The Unexpected Delight of a 3,770-Year-Old Recipe

The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying isolation led many professionals whose routines were disrupted to explore creative ideas. One such creative endeavor comes from a scientist named Bill Sutherland, a biology and conservation professor at Cambridge University, who recently intrigued his social media followers with a captivating post.

Being homebound, Sutherland decided to unleash his culinary creativity, announcing his intention to try cooking ancient recipes found on an old tablet—recipes that are relatively complex yet clearly outlined. 'These recipes are about 3,770 years old,' Sutherland explains, adding, 'I think these might be the oldest recipes known to exist.'

According to him, these are recipes from the Mesopotamian era, encompassing the Akkadian, Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian peoples.

Initially, Sutherland thought there wasn't much to expect from such ancient delicacies and even worried about his stomach's well-being. 'Let me tell you, this was the best Mesopotamian meal I've ever eaten,' Sutherland remarked next to images of what he prepared: a soup and lamb stew. 'The lamb dish was a delightful surprise. It contained barley cakes that were incredibly delicious and easy to prepare. All the dishes featured large quantities of leeks, onions, garlic, and cilantro,' he says.

Barley cakes inside lamb stew. Can you believe it?