Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens

MODERN KITCHENS · 084 / 100 Late Preclassic El Mirador food-resource context · Maya lowlands, Guatemala · c. 300 BCE–100 CE Evidence: historically informed adaptation. The historical evidence and modern cooking choices are distinguished below. Jump to recipe Generated illustration of this modern adaptation; not historical evidence. A turkey can tell a story of movement as well as a meal. Research at El Mirador identifies Mexican turkeys in Late Preclassic Maya contexts. Mesoamerican crop research provides a separate squash connection. Neither source attests this crust. We coat supermarket turkey breast with ground pumpkin seeds and roast it as a modern main course. The seed-and-bird combination, contemporary turkey cut, neutral oil and oven method are our choices. The archaeological evidence does not show that the imported birds were prepared this way, or that all turkey management had one purpose. A modern food illustration cannot resolve those questions. Flatten the breast pieces ...