Syseros

Chickpea puree

Original:

Source: Du Fair de Cuisine, par. 76

Encor plus, les syseros et pour donner entendement a celluy qui appareillera les syseros si prenne ses syses et si les delise grain a grain en tant que il n’y demeure nulle chose que le propre grain du sise, et puis le lave en trois ou en iiii. eaues tedes et les mecte boullir; /106r/ et, estre boullir, si les remove de celle eaue et y mecte d’autre eaue fresche et mecte arriés boullir et, estre boullis, si les mecte en la dicte oulle reposer jusque a l’endemain; et quant se viendra l’endemain si en pures l’eaue et mectés encour d’autre eaue fresche et mectés boullir en ung bien petit de sel, de l’oille d’amendres et de percin ensemble ses racines bien delisés et nectoyees — et celles racines soient escorchiés et tresbien lavées — et ung pou de salvi. Et si n’y mectés autre chose sans l’ordonnance du medicin, et s’il ordonnoit de y mectre ung pou de cynamomy et ung pou de verjust pour lui donner aucun pou de goust, sy en y mectés ; autrement non.

Again syseros: and to give understanding to him who will prepare the syseros let him take his chick-peas and pick them over grain by grain such that there remains nothing but the chick-peas themselves, and then wash them in three or four changes of lukewarm water and put them to boil; and, being boiled, let him remove them from this water and put in other fresh water and put back to boil and, being boiled put them to rest in the said pot until the next day; and when the next day comes drain the water off them and put in again other fresh water and put to boil with a very little salt, almond oil, and parsley together with its roots well picked over and cleaned — and these roots should be scraped and very well washed — and a little sage. And do not put in anything else without the doctor’s order, and if he tells you to put in a little cinnamon and a little verjuice to give it a little flavour, put them in; otherwise not.

Redaction:

(for about 8 people)

• 1 small can of chickpeas (400 gr, 240 gr drained)
• 2 tbsp oil (we used virgin olive oil, as almond oil wasn’t available)
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp finely ground cinamon
• 1,5 tsp finely chopped fresh sage, or 0,5 tsp dry sage
• 2-3 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Mix all the ingredients.

Blend the chickpeas well in a food processor or blender, adding the liquids until you get to a mayonnaise-like consistency.

Put it in a bowl. Optionally, leave behind some whole chickpeas and sprigs of parsley to dress the dish.