Ius Viride in Avibus (Green Sauce for Birds)

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Ius Viride in Avibus (Green Sauce for Birds)

Ius Viride in Avibus (Green Sauce for Birds) is a traditional Ancient Roman recipe for a classic green sauce of pepper, caraway, spikenard, cumin, bayleaf and green herbs with dates, honey, vinegar, wine stock and oil that's intended for serving with roast or boiled birds. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Ancient Roman version of: Green Sauce for Birds (Ius Viride in Avibus).

prep time

20 minutes

cook time

20 minutes

Total Time:

40 minutes

Serves:

Rating:

Tags : Sauce Recipes Spice Recipes Herb Recipes Ancient Roman Recipes

Original Recipe

Ius Viride in Avibus (from Apicius' De Re Coquinaria) VI, v, 4

Ius viride in avibus: piper, careum, spicam Indicam, cuminum, folium, condimenta viridia omne genus, dactilum, mel, acetum, vinum modice, liquamen et oleum.

Translation

Green Sauce for Birds: [Combine] pepper, caraway, Indian spikenard, cumin, bayleaf, green herbs of any kind, dates, honey, vinegar, a little wine, stock and oil.

Modern Redaction

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
pinch of caraway seeds
pinch of spikenard
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
pinch of dried, ground, bayleaf
4 tbsp finely-chopped herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary, lovage [or celery leaves], oregano)
4 tbsp dates, finely chopped
1 tsp white wine vinegar
60ml white wine
60ml chicken stock
2 tsp olive oil

Method:

Pound together the black pepper, caraway seeds, spikenard, cumin seeds and bayleaf in a mortar. Add the herbs and dates and pound to combine then moisten this mixture with the honey and vinegar then mix in the white wine vinegar, white wine, chicken stock and olive oil.

Pour the sauce into a pan and mix. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes to reduce. Pour over your boiled or roasted bird and serve.
Find more recipes from Apicius' De Re Coquinaria along with information on Apicius and his cookbook, all part of this site's Ancient Roman recipes collection.