens can get by on very little. (many of those farmers would have been slaves, but they may have still be allowed eggs from the farm)

Re: A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

#22

Post by mdekkers »

mtalantikite wrote: post #11

Looks like the translator has a blog where he posts about particular recipes. [1] The original author, al-Tujībī, later resettled in my father's hometown [2], and lots of these are still in the food culture (particularly the desserts!). [1] https://eatlikeasultan.com [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9ja%C3%AFa

That site is just a big ad for the book, I was unable to find any actual recipes.

Edit: turns out this entire post is just an ad for the book.

Re: A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

#23

Post by ffgjgf1 »

bluGill wrote: post #21
emblaegh wrote: post #6

> I mean, it’s ridiculous the number of eggs that they used. I often joke that an Andalusian would not have been able to get through a meal without eggs. I wonder if this is also the origin of so many egg heavy deserts in Portugal.

Eggs are easy to get - just keep a few chickens which will in turn eat your trash. So we would expect anyone allowed chickens would have them. Before 1800 95% of the world population was a farmer of some sort, so space for chickens was not hard to find - other livestock need more space, but chickens can get by on very little. (many of those farmers would have been slaves, but they may have still be allowed eggs from…

Eggs very pretty expensive outside of rural areas though (and even there they seemingly wasn’t close to being as common as now).

e.g. a dozen eggs cost about the same as a chicken https://www.luminarium.org/medlit/medprice.htm

Re: A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

#24

Post by defrost »

ffgjgf1 wrote: post #23
bluGill wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eggs are easy to get - just keep a few chickens which will in turn eat your trash. So we would expect anyone allowed chickens would have them. Before 1800 95% of the world population was a farmer of some sort, so space for chickens was not hard to find - other livestock need more space, but chickens can get by on very little. (many of those farmers would have been slaves, but they may have still be allowed eggs from…

Eggs very pretty expensive outside of rural areas though (and even there they seemingly wasn’t close to being as common as now). e.g. a dozen eggs cost about the same as a chicken https://www.luminarium.org/medlit/medprice.htm

Still seemingly cheaper than pig, goose, sheep, etc (although hard to compare weight for weight).

Today, as then, be careful not to confuse a young chicken killed and sold for eating with an established reliable laying hen .. which generally won't be for sale until they stop laying.

A laying hen is valued more than a broiler chicken.

Re: A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

#25

Post by afr0ck »

mtalantikite wrote: post #11

Looks like the translator has a blog where he posts about particular recipes. [1] The original author, al-Tujībī, later resettled in my father's hometown [2], and lots of these are still in the food culture (particularly the desserts!). [1] https://eatlikeasultan.com [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9ja%C3%AFa

Fellow Kabyle from Béjaïa borders here. I'll definitely try to recreate some of these recipes!!

Re: A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus

#26

Post by bluGill »

ffgjgf1 wrote: post #23
bluGill wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eggs are easy to get - just keep a few chickens which will in turn eat your trash. So we would expect anyone allowed chickens would have them. Before 1800 95% of the world population was a farmer of some sort, so space for chickens was not hard to find - other livestock need more space, but chickens can get by on very little. (many of those farmers would have been slaves, but they may have still be allowed eggs from…

Eggs very pretty expensive outside of rural areas though (and even there they seemingly wasn’t close to being as common as now). e.g. a dozen eggs cost about the same as a chicken https://www.luminarium.org/medlit/medprice.htm

Again, most people were farmers and so lived in a rural area. Also eggs are relatively easy to raise in, small quantities, in a urban areas so even there many likely had their own source of eggs. Thus price of eggs likely reflects transport costs (eggs are fragile and unlike animals don't walk themselves to town) and that most people are not buying them. Thus while your link is likely correct, it isn't the full story and not helpful in determining how many eggs someone actually eats.
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