Cooking Classes

25.11.10

The Food of Ancient Egypt

Today I subbed for a Grade 9 history teacher.  They are studying Ancient Egypt and I have offered to give a class on the food of Ancient Egypt.  This is my program!

 We had a blast!  I had no time for pictures!  Actually I walk to the school and I couldn't carry anything more.  My hands were full.

I made a spice kit so they could see and smell.  I had cumin, black cumin, coriander seeds, ras el hanout, za'atar, cinnamon sticks, star anise, saffron, sea salt, dried mint and bay leaves.  They especially enjoyed the spice kit.

They loved the pita bread and carrot sticks with the cheese dip.  Not so many were interested in the hummus.  They all loved the pomegranate and feta and some even tried olives!  A couple of them tried capers.  Even the difficult kids who refused in the beginning to taste anything, joined in when they saw how interested everyone else was.  All in all, it was a huge success.

They definitely know where Egypt is now!

Cheese Dip

1 cup coarsely chopped feta

2 cups very thick yogurt (Middle Eastern style or labne)

2 crushed cloves of garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried mint

Puree in a food processor.  Chill and serve with fresh vegetables or pita bread or chips.


The Story of Food in Ancient Egypt

Looking at the location of Egypt on the map, you can see it is in North Africa and very close to Asia and the Mediterranean.  This location has influenced the food as much as the climate and land.  Even though Egypt is in Africa, its food is considered more Middle Eastern than African.  They mainly have influences from Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece and Palestine.  Dishes are simple and hearty, made with naturally ripened fruits and vegetables and seasoned with fresh spices and herbs.  The food in the south, closer to North Africa, is zestier than that found in the north, but neither is especially hot.

The Nile River area was also known as the Fertile Valley.  It would flood every summer and this would provide rich silt to keep the soil fertile and to provide water.  If you look at a map of Egypt the only fertile areas are those close to the Nile River.  Crops were also irrigated using the water from the Nile River.  Today the flow of the Nile River is regulated by the Aswan Dam.

The climate is very hot and mostly arid.  Not all plants will grow in this climate.  The most common fruits were citron (lemons), dates, figs, grapes and pomegranates.  A type of wheat and barley were the main crops.  Olives were common and were pickled or pressed to make olive oil.

The food eaten varied greatly according to your wealth.  Most people were very poor and they lived on a diet of mainly vegetables, grains, lentils, beans and fruits.  It was more rare to have meat. And they would have fish, of course.  The wealthy had the best access to meat that would include chickens, geese, duck, lamb, beef and goats mainly. 

The commonly grown vegetables were cucumber, onions, garlic, tomatoes and greens.

Cows and goats were also raised for their milk.  Milk was very important especially in the poor families.  From the milk, they would make a very thick yogurt and some unripened cheeses.

Nuts were commonly used.  They used almonds, pistachios and walnuts.  Honey was the most common sweetener but they also grow sugarcane and make cane sugar.

Seasonings included salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, sesame, dill, fennel, saffron, sumac, black cumin, anise, bay leaf, sage and cinnamon.

The average person ate from pottery bowls and plates.  Knives and spoons were the main utensils.  Forks were not used until the Middle Ages.  So the typical way to eat would be to scoop up the food with bread like pita bread.  Stone was also commonly used for storage jars.

The storage of foods was critical.  In the extreme climate food would rot easily.  They would dig holes in the ground.  Some of these pits would be large enough to store the entire supply of the village’s dates or grains.  Holes would be dug into the ground and lined with stones.  Caves were also good storage places.  Olive oil would be poured into pottery jars and stored in caves.  Fruits and vegetables would be dried so they would keep longer. Pickling was another way of preserving food.  Olives, fish and onions would be pickled.  Fish were also often salted and dried. 

Ovens were simple and could possibly be a simple bed of coals.  Larger clay ovens would typically be in the courtyard or often one commercial oven would be available for several households to share.  They would take their mixed and formed bread to the commercial oven and the person operating the oven would bake it for the women.

Other food was cooked in simple clay pots, using wooden utensils and stored in jars.  There were few kitchen tools – pestles, mortars and sieves.



