Garum: A Roman Condiment Fit for an Emperor : Weird History: Backup

Garum: A Roman Condiment Fit for an Emperor

Garum, the ketchup of the ancient world, folks! Romans loved it! Here's how they made it: take some fish guts, salt 'em heavily, and then leave 'em to ferment in the sun for months. Yup, months! The liquid that came out was the garum, a salty, fishy sauce used to season a whole bunch of dishes. We think it's gross, but to them, it was the ultimate umami bomb. Want to make a modern version?

Ingredients

4 anchovy fillets
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups red wine vinegar

Instructions

Mash up anchovy fillets with salt.
Mix with red wine vinegar in a jar.
Seal and let it sit in a cool, dark place for 7 days.
Strain it, and there ya have it, homemade garum! Use it like you would soy sauce or fish sauce. Bon appétit!

Submitted 7 months, 2 weeks ago by BygoneBites

Not sure who in their right mind thought fermenting fish guts was the play, but hey, when in Rome, right? Lol, I’ll pass, but you do you!

7 months, 2 weeks ago by SaltyBrew

Garum was such a staple that there are ruins of enormous garum factories in Roman territories around the Mediterranean. It was a massive industry. Historically, it wasn't just fish guts but whole small fish, and they also added herbs. What I find interesting is that similar fish sauces are found in cultures across the world, from Asia to Europe, just goes to show how universal the love for that umami flavor is.

7 months, 2 weeks ago by CatoTheCensor

This is amazing! Who knew we could recreate a taste of the Roman Empire right in our kitchens. I'm all about that fermentation life. Plus, gotta love that umami punch. Gonna make some this weekend!

7 months, 2 weeks ago by ModernCleopatra

I mean, cool history lesson and all, but there's a reason some old traditions die out. Anchovies and vinegar in a jar for a week? Fish sauce is one thing, but this is another level. Gonna give this one a pass.

7 months, 2 weeks ago by OldSchoolCook

Months in the sun?! Can we not with the stinky fish juice? 🤢 Imagine the smell omg. I'll stick with ketchup, thx.

7 months, 2 weeks ago by TrollusMaximus

Tried your DIY garum, and it's actually not bad?! It's like a Roman fish sauce. Put it in a stir fry and it was a hit. Magic umami indeed!

7 months, 2 weeks ago by yumfactor10

Ancient Romans using garum is such a fascinating tidbit of culinary history! They even used it in desserts which is wild to think about. There were different grades of garum too, with the best stuff reserved for the upper class. It's said that the finest garum came from Spain, specifically Cartagena. Sometimes they flavored it with wine, and herbs like oregano or dill, turning it into a sort of gourmet sauce!

7 months, 2 weeks ago by HistoryBuff99

Hold up, we're basically making ancient fish sauce here? Tried the recipe and it's pretty intense! Like, it's cool to revive old recipes but man, those Romans had STRONG tastes.