Comments on: Stuffed Cyclamen and Bread and Oil: Mediterranean Island Links http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html A Historian's Take on Food and Food Politics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:28:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rachel Laudan http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-31014 Rachel Laudan Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:11:20 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-31014 Sarah, thanks so much for the link to that interesting source. Sarah, thanks so much for the link to that interesting source.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-31012 Sarah Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:17:09 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-31012 Although they contain saponins, apparently this can be reduced by boiling them in a copious amount of water and draining well. I have never attempted cooking with cyclamens yet because they are a protected species in Israel but it is a traditional Palestinian food. Here is an interesting article on this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18474107 Although they contain saponins, apparently this can be reduced by boiling them in a copious amount of water and draining well. I have never attempted cooking with cyclamens yet because they are a protected species in Israel but it is a traditional Palestinian food. Here is an interesting article on this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18474107

]]> By: maria verivaki http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2603 maria verivaki Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:09:53 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2603 Hello Rachel, Interesting comment about the bread and water. It's true that edible leaves have fallen out of favour in the modern world as a staple part of one's diet, given the variety of food we have at our disposal and how easy it is to obtain it now. But foraging remains an integral part of the Cretan diet and Cretans are still prepared to pay a high price for seasonal greens, some of which are foraged, others cultivated. I am constantly amazed when I discover that what I thought was a pretty flower or an out-and-out weed could possibly be considered edible. My garden does not contain cyclamens, but the piquant purlsane has now given way to the prickly nettle - I have promised myself to try it out in my pies this year. I wonder if I will be able to distinguish its flavour. It suffices that i know it is edible! Hello Rachel,
Interesting comment about the bread and water.
It’s true that edible leaves have fallen out of favour in the modern world as a staple part of one’s diet, given the variety of food we have at our disposal and how easy it is to obtain it now.
But foraging remains an integral part of the Cretan diet and Cretans are still prepared to pay a high price for seasonal greens, some of which are foraged, others cultivated.
I am constantly amazed when I discover that what I thought was a pretty flower or an out-and-out weed could possibly be considered edible. My garden does not contain cyclamens, but the piquant purlsane has now given way to the prickly nettle – I have promised myself to try it out in my pies this year. I wonder if I will be able to distinguish its flavour. It suffices that i know it is edible!

]]> By: Adam Balic http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2596 Adam Balic Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:19:08 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2596 You might have some luck if you search google books using the term "sow bread". You might have some luck if you search google books using the term “sow bread”.

]]> By: Rachel Laudan http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2595 Rachel Laudan Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:40:30 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2595 Hi Melvyn, This was all news to me so I'm no help. But maybe some of my readers are. And do please let us know where we can read what you write. Hi Melvyn,

This was all news to me so I’m no help. But maybe some of my readers are.

And do please let us know where we can read what you write.

]]> By: Melvyn Jope http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2594 Melvyn Jope Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:15:40 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2594 I was very interested to find this site as I am intending to prepare a short article on the use of cyclamen leaves in cooking for the Cyclamen Society Journal. Until reading this I had assumed that the species used would be Cyclamen persicum as this grows in Rhodes, Symi, Syria ,Israel etc. I was surprised to see the possible use of Cyclamen graecum as well. If anyone has any further knowledge of the use of these planrts in cooking,or for anything else in relation to food I would be very grateful if they could contact me. The only other use of the plant that I have encountered is in the Greek Peloponnese where the crushed tubers are used to poison fish to make them easy to catch. I was very interested to find this site as I am intending to prepare a short article on the use of cyclamen leaves in cooking for the Cyclamen Society Journal. Until reading this I had assumed that the species used would be Cyclamen persicum as this grows in Rhodes, Symi, Syria ,Israel etc. I was surprised to see the possible use of Cyclamen graecum as well. If anyone has any further knowledge of the use of these planrts in cooking,or for anything else in relation to food I would be very grateful if they could contact me. The only other use of the plant that I have encountered is in the Greek Peloponnese where the crushed tubers are used to poison fish to make them easy to catch.

