Share
The Delicious Legacy
Yearning for Yorkshire Pudding (A History of)
The pudding is a dish very difficult to be described, because of the several sorts there are of it: flour, milk, eggs, butter, sugar, suet, marrow, raising, etc are the most common ingredients...They make them fifty several ways: BLESSED BE HE THAT INVENTED PUDDING for it is a manna that hits the palates of all sorts of people... Ah what an excellent thing is an English pudding!' - Henry Misson "Misson's Memoirs and Observations in His Travels Over England"
All puddings started their lives as meat puddings. Mostly sausage-like concoctions similar black pudding. Even when we started wrapping food stuffs in cloth, and boiling them, they were heavy on meat, and some fruit and spices and even some sugar. How, from this we went to the Yorkshire pudding? A good question!
A kind of early boiled pudding called thryon is described by the ancient Greek grammarian and gastronome Pollux: lard, brains, eggs and cream cheese were beaten together, the mixture was wrapped in fig leaves (in the same way as puddings were tied in a cloth later) and boiled in chicken or kid broth, then untied and given a final cooking in boiling honey. (Julius Pollux was a Greek scholar and rhetorician from Naucratis*, Ancient Egypt. Emperor Commodus appointed him a professor-chair of rhetoric in Athens at the Academy — on account of his melodious voice, or at least that's what we know according to Philostratus' Lives of the Sophists. Pollux Died in 238 AD in Athens.)
Praise of course for cooking over fire! Any cooking; meat, vegetables, stews soups for that matter! Amazing skills from people who (still) do it!
Plus my recipe for Yorkshire puddings! Tasty fluffy morsels of deliciousness! Heh...! Hope you're going to make them!
It's been a while as I was very busy ...I had it all written down, but never had the chance to go to the studio and record it. So I decided to record this in my bedroom and in a hurry so apologies for the drop in audio quality of my recorded voice!
Thanks to Sebastien Froment for lending me his French voice and accent to record as the French 17th century traveller Henri Misson. (From "Misson's Memoirs and Observations in His Travels Over England")
Charles Lamb essay is from this little gem of a book :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dissertation-Upon-Roast-Other-Essays-ebook/dp/B004V2WR22
(Finally a credible explanation on how humankind started cooking over fire! Only kidding, I love the Chinese myth though!)
I've tried my best to read the Yorkshire saying “Them ‘at eats t’most pudding gets t’most meat” without trying to pretend I'm from Yorkshire!
I appreciate it might sound wrong when i say "batter" it might sound like "butter" but for the purpose of this episode, mostly when I say "batter" I mean "batter" ie flour and liquid mix that needs cooking and not the dairy product! Ha!
Another point I thought might bring confusion is "Medieval Tansie" so what's that? Tansy is an edible flower/herb/plant whom the name can be traced back to the Latin athanasia, or immortality, from the Greek athanatos, meaning deathless, perhaps because the herb has been used to preserve bodies.
Tansy was used to flavour puddings, cakes, and eggs, and gave its name to a pancake flavoured with bitter herbs known as a “tansie,” which was traditionally eaten in spring and associated with Easter. (One sixteenth-century authority noted that tansy was beneficial in purging the body of the excessive phlegm engendered by a Lenten diet of fish.)
Tansy was more often added to sweet than savoury dishes, although it is the flavouring agent in a traditional Irish blood pudding known as drisheen. Alan Davidson, in The Oxford Companion to Food, speculates that the amount of tansy used was relatively small, given its strong taste.
Some hopefully illuminating photos can be found here:
http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/T/Tansy/Tansy.htm
As always music is kindly composed & provided by Pavlos Kapralos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzgAonk4-uVhXXjKSF-Nz1A
Expect the opening and closing theme tune, which is "Waltz Detunee" performed, recorded and mixed by Cloudcub: https://cloudcub.bandcamp.com/album/down-memory-lane-ep
Maltby & Greek link, for your 15% off of your next purchase please go here: maltbyandgreek.com/delicious
Many thanks and Happy listening!
Thom & The Delicious Legacy
Support the podcast on Ko-Fi and Patreon for ad-free episodes!
