Do you have in mind a Tudor-style festive celebration this winter?
I've rounded up my pick of winter recipes that taste festive and will give a Tudor feel to any gathering.
Click on the titles to go to the recipes...
Elizabeth I was a fan of Marchpane and was gifted it by courtiers and cooks on New Year's Eve. It's a beautiful little treat for a special occasion, and surprisingly easy to make, using just a few ingredients.
Quick to make and quick to cook, these crispy little hot fritters make the perfect party food that can be passed around on a tray while they're still warm.
What else is going to warm you up than a luxurious beef stew studded with rich, warm spices? Beef-Y-Stwyd is a recipe that goes back to Medieval times.
A drink enjoyed in Medieval times, and drunk at the christening of the Princess Elizabeth in 1533, Hippocras is a celebratory tipple that'll warm you up with its soft, aromatic spices, a little like the mulled wine we know today. This recipe is a modern take on the original fourteenth century recipe with a little less sugar.
I had no idea the Tudors ate olives, but it makes perfect sense that they did. This salad is mentioned in a Tudor cookery book, and when recreating it I thought it would make a great party dish. Just place a small bowl of the salad to one side and let people dig in and eat with their ham, cheese or other treats.
Legend is that Henry VIII named these after Anne Boleyn, but we don't really know if that's true. We do know though, that they're a tasty, lemony pastry with a topping of ground almonds.
Isn't Christmas the only day of the year it's even mildly acceptable to wake up to bacon and eggs with a tipple of ale?
Christmas is all about cheeses, and this was an imagining of Henry VIII calling for a midnight snack during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. There's the pomegranate, the Parmesan and the slice of Spanish jam to finish it all off.
The original recipe had these marinated and boiled for days. This one can be whipped up in a few minutes and will still give you a feel for the Tudor flavours. Lovely served with your roasted meats or leftovers.
Easy to make, this modern take on a sixteenth century recipe can be whipped up in a few minutes with just a handful of ingredients. Serve them still just warm from the oven.
With their snowy topping of icing sugar, these chewy biscuits are an Elizabethan and Stuart treat: they're flavoured with caraway and make a great tea time snack for when you need something on Christmas evening with your cup of tea.
Not just a summer dessert, legend has it that Cardinal Wolsey served up the very first strawberries and cream some time around the 1520s. It's festive in colour and a refreshing end to any rich meal.
Liked this? Have a look at my other historical recipes here!
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Quebibes - I think could be cubeb pepper. Aromatic and delicious. Get it and grains of paradise from spice mountain in borough market.
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