The Stewpot Recipe Gallery

Assaturatam:

Apicius, #268

Assaturam:  Assam a furno simplicent salis plurimo conspersam cum melle inferes. 

Roasted Meat:  The meat is roasted plain in the oven, sprinkled generously with salt.  Serve with honey. [Giacosa, p. 88]

Ingredients:

2-3 pounds beef roast
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup honey, divided

Preparation Steps

Heat oven to 450 degrees F.  Sprinkle the roast with salt, making sure to get all sides.  Place in roasting pan and put in oven.  Turn heat down to 325 degrees F.  Cook for 1 1/2 – 2 hours or until done.  One hour into cooking time, drizzle 1/4 cup of honey over the roast and return to oven.  Serve with remaining honey on the side for dipping. 

Number of Servings

Serves 8-10.

Redaction Notes

As it worked out, the beef got a little more thoroughly cooked than I had intended.  However, once it was sliced and thrown back into the cooking juices for a little while, it soaked up the honey flavor even better and was very moist and tender.

References

• Giacosa, Ilaria Gozzini (Herklotz, Anna, translator).  A Taste of Ancient Rome.  The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 1992.  ISBN 0-226-29032-8.
• Vehling, Joseph Dommers (translator).  Apicius:  Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome.  Dover Publications Inc., New York, 1977.  ISBN 0-486-23563-7.

Date Of Redaction

March, 2003.