More episodes
View all episodes
1. Rare & Disappearing Foods of the Philippines
33:15||Season 8, Ep. 1Hello!An archipelago of more than 7000 islands. Tribes with more than 200 native languages and a population of 112 million people.Philippines is a rich ground to discover some amazing ingredients, some delicious food and ancient indigenous recipes!On this episode I'm relatively quickly touching some of the rarest and fast disappearing native ingredients. The losses are due to industrial products being cheaper and imports of cheap ingredients but also an uncertain climate.Here's the ones I'm touching on this episode:Alingo, Besaang, Buttog aka The Cordillera Native Black pig Darag Chicken of Panay IslandGumamela leavesInartem Balayang (Pickled Wild Banana)Kaong vinegarAsin tibuok sa Albur unbroken saltBudbud or Bamboo SaltTultul Artisanal Sea SaltHow the unbroken salt is made:This 'Dinosaur Egg' Is One Of The Rarest Salts In The World | Still Standing | Business Insider:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aY9noX3XOsMy recommendation of the week links below:The Ancient Romans relied on a curious object to tell time: a sundial in the shape of an Italian ham;https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2017/01/20/parslowsundial/Rare Roman “pigs” found in Welsh farmTwo “exceptionally rare” Roman pig lead ingots dating back almost 2,000 years have been discovered on farmland in west Wales:https://www.heritagedaily.com/2026/02/rare-roman-pigs-found-in-welsh-farm/157123A is for Apple podcast: C is for Carbonado, Carrot, and Cabinet Pudding:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-is-for-apple-an-encyclopaedia-of-food-drink/id1743840806?i=1000756719333Enjoy!Love,Thom
Recipe of the week - Ancient Greek Roast Lamb with Pearl Barley
15:29|Hello!Your recipe of the week on a Saturday is back and what have I got for you?A delicious, tasty, fantastic celebratory recipe from the ancient Greco- Roman world!A leg of lamb, or kid goat if your prefer, or even a shoulder of lamb for a slow roast, bathed overnight, in milk and honey, and cooked with a rich luxurious sauce of red wine, dates, and garum!If you want a list with the ingredients and the original recipe from Apicius join me on Patreon here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/roasted-goat-kid-153951881?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkEnjoy!Music by Pavlos KapralosMuch love,Thom
31. A Brief History of Nowruz and Iranian Food Culture
01:15:05||Season 7, Ep. 31Hello!Today is Nowruz, the Persian/ Iranian new year.So I'm re-sharing with you this episode about Persian Culinary History and Culture through the millennia.Thinking of all the Iranian people who are suffering and wishing them only the best and hoping for a swift resolution to all the destruction inflicted upon them currently.In the vast region from Anatolia to Central Asia, a rite or a festival ushering Spring, and marking the new year is celebrated at around 20th or 21st of March. People in modern countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan historically observe the Nowruz celebrations.Enjoy!LoveThe Delicious Legacy
In Memory of Daniel Newman - Medieval Arab Persian Cuisine
01:03:37|HelloIt's with deep sadness that I've learned the passing of Professor Daniel Newman a prominent scholar of Medieval Arab Cuisine and a friend of this podcast.He was a guest four years ago, almost to this day when we talked about Persian cuisine in the middles ages, the influence of Arab and Islam on it, and of course vice versa.It was a fascinating discussion that lasted almost two hours and I thought i'll share with you the best bits, edited down with all the lovely fun facts and delicious recipes of the vast, fascinating period.And of course I want to dedicate this episode to all Iranian people who are suffering at this horrible time, under unimaginable conditions.In memoriam of the lovely Daniel Newman. 1963- 7th March 2026.Love,Thom{The music on this episode is titled nihavend pesrev and is probably by a Greek composer of Ottoman era named Πετράκης (Tiryaki) (1543; - 1600)He was an important Rum composer and musician in the Ottoman empire of the 16th century. He lived in the Istanbul and participated in a dervish order, having the nickname, Tiryaki (theriaklis).Lived probably between 1543 and 1600, and attributed approximately 10 compositions.In some sources mention the Great Petrakis (Petraki I Kebir), but is more likely to relate to Peter the Peloponnesian later. Petros Peloponnesios or Peter the Lampadarios (c. 1735 – 1778). He was a cantor, composer and teacher of Byzantine and Ottoman music. He served as second domestikos (ecclesiastic official of the Byzantine Empire and later part of the Orthodox Church in Constantinople, present day Istanbul) between his arrival about 1764 until the death of Ioannes Trapezountios, and it is assumed that he became lampadarios (leader of the left choir) between 1770 and 1778 at the Great Church of Constantinople, after Daniel the Protopsaltes became Archon Protopsaltes.}
