Bruce

PERIOD: England, 14th century | SOURCE: Forme of Cury | CLASS: Authentic

DESCRIPTION: Leek and Tripe Soup

ORIGINAL RECEIPT:

Take the whyte of lekes; slytte hem and shrede hem small. Take noumbles of swyne and perboyle hem in broth and wyne. Take hym vp and dresse hym, and do the leke in the broth; seeth and do the noumbles therto. Make a lyour of brede, blode, and vynegere and do therto powdour fort. Seeth oynouns, mynce hem and do therto. The self wise make of porpeys.

- Hieatt, Constance B. and Sharon Butler. Curye on Inglish: English Culinary Manuscripts of the Fourteenth-Century (Including the Forme of Cury). New York: for The Early English Text Society by the Oxford University Press, 1985.

MODERN RECIPE:

• 4 C minced leeks
• 4 C chicken or other stock
• 2 C water
• 1 C dry wine
• 1/2 pound pork or beef tripe or chicken gizzards
• 1/2 pound pork, beef or chicken liver
• 3 medium onions
• 1 C white bread crumbs
• 1/3 C wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp each powdered ginger and black pepper
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of cloves
• Salt to taste

2. In a large pot, over medium heat, combine stock and wine. Add minced tripe or gizzards. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for forty-five minutes or until the tripe or gizzards are thoroughly cooked.

3. Mince the leeks and onions, and add them to the pot. Continue simmering until the leeks and onions are done.

4. In a saucepan, bring water to a boil, and add the minced liver. Reduce heat, and simmer for ten minutes or until the liver is tender.

5. Drain the cooked liver, put it into a bowl, and mash it into paste.

6. Add the mashed liver, bread crumbs, vinegar and spices to the pot. Simmer for another ten minutes. Serve in individual bowls.

Serves four to six.

Notes on the Recipe:

A dish of something-or-other in brewes or in bruette was boiled in a broth or a sauce. Tripe is a good, modern substitute for pig intestines. Chicken gizzards, as tough, internal organs, are another good substitute.

I substitute liver for blood, which gives a similar flavor and color.

Bruce is featured in In Festo Sancte Trinitatis in Cena