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Recipes › Apicius

Patina of Small Fry

Apicius 4.2.11 · 4th century AD

Latin

patina de apua: abuam lauas, ex oleo maceras; in cummana conpones, adicies oleum liquamen uinum; alligas fasciculos rute et origani et subinde fasciculos apababdiabis; cum cocta fuerit proicies fasciculos et piper asperges et inferes.

English

Patina of small fry: wash the small fry, steep them in oil; arrange them in a Cumaean dish, add oil, fish sauce, and wine; tie up little bundles of rue and oregano and [dip these into it from time to time]; when it is cooked, remove the bundles, sprinkle on pepper, and serve.

Ingredients

  • About 450 g of small fish like anchovies or sardines (I used 5 whole sardines)
  • 100 ml white wine
  • 30 ml olive oil
  • 30 ml fish sauce
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried rue
  • Pepper

Method

  1. Place the fish in a frying pan along with the wine, oil, fish sauce, oregano, and rue. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until the fish are cooked through.
  2. Remove the fish from the frying pan, sprinkle with pepper, and serve with just a little of the cooking liquid.