As
many of you have probably realised by now, I do love potatoes in all their
guises. I was on a word-hunt recently (I forget what word), and came across
some mid-nineteenth century sentiments on this most adaptable vegetable. For
some inexplicable reason, my thoughts turned immediately to potato salad - which
in turn made me realise that I had no idea about the history of that dish. So,
today I begin the search for the first known recipe for potato salad. I wonder should
that include the first recipe which includes potato as a main ingredient even
if it not be named ‘potato salad? And how many ingredients would negate the
choice of ‘potato’ in the name?
Firstly,
I give you the article that started this musing. It is from The New American Gardener, Containing
Practical Directions on the Culture of Fruits and Vegetables, by Thomas
Green Fessenden, published in 1842
Use.—The use of the
potato, as an article of diet both for man and beast, is, probably, more
extensive, and more common, than that of any other vegetable production. From
having no peculiarity of taste, and consisting chiefly of starch, it approaches
near to the qualities of the flour of grain; "and for this reason,"
says Loudon, "it is the most universally liked, and can be used longer in
constant succession by the same individual without becoming unpalatable, than
any other vegetable, the seeds of grasses excepted." Neill observes,
"so generally is it relished, and so nutritious is it accounted, that, on
many tables, it now appears almost every day in the year."
An Essay on the Solanum tuberosum, from the Philadelphia
Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences, gives the following summary view
of the excellent qualities of this superlative root:-
"Having
its origin in a warm climate, it was supposed to be intolerant of cold, and upon
that account incapable of cultivation in a more northern clime. But experience
has shown the contrary, and the potato is naturalized almost in every region.
With the lower classes of people, it is one of the greatest blessings which the
soil produces, forming 'flour without a mill, and bread without an oven,'
and, at all seasons of the year, an agreeable, wholesome dish, without
expensive condiments. What resources does the potato present to us? Its
stalk, considered as a textile plant, furnishes in Austria a sort of flax—when
burned, it yields much potash—its apples [i.e
the “fruit”, meaning the potato itself], when ripe and crushed, ferment,
and give spirits by distillation—its tubercles, made into a pulp, are a
substitute for soap, in bleaching. Cooked by steam, the potato is a most
healthy food. By different manipulations it furnishes two kinds of flour, a
gruel and a parenchyma, which may be applied to increase the bulk of bread made
from grain. Treated chymically, it is converted into beer, vinegar, spirits,
&c."
So,
by 1842, the potato - a New World food - was pretty well established in the Old
World (after an unpromising start) as food for humans (the ‘poorer sort’ of
human that is,) rather than for pigs.
I
understand there is a reference to ‘potato salad’ in a public document from the
State of Massachusetts in 1835, although I have yet to track it down. The earliest
actual recipe with the name ‘potato salad’ I have found so far (I feel sure
there are earlier ones) is in an English magazine from the same year as the
article quoted from above - The Gardener's Magazine and Register of
Rural and Domestic Improvement (London, 1842.) It is a fine example of a ‘Continental’
salad recommended to English hosts and housekeepers, with an adaptation
suitable for the poor cottager who may not have oil available, but would
certainly have onions, and presumably also eggs.
Potato
Salad.
In
your cottage gardening, when you are giving directions for the cooking and use
of sundry vegetables, perhaps you might add a mode of making potato salad much
used in some parts of the Continent, and which would not only be useful to the
cottager, but is thought by many to be delicious eating, particularly with
salmon, or fish in general, or indeed any thing else. The mixture of vinegar,
oil, mustard, salt and hard egg is the same as for common salad, and according
to taste: the potatoes are sliced when cold, with beet-root also sliced. The cottager
may merely use the vinegar, salt, and mustard, and add sliced onions. (Camb.Chron. and Journ. April 2, 1842)
3 comments:
I've been doing some research during the past several months on the history of potatoes, both sweet and white. And I'd say it's all rather complicated, confusing, and yes, even contradictory (often in the same source!). Alot depends on whether one is talking about the white or "Irish" version OR the sweet or "Spanish" one (so-called because they were discovered and brought to Europe by the Spaniards, and they grew in, and were exported from, Spain during the 16th thru the early 18th centuries). As I understand it, most receipts (recipes) written prior to the early 18th century, and even beyond, call for the use of the sweet variety.
At the same time, I have yet to find any receipts (recipes) for potato salad (it'd be interesting to make it using sweets, wouldn't it?!). There is, however, one for a potato pudding in Mary Randolph's "The Virginia Housewife" (1824)that says either can be used.
I had more, but inadvertently hit a key or something and this stoopid notebook up 'n deleted it all. dagnabit
Sorry.
Hi Carolina. It is interesting but frustrating trying to unravel what sort of 'potato' was intended in a recipe, isnt it? But fun
Hello! I thought you might like to know that I made that potato salad recipe... it turned out very well.
http://seasonalontariofood.blogspot.ca/2015/02/beet-potato-salad.html
Post a Comment