The Stewpot Recipe Gallery

Fungis:

Apicius, #311

For ash tree mushrooms:  Pepper, caroenum, vinegar, and oil.  [Giacosa, p. 45].

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh mushrooms, mixed (e.g., white and Portobello)
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 cups white wine
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil

Preparation Steps

Boil the white wine in a saucepan for half an hour, or until liquid is reduced by approximately half.  Meanwhile, wash, trim and slice mushrooms.  Mix pepper, reduced wine, vinegar, and oil and pour over mushrooms.  Allow to marinate for at least an hour before serving, and preferably overnight.

Number of Servings

Serves 8.

Redaction Notes

The original recipe does not specify whether the mushrooms should be cooked or not.  For this version, it is interpreted it as marinated mushrooms.  We have also used the recipe for parboiled mushrooms (which reduces the time needed for marinating), but an equally valid case could be made for sauteeing or simmering the mushrooms in this sauce.

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

January, 2002; revisited March, 2003.