10 Ancient Roman Foods We Still Eat Today

Ancient Rome was one of the most powerful civilizations in history, and its influence is still seen today in many areas such as language, buildings, and food. Even though some Roman habits may seem unusual now, like watching gladiator fights, their daily food was not very different from ours. Romans ate simple and natural ingredients like eggs, fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, honey, and seafood. Many of their recipes were written in books such as De Re Coquinaria, which is linked to a Roman named Apicius. Over time, these foods changed, but many dishes we eat today still have roots in ancient Roman cooking.

Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a common dish today and are often served at parties. They are made by boiling eggs, removing the yolk, mixing it with ingredients like mustard and spices, and then putting it back into the egg white. The term “deviled” started in the 18th century and was used for foods that were spicy or strongly flavored. In ancient Rome, eggs were usually eaten at the beginning of meals. There was even a saying, ab ovo usque ad mala, which means “from the egg to the apples,” showing that meals started with eggs and ended with fruit. Romans prepared boiled eggs with sauces made from honey, spices, and garum, which was a fermented fish sauce. While these were not exactly the same as deviled eggs, they were very similar in idea.

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French Toast

French toast is a popular breakfast dish made by soaking bread in eggs and milk and then frying it. Even though it is called French toast, it did not come from France. It actually goes back to ancient Rome. Romans made a dish called aliter dulcia, which means “another sweet dish.” In this dish, bread was soaked in milk and eggs, fried, and then served with honey. This is very similar to how French toast is made today. The recipe can be found in De Re Coquinaria, showing that people in ancient times already knew how to make use of bread in this way.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake is a popular dessert today, known for its soft texture and sweet taste. The Romans also had a similar dish called savillum. This recipe comes from De Agri Cultura, a book written by Cato the Elder in the 2nd century BCE. Savillum was made by mixing cheese, flour, eggs, honey, and oil, then baking it. After baking, it was topped with honey and poppy seeds. Modern cheesecake is a bit different because it often has a crust and uses other ingredients, but the basic idea of a sweet baked cheese dish is the same.

Stuffed Dates

Dates were an important food in ancient Rome, although they originally came from the Middle East. By Roman times, they were widely available and commonly eaten. Romans often served dates as a sweet dish, especially at the end of meals. A recipe from De Re Coquinaria describes dates filled with nuts like walnuts or pine nuts, then covered with honey and sometimes a little salt. This mix of sweet and salty flavors is still enjoyed today, showing that Roman food habits continue in modern cooking.

Flatbread / Pizza

Pizza is one of the most popular foods today, but it developed from much older foods like flatbread. Romans often ate flatbread that was baked in ovens and topped with ingredients such as olive oil, herbs, and sometimes cheese. They did not use tomatoes because tomatoes came to Europe much later, and mozzarella cheese was also not yet used. However, the idea of adding toppings to bread was already common. These Roman flatbreads are seen as early forms of foods like focaccia and eventually pizza.

Lentil Soup

Most Romans were not rich and lived simple lives. Lentils were an important food because they were cheap, easy to store, and healthy. Romans made lentil dishes using ingredients like herbs, vinegar, and sometimes garum for flavor. Lentil soup was a common meal for ordinary people. Even today, lentil soup is eaten in many parts of the world because it is simple, nutritious, and easy to prepare. The basic idea of the dish has stayed the same for a very long time.

Burgers

Burgers are often thought of as a modern food, especially from America, but the idea of a meat patty is very old. Romans made dishes using minced meat mixed with spices, herbs, pine nuts, and wine. This mixture was shaped into patties and cooked. These patties were not served in buns like modern burgers, but they were similar in shape and preparation. Different types of meat could be used, and garum was often added for taste. This shows that the basic idea of burgers existed long before modern times.

Sausages

Sausages are one of the oldest prepared foods, and they were common in ancient Rome. A type of sausage called lucanica was made from minced pork mixed with fat, herbs, and spices, then placed into a casing. The name comes from a region called Lucania in southern Italy. Roman soldiers likely helped spread this food to other places. Today, sausages are still eaten around the world, and the basic method of making them has remained the same.

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Mushrooms in Sauce

Mushrooms were considered a special food in ancient Rome and were often eaten by the rich. Some types of mushrooms were highly valued. Romans cooked mushrooms with olive oil and flavored them with herbs and sauces like garum. However, they also knew that some mushrooms could be dangerous. There are stories that poisonous mushrooms were used to kill Emperor Claudius, although the details are not fully certain.

Frittata

A frittata is a dish made with eggs and is similar to an omelet. In ancient Rome, a similar dish called patina was prepared. It was made by mixing eggs with vegetables, herbs, and sometimes meat, then cooking it slowly until firm. Different versions were made depending on the ingredients available. The texture and cooking method are very similar to the modern frittata, showing how Roman cooking still influences food today.