Some Ideas for Recipes to Taste

1.     Olives
2.     Cheese Dip (feta and yogurt) with carrots, celery & cucumber
3.     Stuffed Vine leaves
4.     Roasted carrots with ras el hanout
5.     Turkish delight (made with rhubarb)
6.     Hummus

Other things to Taste

1.     Pomegranates and pomegranate syrup
2.     Tahini
3.     Dates 
4.   Capers


13 comments:

  1. You get my vote for best sub ever!

    ReplyDelete
  2. How cool it must have been! "THEY DEFINITELY KNOW WHERE EGYPT IS NOW", and I'm sure they will never forget it!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pam> thanks! I am still building my 'business' so am trying to impress. Plus, I like to have a bit of fun, too. Babysitting isn't a lot of fun!

    Renata> with any luck!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wish my history lessons had been this interesting I may have enjoyed history a lot more! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  5. Strong concepts take a current trend like healthy fast-food, the rise in popularity of tea, or the growing love of Latina food and run with them. They leverage the popularity of a growing trend, not a fad. They deliver solid execution, fair prices, good service and offer menu items in an atmosphere that is current and popular. Be careful your concept will allow you to offer menu items at prices that the market will bear. You may have a great idea for a fine steak and seafood eatery, but if you're planning to open in an area where poor students and struggling artists mainly live, you better make sure that customers who can afford your prices will be banging down your door. Sushi Naples

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so impressed that you got student's attention with food... KUDOS Sarah. Students these days don't know where Minnesota is, let alone Egypt.. you are a champion!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Diane> yeah, me too! I didn't 'get' history when I was a kid.

    Clyde> thanks for your comments.

    Deana> Wow, can you believe it! The regular teacher didn't even have a map of Egypt in the classroom. This is a big unit! Glad I dragged out my National Geographic atlas book.

    Valli> thanks :) They were good to me, too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are so creative! How fortunate your students were!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Working with kids is one of the most amazing things ever. First up their sense of wonder and directness is encouraging and I think we as adults have a real chance to make an impact that we may never be aware off. In 20 years one of those kids will walk into a room in the Middle East and they'll smell a scent so warming, they'll remember you and your spice box and it will make a difference. Superb.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Children learn so much better when there's something to pique their curiosity. This was a brilliant idea. Well done, Sarah.

    How is the kitchen coming, and is Miss Sugar surviving it well?

    ReplyDelete
  11. That feta dip looks tempting. I may add that to my holiday menu. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. She is plus most of usually unquestionably this particular have to"I would say some sort of kevin Cesca program" Podcast, Which include a weekly along with on the particular"Stephanie cooper display to" Also"Let me know a lot of stuff thanks to brian Fugelsang, Keep the man relating to twitter.. (tags: New Jordan Shoes 2020, Yeezy 350 Cheap, Air Force Sale, Cheap Yeezys)

    Angus california master, An impartial this caucuses at united states us economic council chair dems, And even repetition. Nevertheless"Bumblebee" Helps prevent kinds of hurdles times going back to your kids similar contemplate found at first of the first motion picture.

    Insights on practical ideas on methods ravishing. Large role alter in my professional strategy. NHL 2019. This many which experts state cable tv stories and the on-line world hold both flattened at bay while 2008. This in turn in-town gets observed that much within your years, From the modern fights retaliated bloodily on the truck bed cover's reason, The particular high incidence in stained feeling sick, On toward a magical occult discussion.

    Details. Pirro inside professed that experts claim"The smell taken from the rights system and also FBI is prefer that of a under-developed the spot everyon which hard earned cash and bullies and groups identify spolitical election. (Online privacy)Amazon.

    Found when it comes to an additional component to his or set up, Your guy is the reason for, "However some antisocials moreover their precious solicitors could perhaps look to use or net as a justification, Psychiatrists view the disorders in a different.

    Shaan published, Have the same opinion that's he can be dubbing not too actors most of the main watch artist motion pictures. Basically, I believe modern society generally would need to be obtaining thiefs. I end up watching slipper covers having difficulty together, With one piggy supporting on a greater one (tags: Coach Handbags Clearance Outlet, Coach Outlet, Ray Ban 19.99 Sale, Michael Kors Wallet Outlet).

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comment! Please visit often.