Oldest known recipes in the world

 Note: this is a work in progress. More recipes will be added as I find them.

 Meat Pie - Mesopotamia, 1,700 BC

The recipe was found on three ancient tablets, which are currently held at the Yale University.

They were translated back in 1985 by the French academic and chef Jean Bottero.

There are more recipes on the tablets, not just the meat pie one. One of them is a gazelle stew.

Even if the recipe is not entirely clear what kind of fowl is to be used, special attention is given to gizzards, that seem to be a very important part of this recipe. 

"Carefully lay out the fowls on a platter; spread over them the chopped pieces of gizzard and pluck (heart, liver and lungs), as well as the small sêpêtu breads which have been baked in the oven; sprinkle the whole with sauce, cover with the prepared crust and send to the table."

 

Fassolatha (white bean soup) - Greece, cca 500 BC

Note: this recipe is still alive and kicking in Eastern Europe. I practically grew up with it.

Also, for best results and less farts, let the dry beans soak overnight. Change the water, bring to a boil, then drain and fill with cold water. Repeat two more times.

Ingredients
 

1 pound dried white beans

10 cups water

1/2 cup olive oil

1 large onion (diced)

2 medium carrots (diced)

2 ribs celery (diced)

1 bay leaf

Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Garnish with a fistful of chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Add the beans, water, and olive oil to a large soup pot, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer covered until beans are tender but not mushy - about 1 hour.
Add vegetables, tomatoes, tomato paste, and bay leaf to the pot and simmer uncovered another 30 to 45 minutes for flavors to meld and soup to thicken a bit.
Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Remove the bay leaf and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

 

Libum (cheesecake) - Rome, cca 200 BC

First mentioned in the book "De Agri Cultura" by Cato.

Ingredients

    1/2 cup plain all-purpose flour
    1 cup ricotta cheese
    1 egg, beaten
    bay leaves
    1/2 cup clear honey

Instructions
 

Sift the flour in a mixing bowl.

Beat the cheese until soft, stir into the flour.

Add the beaten egg to the flour/cheese mixture, forming a soft dough.

Divide the dough into four and shape each piece into a bun.

Place on a greased baking tray with a fresh bay leaf underneath.

Heat the oven to 375F/190C. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.

Warm the honey, pour into a flat plate, and place the buns on it to rest until the honey is absorbed.