Friday, August 7, 2009

Asparagus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus
http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/asparagushistry.htm
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/FOOD_IS_ART_II/food_history_and_facts/asparagus.html

Biology
Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis, is an herbatious perennial in the lily family. The name is derived from the Greek word asparagos.

It is native to the Western coast of Europe and ranges from Spain to Great Britain to Germany.

History
Asparagus history is difficult to track down.
Asparagus has been eaten since early times and a recipe survives from the third century AD De re coquinaria Book III by Apicius.It was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who ate it fresh when in season and dried the vegetable for use in winter. It lost its popularity in the Middle Ages but returned to favour in the seventeenth century.
Asparagus appeared in the Americas in colonial times. I will continue to scan my cookbooks for recipes.

No comments:

Post a Comment