Hypotrimma
Hypotrimma was a Roman condiment in Apicius's cookery book, a mixture of ground pepper, herbs, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, honey and fish sauce.
Moretum
moretum · Roman moretum · Roman herb and cheese spread
Moretum was a pounded herb and cheese spread of ancient Rome, eaten with bread and named for the mortar in which it was made.
A farmer's breakfast in verse
Moretum is known from a Latin poem of 122 dactylic hexameters in the Appendix Vergiliana, attributed to Virgil. The poem follows a farmer who rises before dawn and prepares his morning meal. Its centre is the pounding of herbs, cheese and oil in a mortar, which gives the dish its name.
The poem is partly a parody of praise for the rural life, so its detail should be read as literary. It still names a plausible set of ingredients for a Roman country meal.
Sources for this section
Ingredients named by the sources
Modern accounts give the core of moretum as herbs, fresh cheese, salt, oil and vinegar, with optional nuts. The poem's herbs include garlic, parsley, rue and coriander.
Later Roman writers vary the recipe. Columella describes walnuts in place of cheese and also mentions roasted sesame, pine nuts or almond kernels. Ovid's Fasti links a milk-based moretum with the worship of Magna Mater.
Sources for this section
Modern readings
Modern cooks make moretum with ricotta and fresh herbs, often with a little garlic and olive oil. A pine nut version has been called a precursor of pesto, but that link needs a citation and is not established.
A modern reconstruction is not evidence of an ancient formula. The sources give no quantities, so any amount is the cook's own.
The poem mentions rue, but this modern preparation omits it: rue can be toxic and is particularly unsafe in pregnancy or lactation.
Sources for this section
History
Moretum survives mainly as the subject of a Latin poem of 122 dactylic hexameters in the Appendix Vergiliana, attributed to Virgil. Columella (De re rustica 12.59) and Ovid (Fasti 4.367-372) also mention it. Scholars date the poem and its attribution with uncertainty.
Ingredients
Scaling: source batch only
Fresh cheeseCrumbled or mashed in last; the poem and later accounts describe a soft white cheese, with ricotta a modern stand-in.
Amount not stated
Fresh herbsFor a modern version use parsley and coriander. The poem also names rue, but omit it here because of its toxicity and pregnancy risks.
Amount not stated
Salt
Amount not stated
Not given by the sources.Olive oil
Amount not stated
Not given by the sources.Vinegar
Amount not stated
A little; the poem says the farmer's vinegar was scanty.Nuts or pine nuts (optional)
Amount not stated
Later and optional variants; Columella names walnuts, pine nuts and almond kernels.Method
Risks and precautions · Standard risk
Rue toxicity
Rue can cause poisoning when ingested; university guidance advises against internal use during pregnancy or lactation.
Hazard sourceThis is a historical dish reconstructed from literary sources. It is not a tested safety process; fresh dairy should be kept refrigerated when made today.
The poem names rue, but rue can cause poisoning and is particularly unsafe during pregnancy or lactation; omit it from this modern preparation.
- Pound parsley, coriander and garlic together in a mortar until they are a paste. Do not use rue in this modern preparation.
- Work in the cheese, salt, oil and a little vinegar until the mixture forms one ball.
- Serve with bread.
Places
Rome
Historical attestation · Region evidenceAttested in Roman literature of the late republic and empire; the poem is attributed to Virgil and its date is disputed.
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Sources
WikipediaHistory · Method
MoretumAppendix Vergiliana poem of 122 hexameters attributed to Virgil
core ingredients herbs, fresh cheese, salt, oil and vinegar
Columella and Ovid mention moretum
Cited in: A farmer's breakfast in verse; Ingredients named by the sources; Modern readings
Tavola MediterraneaMethod
Columella's moretumColumella variant with walnuts in place of cheese
Cited in: Modern readings
University of Texas at El Paso Herbal SafetySafety
RueRue toxicity and advice against internal use during pregnancy or lactation.
Cited in: Modern readings