Medieval Food

The Forme of Cury, written in 1390, holds the distinction of being one of the first known cookery books, featuring around 200 recipes—196 of which were contributed by royal cooks. This collection offers a fascinating glimpse into medieval cuisine and culinary practices. During the early medieval period, food was generally simple and relied heavily on locally grown ingredients. However, this began to change between the 10th and 12th centuries, particularly after the Norman Conquest. The Normans brought with them culinary influences from both French and Scandinavian traditions, enriching English food culture. They were also known for documenting recipes, which were carefully passed down from master cooks to apprentices, helping preserve and refine medieval cooking techniques for generations to come.

Types of Medieval Food

Medieval food was primarily determined by class. People who belonged to different classes ate different kinds of food.

Noblemen ate freshly killed meat and river fish, as well as fresh vegetables from aristocratic estates. They were also mostly cooked with heavy flavors and valuable spices with added special ingredients.

Medieval Nobility and Medieval Nobles

People of the peasantry class such as Serfs ate a more basic diet and preserved food that had been salted and pickled as soon as it was harvested. Peasants tended to cows so a large portion of their diet included buttermilk, cheese, curds, and whey.

Medieval women milks a cow

Medieval Peasants such as Serfs commonly ate a stew called Pottage or potage, the old French word pottage means ‘food cooked in a pot’.

Pottage *Thick Soup or Stew

Basically whatever food the peasant could lay his hands on at the time was thrown into a large pot to make a thick soup or stew. Often Vegetables and grains were added and possible fish or meat, commonly wealthier medieval people would add better ingredients.

Medieval Times Food 2

The great advantage of ‘Pottage’ was that it could be easily cooked over an open fire and lasted for many days, also more ingredients could be added as and when required. For this reason, Pottage was popular for many centuries during the medieval period.

viking life cooking food

Sources of Medieval Food

Most medieval people lived in the countryside in villages, and peasants such as Serfs lived on manor estates that were controlled by a local Lord who was known as the ‘Lord of the Manor’.

Manor-House

Crops and vegetation were cultivated and grown on the land of the manor estate until they were ready to be harvested by peasants who toiled in the fields such as Serfs.

Manor-Estate
Manor Estate

The farmlands on the manor estates on which food was grown were the primary sources of medieval food for most medieval people.

Medieval Food

Peasantry Class Food

Medieval Serfs working land

Medieval peasant food was mostly made of grains such as wheat, oats, rye, or barley. They were boiled whole or stewed. Some of them were ground into flour and made into bread, commonly bread was made by a miller in a mill that was housed on the manor estate.

Quern Stone used by a medieval miller
Quern Stone also known as a grindstone was used by a medieval miller to grind wheat

Peasants also got their protein from legumes such as beans, lentils, and sometimes fish. They also got additional nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Their diets were very high in nutrients. However, food scarcity due to a poor harvest could at times cause poor nutrition among peasants and people of the lower classes.

Medieval-Food-Spelt

Food of Royalty & Nobility

Royalty and nobility on the other had an abundance of highly nutritious food that was served in castles and noblemen’s houses and included a variety of different meats such as venison, beef, pork, goat, lamb, mutton, heron, and poultry.

Medieval Fashion of Nobility
Medieval Nobility

Sometimes, they also served fish in their daily meals. Far away farmlands were also sources of food for the Royals and Nobles.

Banquets and great ‘Medieval Feasts’ were also very common amongst royalty. During these events, decks of spectacular food were served as these were perfect opportunities for noble families and royalty to show off their wealth.

Medieval Feast
Medieval Banquet in Castle of a Lord

Because the land and animals belong to the Lords, only the Nobles were allowed to hunt during this medieval period. They were free to hunt boars, deer, and other animals in the forest.

Medieval Sports Falconery

People of the lower classes were prohibited to hunt on the Lord’s properties or take anything from the Lord’s lands, including wild animals.

Medieval Peasants Clothes

The wealthy people of the medieval era also treasured goods imported from other lands. Most of these goods were also expensive. There was an ancient department at the Royal court called a “spicery” that specialized in spices. These spices were bought by wealthy people of the middle ages.

Medieval Spices
Spices being gathered and mixed into foods for Nobility

Medieval Food for Knights

Knights mostly served the Lords and more often than not, they hunted with the Lords as well. Beef and mutton were the most common meats that knights ate.

crusader knights armour

They usually got them from hunting. To avoid spoilage, meats were mostly kept close to the kitchen after slaughter. Knights also ate poultry and eggs. They also enjoyed common harvest depending on which part of the world they were and of course wine was something that knights could not do without.

Wine was served like water during the middle ages!

Medieval Wine Making
Making Medieval Wine

Preserving Medieval Food

Because home appliances such as fridges were not invented during the medieval period, slaughtered animals usually stayed close to the kitchen. It was important for medieval people to preserve food for the winter season and they usually did this during the summertime.

Medieval Castle Staff Cooking for the Medieval King

Medieval foods such as meat were usually preserved with salt. Some historians believed that pepper was also used as a preservative during this time. However, pepper was more expensive so it was not usually used. Dry-salting was a common method for preserving food then and meat or fish were buried in salt and brine curing.

Medieval-Food-Vikings

Medieval Cooking Methods

The methods used for food preservation caused the meat to taste saltier than necessary so they introduced the use of spices during cooking. It was also common for them to cook fruits and vegetables as they believed that raw food could cause diseases.

