Flask and Small Bowl from Alcochete near Setúbal: 3rd to 4th centuries

The flask or little bottle and small bowl would have been useful in the kitchen when preparing the two recipes below, taken from the Roman cookery book attributed to Apicius, the little bottle for holding the honey or sweet wine, the little bowl for mixing or even drinking the broth.

Sauce for Horse Mackerel

Remove the serrated part of the horse mackerel and grind pennyroyal, cumin, pepper, mint, liquamen, walnuts and honey together. Stuff the fish and cook over vapour in a closed tureen. Flavour with olive oil, wine, sweet wine and allec.

Broth for Abdomen Disorders

Wash celery with its roots intact and dry in the sun. Boil egg whites and leeks in a saucepan until the water has been reduced by two-thirds. Grind pepper and liquamen and mix them with a little liquid honey. Strain the liquid from what was boiled into a mortar and pour on the leeks, and serve. If liked, celery may be added when boiling point is reached.