30. Greece's Salt Cod History and the Basque Connection
51:55||Season 7, Ep. 30Hello!Brand new episode where I explore the "bakaliaros" aka bacalao or salt dried cod for you and me, of the Greeks.Specifically what's the history of the fried battered salt cod and garlic mash dish that is so popular in Greece generally this time of the year, usually on the 25th of March and what's the connection with the Greek War of Independence?Recommendations for this week:The Watercress Queen:https://comfortablyhungry.substack.com/p/s4e7-the-watercress-queenRe-creating the complex cuisine of prehistoric Europeans:https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/03/recreating-the-complex-cuisine-of-prehistoric-europeans/Gourmet magazine:https://gourmetmagazine.net/Cuisines of Odesa: recipes and stories from Ukraine’s historic cityhttps://www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page/cuisines-of-odesaLove,Thom
Ancient Roman Food Tasting in London
15:08|Hello!Something a little different this weekend instead of a recipe...On today's episode, I'm talking about the recent ancient roman tasting event I went at the Hellenic and Roman Library in Senate House in central London.I'm discussing the menu that was served by Sally Grainger a prominent food archaeologist specialising in ancient Mediterranean cooking and ingredients. She also talked about her research all these years about Garum and Silphium two of the most well known but equally misunderstood ingredients of the ancient Greek and Roman table. Overall in my opinion and Sam's opinion the food was tasty and the audience/guests all seem to enjoy it and those who had a negative opinion about ancient food have changed their minds! From a room of 50 or so attendees I think only three or so weren't keen in the tastes of the food.Anyway it was fascinating and I hope I'll get the chance to interview Sally for this podcast soon!Love & GarumThe Delicious Legacy
29. History of Food in Central Asia Pt2 - From Baku to Beijing!
01:03:28||Season 7, Ep. 29Hello!This is part two of my conversation with the fantastic Anna Ansari about her book "Silk Roads" and the food of Central Asia.From Baku to Beijing!Origins, trade routes, influences, and what is the connecting thread behind it all?Plus a lot of personal stories, especially with melon! Personal dramas of melon!Find out more, here!You can buy Anna's book from my affiliate link at bookshop.org:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/17049/9780241694374Enjoy!Thom & The Delicious Legacy
Batzina - An easy filo-less pie from Thessaly!
10:11|Hello!Your recipe of the week on a Saturday is out!Thessaly. The flat and fertile land of Central Greece, famed since ancient times for their horses and cavalry that provided the strategic support for Alexander The Great's campaign on his conquest of the Persian Empire.Our task today -and recipe from the region- will be a lot easier than conquering a continent and subduing the world's mightiest empire! We just need to cook this delicious dish and eat it with family or friends.Let's find out how to make it, and the ingredients!Bon Appetit! Music by Miltos BoumisEnjoy,Thom & The Delicious Legacy
28. History of Food in Central Asia Pt1
47:17||Season 7, Ep. 28Melons. Spinach. Sheep tail fat.Spices. Bazaars. Enough tales to tantalise even the most incurious mind!Hello my curious archaeogastronomers!A new episode is here for your enjoyment!This time I have the great honour to have the fantastic Anna Ansari as my guest.We talk all about food, history and cultures of the cultures in Central Asia aka "Silk Roads" and her own personal story.I hope you'll enjoy this fantastic epic adventure!You can find Anna here on her website:https://www.annaansari.com/aboutAnd Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thisplacetastesdelicious/?hl=enYou can buy Anna's book from my affiliate link at bookshop.org:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/17049/9780241694374Lots of loveThom