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Caccabina Pudding

Vinidarius 2 · c. 500 AD · Roman

Latin

caccabina fusile: malbas porros betas siue coliclos elixatos turdos atque esicia de pullu copadia porcina siue pullina et cetera que in presenti habere poteris conpones uariatim. teres piper lygisticum cum uini ueteris pondo duo, liquamen pondo I, mel pondo I, olei aliquantu. gustata, idem permixta et temperatam mittis in patinam et fac ut modice fereueat, et cum quoquitur adicies lactes sextario uno, oua dissoluta cum lacte; perfundes patinam; mox constrinxerit, inferes.

English

A set caccabina: arrange in layers boiled mallows, leeks, beets or cabbage shoots, thrushes and forcemeat balls of chicken, pieces of pork or chicken, and whatever else you happen to have. Grind pepper and lovage with two pounds of old wine, one pound of fish sauce, one pound of honey, and a little oil. Taste it, and when it is well mixed and seasoned put it in a dish and let it boil gently; and as it cooks add a pint of milk and eggs beaten with milk; pour this over the dish, and as soon as it has set, serve.

A richer version of the simple caccabina given in Vinidarius 1.

Ingredients

  • 500 g chicken mince
  • 350 g cabbage, finely chopped
  • 150 g leek, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp lovage
  • 180 ml wine
  • 90 ml fish sauce
  • 90 ml honey
  • 30 ml olive oil
  • 120 ml milk
  • 3 eggs

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 160C/300F
  2. Form the chicken mince into small meatballs. Place in a pot of simmering water and cook until cooked through, then drain.
  3. In a separate saucepan, boil the cabbage and leek for 5 minutes, then drain.
  4. In a large casserole dish, add half the cabbages and leek. Next form a layer of meatballs, followed by a second layer of cabbages and leek, and finish with a second layer of meatballs.
  5. Mix together the pepper, lovage, wine, fish sauce, honey, and oil, then pour over the casserole. Place in the oven for 20 minutes.
  6. Whisk together the milk and the eggs. Gently pour over the top of the casserole, and then put it back to bake for another 20 minutes, or until set on top. Remove from the oven and serve.