Puls Punica (Carthaginian Porridge)

Cheese-forward and slightly sweet, this puls numbers among the quite tasty ancient dishes

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City/Region: Carthage

Time Period: c. 160 BC

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Carthago delenda est. Carthage must be destroyed.

Now a quote by Porky the Pig, this phrase originally ended any address Cato the Elder gave to the Roman Senate, who, decades prior, had fought in the Second Punic War against the formidable Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca. Oddly enough, Cato the Elder is also the source for this Carthaginian recipe, which is sweet enough to serve forth as a dessert as well as a breakfast. The cheese is the main flavor, and it’s slightly sweet from the honey. All in all, a simple and tasty ancient dish that I recommend you try out.

“To make Carthaginian Puls:
Soak one pound of emmer groats in water until well softened. Pour it into a clean bowl, add 3 pounds of fresh cheese, 1/2 pound of honey, and one egg, and mix everything thoroughly. Put the mixture into a new pot. ”

— De Agri Cultura by Cato the Elder, 160 B.C.E.

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Ingredients:

• 1 heaping cup (110 g) emmer wheat, you can substitute for durum or common wheat
• 1 1/2 cups (330 g) fresh cheese, ricotta works well
• 2 1/2 tablespoons (55 g) honey
• 1/3 of a whisked egg (17 g)

Instructions:

1. Pound the emmer in a mortar just enough to break open the groats, they don’t need to be ground.
2. In a bowl, pour cold water over the emmer until it’s covered in about an inch of water, then let it soak for several hours or until it’s softened. Check on it and add more cold water if needed.
3. Drain the groats and move to a pot. Add 2 cups (475 ml) fresh water, then place the pot over low heat and bring it to a simmer. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until most of the water has evaporated, stirring frequently. It should look like oatmeal.
4. Add the cheese and stir it in, then add the honey and stir until everything is melted and combined.
5. Remove the puls from the heat. Add the egg and quickly mix it in.
6. Return the pot to the heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
7. Serve it forth with a drizzle of honey.
8. Carthago servanda est in part through recipes like this one.

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