]]> By: Mariana Kavroulaki http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2589 Mariana Kavroulaki Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:56:39 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2589 Rachel, thank you for hosting. In ancient years the cyclamen was especially known for its medical virtues (it contains a powerful purgative poison). Its tuberous Rhizomes (thickened roots) have cyclamin which is a toxic saponin, so never try to eat them. The leaves of Cyclamen graecum have a bitter- sweet taste. The best known florist’s cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum, is an important edible wild plant in Iran and Palestine. Its leaves are also cooked filled with rice, minced mutton meat, spices and eaten with yogurt (Palestinian Za’ matoot, Iranian dolme). I do not know if the leaves of this species have different taste. However, the Greek cyclamen recipe is old and almost forgotten. In fact, the use of local Mediterranean food plants stands at a crucial point. As you know, Eastern Mediterranean communities were very much centered around cultivated and wild food both for subsistence and profit. After World War II the consumption of wild plants and seeds changed following the socio – economic changes. Unfortunatelly the amazing traditional knowledge regarding wild plants resources has not been infused to the young generations and I wonder if it already is on the brink of disappearance. Rachel, thank you for hosting.
In ancient years the cyclamen was especially known for its medical virtues (it contains a powerful purgative poison). Its tuberous Rhizomes (thickened roots) have cyclamin which is a toxic saponin, so never try to eat them. The leaves of Cyclamen graecum have a bitter- sweet taste.
The best known florist’s cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum, is an important edible wild plant in Iran and Palestine. Its leaves are also cooked filled with rice, minced mutton meat, spices and eaten with yogurt (Palestinian Za’ matoot, Iranian dolme). I do not know if the leaves of this species have different taste.
However, the Greek cyclamen recipe is old and almost forgotten. In fact, the use of local Mediterranean food plants stands at a crucial point. As you know, Eastern Mediterranean communities were very much centered around cultivated and wild food both for subsistence and profit. After World War II the consumption of wild plants and seeds changed following the socio – economic changes. Unfortunatelly the amazing traditional knowledge regarding wild plants resources has not been infused to the young generations and I wonder if it already is on the brink of disappearance.

]]> By: Adam Balic http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2587 Adam Balic Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:40:37 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2587 E. David mentions stuffed cyclamen leaves in "An Omelette and a Glass of Wine". E. David mentions stuffed cyclamen leaves in “An Omelette and a Glass of Wine”.

]]> By: Rachel Laudan http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2579 Rachel Laudan Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:13:20 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2579 Well Bret I'll rattle that off at the next party when conversation fails. I've no idea what they taste like except that Mariana specifies not like grape leaves. But I have cyclamens in my garden in Guanajuato. They're dormant right now so have neither leaves nor petals. But when they spring to life again in a couple of months I'll try them. Imagine them scattered with some of those pretty pink petals. Well Bret I’ll rattle that off at the next party when conversation fails. I’ve no idea what they taste like except that Mariana specifies not like grape leaves. But I have cyclamens in my garden in Guanajuato. They’re dormant right now so have neither leaves nor petals. But when they spring to life again in a couple of months I’ll try them. Imagine them scattered with some of those pretty pink petals.

]]> By: Bret Thorn http://www.rachellaudan.com/2008/10/stuffed-cyclamen-and-bread-and-oil-mediterranean-island-links.html/comment-page-1#comment-2578 Bret Thorn Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:00:00 +0000 http://www.rachellaudan.com/?p=602#comment-2578 What does a cyclamen taste like? I only know the flower from an Israeli song I learned as a kid, which is also the only reason I know that the Hebrew word for it is rakefet. What does a cyclamen taste like? I only know the flower from an Israeli song I learned as a kid, which is also the only reason I know that the Hebrew word for it is rakefet.

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