![]() Two of the most common recipes that would have graced a medieval cauldron were recipes for making vegetable pottage and a meat stew.Once upon a time, castles were full of life, loud noises, terrible smells, grand lords and ladies, endless servants, fierce knights and juggling jesters. It may not look much, but a cauldron was one of the most important items in a medieval kitchen and, what’s more, it was used for cooking all kinds of recipes. When you watch the video (above) look out for the cauldron which stands in the fireplace. There is a simple essence to this style of small castle kitchen and it offers a wonderful insight into what essential, basic cooking must have been like for medieval people. Mesmin was 13th century and visitors to the site today can see many examples of what it was like to live in a fortress from that era. Measuring, mixing, pouring and stirring – that’s what cooking is all about, whether medieval or modern and irrespective of rank! Medieval Kitchen Videoīelow is a short video clip I filmed many years ago of a much smaller kitchen, again in France but this time at the medieval castle of St. A pestle and mortar just takes a little longer!įrom baking medieval bread and making pottage for the kitchen staff to preparing a creamy almond milk recipe for the castle lord, the utensils were just the same. The only kitchen utensils we use today that are very different from those in a medieval kitchen are powered ones such as an electric blender. In that respect, little has changed to the modern day. Medieval cooks needed the same basic utensils in their kitchen as we do today, from mixing bowls to dishes and spoons, cups and jugs. Learn more about medieval bread and how white bread was regarded as superior to brown bread – the opposite of what a 21st century nutrionist might say! Bread baking was done every day in such a kitchen. Notice the heat and smoke-streaked wall above it. This next photo which I took shows a bread oven built into one of the walls of the kitchen fireplace at Castelnaud-La-Chapelle. ![]() Roasting such meat required a large hearth and chimney as did the roasting of chickens and small game if several needed to be spit roasted at the same time. If a medieval banquet was being catered for, spit-roasting a boar was often a key task for the kitchen staff. ![]() Spit-roasting was the traditional way of cooking meat and game and this was done in both small and large medieval kitchens. The meat or game waiting to be roasted was usually hung above the fireplace in readiness (the animals in the photo above are of course replicas). So, a reliable, long-burning fire was needed with plenty of firewood available. The logs stacked in the corner of the hearth reflect this, as they are more like tree trunks! It was important for medieval castle cooks to be able to roast anything, of any size or volume in their kitchen. It is actually big enough to stand up in and walk around. Having taking this photograph myself, I can honestly say that it does not fully convey the size of the fireplace. Many castles and fortresses had their own medieval garden, so the range of ingredients available to the kitchen was even greater. Fresh fruit and herbs often from the castle’s medieval gardenĪlmost all ingredients in medieval cooking had a local source, invariably supplied fresh on the day.Fresh fish, usually freshwater fish from a nearby river.Fresh meat including red meat, game and poultry.Accordingly, every aspect of the banquet menu had to be carefully planned so that orders were put in at exactly the right time for all the necessary ingredients. ![]() In this scenario, the castle kitchen transformed itself into the most incredible hive of activity – well in advance of the banquet itself! Organisation and preparation was paramount if the banquet was to be a success. So, when it came to a special celebration, a medieval banquet menu was often the order of the day. Entertaining was high on the agenda for most castle owners and the more splendid the meal, the greater their reputation. Its daily mission? To prepare and serve food in the best possible way, with the best possible ingredients for the lord of the castle, their family and guests. The medieval kitchen was at the heart of any castle or fortress. The Medieval Kitchen – What Was Its Purpose? However, it’s importance and usefulness in medieval life cannot be underestimated. Whenever I visit a medieval castle or donjon, if there’s a kitchen still relatively intact I can’t wait to see it! By comparison to a medieval banquet hall with its usual, impressive architecture and fireplace, a medieval kitchen might not seem as colourful and exciting. The medieval kitchen is a source of fascination for many people, especially if they love history and medieval recipes. ![]()
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