Medieval Bread Oven
Medieval Bread Oven

Several cooking methods were employed during the medieval period. However, these methods were highly Dependant on class.  People who belong to the upper class cooked their food in kitchens serviced by servants. The lower class and peasants cooked their food on an open fire.

viking life cooking food
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rt0OR8LalA

Flavoring of Medieval Food

It was believed by historians that there was a good amount of spices and flavorings during medieval times, however, the demand for food flavoring was not equally high. It was only during the late medieval period that refined cooking became a trend.  There was widespread use of sugar and honey as a flavoring for dishes during this time.

honey bees

During the 13th century, flavoring with spices became a trend, especially when preparing food during fasting. The wine was flavored with spices and new flavors were introduced within the process of preserving food, apart from the conventional salting method.

grapes wine

Medieval Food recipes

The Normans had the biggest influence on medieval food. They were highly influenced by Scandinavian and French food. Normans were also known to document their recipes and hand them down to their apprentices, passed on from generation to generation.

Norman Clothing
Normans

The influence of Normans on medieval food had a more sophisticated effect than that of the English. However, it was the French who produced the first recipe books in the 13th century.

Forme of Cury was the first cookery book written in 1390.

It contained about 200 recipes and 196 of them were contributed by Royal cooks.

The Forme of Cury - First Medieval Cooks Books
The Forme of Cury – First Medieval Cook Books

Medieval Beverages

The water was often unclean during this time so the poor drank ale. Some people of the lower class drank mead and cider, while the nobles and royal families drank different kinds of wine.

Medieval Jugs for medieval drinks
Medieval Jugs used to serve ale, cider, and other drinks that were made to a medieval recipe
beer

Banquet Great Feast

Banquets and Feasts were also common during the medieval period. Different kinds of meat such as peacocks, seals, porpoises, and whales could be served during banquets and feasts, primarily because the meat was a sign of wealth during this era.

Squires Training to become Knights
Medieval Banquet

Several dishes were laid out in a luxurious manner. Everyday pies, jellies, fritters, and stews were also served. Custards were dyed in vivid colors accompanying other dishes. Other banquets provided special courtesy books to their guests. This was popular at the time as it gave instructions on how to behave during banquets.

For most noble and royal families, it was also a great opportunity for them to show off their wealth.

French Medieval Banquet

Medieval Food Summary

Medieval food was not ideal in medieval times, especially for the rich. Even if they had access to highly nutritious food, they did not eat a well-balanced meal. This was the cause of various illnesses such as bad teeth, scurvy, and rickets to mention a few. Nevertheless, medieval times showed how food defines culture and history.

The several influences during the medieval period also reflected how food and cooking evolved through time, especially with the recipes that were handed down from generation to generation.

Medieval Herbs & Remedies

In medieval times, when modern medicine was still in its infancy, people turned to nature for remedies to treat various ailments and promote well-being. Herbs played a crucial role in

Recreating Medieval Meals

The medieval era is a time of mystery and fascination, marked by grand feasts, hearty flavors, and a unique culinary heritage. Transport yourself back in time by exploring these top

medieval banquet and medieval feasting (3)

Medieval Banquets in Europe

Medieval Europe was an era defined by knights in shining armor, towering castles, and lavish feasts that showcased the grandeur of the time. For those wishing to step back into

Medieval Banquets in England

England is renowned for its rich medieval history, and one of the most immersive ways to delve into that era is by attending a medieval banquet. These grand feasts recreate

Medieval Feast

Surprising Medieval Food Facts

Step into the captivating world of medieval food, where lavish feasts hide surprising and intriguing culinary practices. From peculiar dietary preferences to ingenious cooking methods, discover the top 10 surprising

Spices & Exotic Foods

Medieval Spices and Exotic Foods: Sourcing and Influences on Medieval Europe The medieval period was a time of exploration, trade, and cultural exchange, and one area that greatly influenced medieval

Popular Medieval Drinks

Medieval cuisine was a fascinating blend of flavors, techniques, and ingredients that have left a lasting impact on modern culinary traditions. From hearty stews and meat pies to sweet and

medieval banquet and medieval feasting (2)

Organizing Medieval Banquets

Preparing and operating a medieval banquet was no small feat—it was a grand affair that demanded the coordinated efforts of many individuals, each with specialized skills and responsibilities. From the

History of Medieval Banquets

Medieval feasts and banquets were both grand refections held to celebrate significant events or commemorate special occasions. still, there were some differences between the two. Banquets were generally more formal

Medieval Feast

The Hidden Secrets of Medieval Banquets

Medieval banquets were more than just extravagant feasts; they were also complex social rituals that reinforced power dynamics, social hierarchies, and cultural values. By examining the symbolism and significance behind

Medieval Culinary Secrets

The food in the middle Ages was significantly simpler and more natural than the food of modern times. The medieval times food that was eaten by kings was more exotic

Medieval Drinks

Drinks of various kinds were an essential part of the medieval diet, not just for enjoyment but out of necessity. Clean water was often unreliable, and waterborne diseases posed a

Medieval Banquets

During the high medieval times, Europe came into contact with the Islamic East through the Crusades. This contact with alien culture sparked a new interest in exotic and beautiful objects

Medieval Recipes

Medieval recipes offer a fascinating glimpse into the culinary world of the Middle Ages, where ingredients, techniques, and flavors varied by class and region. From simple bread and vegetable stews