[Sca-cooks] honey butter

[Susan Lord]

Recently there was a complaint that honey butter was served in a banquet and the critics maintained it was not period. The 13th Century Anon, Al Andalus has a recipe combining honey and butter. Below is a copy of the Perry translation into English:

205. Another, Called Mudhahhaba (Gilded)


Take a ratl of honey and pour into a pot, and put with it a half of clarified butter and as much saffron, pepper and cinnamon as needed. Put the pot on a fire of coals (embers), and when it boils and boils over, take eggs and break in a plate and throw on them almonds, walnuts and pistachios, and stir them with the eggs, and throw into the pot. Stir until mixed and done. And when it thickens, take from the fire and overturn the pot on its face, and serve.