[76] BOILED PUMPKIN _ALITER CUCURBITAS ELIXATAS_

[Boiled Pumpkin] STEWED IN BROTH WITH PURE OIL.

Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome — Part 74

[77] FRIED PUMPKIN _ALITER CUCURBITAS FRICTAS_

Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome — Part 74

[Fried pumpkin served with] SIMPLE WINE SAUCE AND PEPPER.

Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome — Part 74

[78] ANOTHER WAY, BOILED AND FRIED _ALITER CUCURBITAS ELIXATAS ET FRICTAS_

BOILED PUMPKIN FRIED IS PLACED IN A BAKING PAN. SEASON WITH CUMIN WINE, ADD A LITTLE OIL; FINISH ON THE FIRE AND SERVE.

[79] ANOTHER WAY, MASHED _CUCURBITAS FRICTAS TRITAS_

FRIED [1] PUMPKIN, SEASONED WITH PEPPER, LOVAGE, CUMIN, ORIGANY, ONION, WINE BROTH AND OIL: STEW THE PUMPKIN [in this] IN A BAKING DISH, TIE THE LIQUID WITH ROUX [mash] AND SERVE IN THE DISH.

[1] V. Baking the fruit reduces the water contents, renders the purée more substantial. G.-V. _Tritas_--mashed. Tor. connects _tritas_ up with pepper, hence it is doubtful whether this dish of pumpkin is mashed pumpkin.

[80] PUMPKIN AND CHICKEN _CUCURBITAS CUM GALLINA_

[Stew the pumpkin with a hen, garnish with] HARD-SKINNED PEACHES, TRUFFLES; PEPPER, CARRAWAY, AND CUMIN, SILPHIUM AND GREEN HERBS, SUCH AS MINT, CELERY, CORIANDER, PENNYROYAL, CRESS, WINE [1] OIL AND VINEGAR.

[1] Tor. _Vinum vel oleum_; List. _vinum_, _mel_, _oleum_.

FOR THE PREPARATION OF CITRON FRUIT WE TAKE SILER [2] FROM THE MOUNTAINS, SILPHIUM, DRY MINT, VINEGAR AND BROTH.

[1] List. _Citrini_--a lemon or cucumber squash.

[2] Tor. _Silerem_; List. _sil_, which is hartwort, a kind of cumin or mountain fennel.

[Stew the] PEELED CUCUMBERS EITHER IN BROTH [1] OR IN A WINE SAUCE; [and] YOU WILL FIND THEM TO BE TENDER AND NOT CAUSING INDIGESTION.

[1] Usually cucumbers are parboiled in water and then finished in broth; most often after being parboiled they are stuffed with forcemeat and then finished in broth.

[83] CUCUMBERS ANOTHER WAY _ALITER CUCUMERES RASOS_

[Peeled cucumbers are] STEWED WITH BOILED BRAINS, CUMIN AND A LITTLE HONEY. ADD SOME CELERY SEED, STOCK AND OIL, BIND THE GRAVY WITH EGGS [1] SPRINKLE WITH PEPPER AND SERVE.

[1] Tor. _bis obligabis_--tie twice--for which there is no reason, except in case the sauce should curdle. List. _oleo elixabis_--fry in oil--obviously wrong, as the materials for this stew are already cooked. Sch. _ovis obligabis_--bind with eggs--which is the thing to do in this case.