Dinner with Attila the Hun: Lamb with Salted Wine Sauce

🍖Attila the Hun was known to be a picky eater and had a preference for meat.

🔥The 5th-century recipe for lamb with salted wine sauce is simple, emphasizing slow roasting for a tender and flavorful result.

🧅Root vegetables, such as pearl onions, were commonly used in Hunnic cuisine.

🍷Salted wine sauce, made from a mixture of wine, vinegar, honey or sapa, and long pepper, added a unique and savory flavor to the dish.

🏰Attila's reputation as a barbarian leader was built on fear and brutality, but his taste in food was surprisingly humble and simple.

What other dishes did Attila the Hun enjoy?

—Attila was known to prefer meat dishes and would often eat only meat during feasts. The specific dishes he enjoyed are not well-documented.

What is Saba?

—Saba, also known as Mosto Cotto, is a thick grape must syrup commonly used in cooking. It adds sweetness and depth of flavor to dishes.

Did the Huns use spices in their cooking?

—Historical records suggest that the Huns did not use a wide variety of spices in their cooking. Their cuisine focused more on the natural flavors of the ingredients, such as meat and root vegetables.

How was the lamb cooked in ancient times?

—In ancient times, meat like lamb would typically be cooked in pots or slowly roasted over a spit. In the 5th-century recipe, the lamb is roasted from afar to achieve a steamed-like result.

Did Attila the Hun have a diverse diet?

—Attila's diet primarily consisted of meat, with limited use of spices and vegetables. As a nomadic leader, his food choices likely reflected the availability and practicality of ingredients during his time.

00:00This video is sponsored by Squarespace.

00:27Attila the Hun, known for his fear-inducing reputation, had a surprising affinity for meat.

01:46A 5th-century recipe from 'De Observatione Ciborum' offers insights into Hunnic cuisine.

02:30The sauce for the lamb includes wine, vinegar, honey or sapa, and long pepper.

03:09Root vegetables, such as pearl onions, were commonly used in Hunnic dishes.

03:56The lamb is cooked by roasting it from afar and basting it with a salted wine mixture.

06:03Attila's reputation as a barbarian leader influenced his persona, but his taste in food was simple and humble.

16:35Attila mysteriously died from a nosebleed, leaving behind a legacy of fear and ruthless conquests.