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Savillum (Cheese Bread)

Savillum (Cheese Bread) is a traditional Ancient Roman recipe for from Cato's De Agricultura for a bread that many people call a cheesecake, but which is more like a slightly sweetened (with honey) cheese bread. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Ancient Roman version of: Cheese Bread (Savillum).

prep time

15 minutes

cook time

30 minutes

Total Time:

45 minutes

Serves:

4-6

Rating:

Tags : Bread RecipesBaking RecipesAncient Roman Recipes

Original Recipe

Original recipe, Cato De Agri Cultura 84.

Savillum

Savillum hoc modo facito. Farinae selibram, casei P. II S una conmisceto quasi libum, mellis P. * et ovum unum. Catinum fictile oleo unguito. Ubi omnia bene conmiscueris, in catinum indito, catinum testo operito. Videto ut bene percoquas medium, ubi altissimum erit. Ubi coctum erit, catinum eximito, melle unguito, papaver infriato, sub testum subde paulisper, postea eximito. Ita pone cum catillo et lingula.

Translation

Prepare the savillum in this way. Mix half a pound of flour and two and a half pounds of cheese to obtain a consistency similar to libum, then one-fourth pound of honey and one egg. Grease a clay cooking vessel with oil. When you have kneaded well the ingredients, place the cake in the vessel and cover with the testum. Pay attention that it cooks well in the middle, where is it thickest. Once it is cooked, remove the vessel, coat the cake with honey, sprinkling with poppy seeds, and cook it under the testum for short time, then remove from the fire. Serve in its cooking vessel with a spoon.

Modern Redaction

Ingredients:

100g white wheat flour
500g fresh cheese
50g honey
1 egg
white poppy seeds

Method:

Grease the cooking vessel with olive oil. Knead the cheese well with the other ingredients. Shape the savillum in the cooking vessel and cover it with the testum, paying attention that the cheesecake cooks well in the middle, where it is thicker. Cook it for about 20 minutes under the testum or in the oven.

When it is done, coat with honey and sprinkle the cake with white poppy seeds then place the savillum again under the testum and let it cook for a few minutes. Serve in the cooking vessel with a spoon.