RecipesApicius

Leafy greens

Apicius 3.16a · 4th century AD

Latin

liquamine oleo aceto a manu uel in patina piper cumino bacis lentisci.

English

With fish sauce, oil, and vinegar, either raw by hand or in a patina, [dress with] pepper, cumin, and mastic berries.

The same line of Apicius covers both this raw dressing and the sautéed version at 3.16b. Galen says that people cook lettuce first before dressing with the same combination of olive oil, fish sauce, and vinegar. He also claims that lettuce and rocket pair well together, as the former is a (mild) sedative and the latter allegedly an aphrodisiac.

Ingredients

  • Romaine lettuce, rocket, endives, chicory, or other leafy greens
  • Olive oil
  • Fish sauce
  • Red wine vinegar

Method

Wash and dry the lettuce leaves, and break into large bite-size pieces into a salad bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, fish sauce, and vinegar, and serve.