[Sca-cooks] 15th C. Ottoman Bulghur w/Chestnuts

[Johnna Holloway]

Marianna Yerasimos in 500 Years of Ottoman Cuisine has two pages
on bulgur. She mentions the various accounts that list it, including
the purchasing records from 1473 that record chestnuts and bulgur being 
purchased
and cooked in the imperial kitchens.
She indicates that the chestnuts were omitted and return as an 
ingredient in the pilavi
in the 18th century. She then gives an 18th century recipe for
Kestaneli Bulgur Pilavi. It's on page 131. It's bulgur, meat stock or 
plain water,
chestnuts, onion, butter, raisins, cumin, allspice, dill, and salt. I am 
not sure
how early that the allspice would have made its way east to the Ottoman 
Empire.
I just read that it was one of the things Columbus brought back from the 
New World,
but how soon it would have traveled from there east I don't know.

Johnnae

Lilinah wrote:
> I'd like to serve some version of bulghur wheat with chestnuts at my 
> upcoming Ottoman feast. The dish is mentioned in many 16th C. menus. 
> It was served at meals as a primary grain dish. Unfortunately there's 
> no surviving recipe.
>
> So i'm trying to invent something - yes, not good for perfect 
> historical accuracy - but there may be some diners who cannot eat 
> rice.
>
> I'm trying to figure out a few things and i'd like to run them by folks here.
>
>
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