Northern Forest Elf Cooking
Typical meals in Northern Forest Elf culture.
Execution
Lower Class
Working class cooking focuses on regional and seasonal products. Imported goods are rare treats during festivities, and the same goes for fruit that was grown outside its natural season via Plant magic. Seasoning is mainly done with herbs, salt, and onions or garlic.Since they have less time and equipment for preparation, their dishes tend to be on the simpler side. They often eat stew, stir-fry, anything grilled, or pies with various sweet or savory fillings.
Upper Class
The wealthier a person is, the more access they have to imported or magically cultivated ingredients. Consequently, their food is far more varied and seasoned with a wide range of spices.They often employ others to cook for them, so the recipes themselves are more elaborate. They eat layered casseroles, stuffed vegetables and fruits, or puff pastry and dumplings with various fillings.
Components and tools
Regional Ingredients
The northern forests are home to a wide range of edible plants.- oats and rye
- beans and peas
- root vegetables like carrots or parsnip
- cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
- potatoes
- apples and pears
- cherries, plums, and apricots
- strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries
- walnuts and hazelnuts
- cucumbers, zucchinis, and pumpkins
- mushrooms
- grapes
- onions, garlic, and leek
- herbs like dill, marjoram, basil, parsley, and thyme
- tea
Dairy is mostly produced from the milk of sheep or donkeys. The most common products are:
- plain milk and cream
- yogurt, curd and cream cheese
- brittle, white cheese
- soft cheese with a rind of edible mold
Meat comes from various animals. Near lakes or the seashore, people often use various water animals for protein.
- ducks
- sheep
- wild boars
- deer
- fish
- crabs
- mussels
- squids
Food is typically sweetened with honey or made sour with vinegar. Salt is widely available thanks to Water and Ground wielders.
Imported Ingredients
In big cities, exotic ingredients are available as well.Northern Steppes
- wheat and corn
- lentils
- olives
- tomatoes
- peaches
- bell peppers and chilis
- almonds
- peanuts
- pepper and mustard
- cinnamon and cloves
- rosemary
- nutmeg
Haesinu Desert
- dates and figs
- pomegranate and cactus fruit
- sesame seeds or paste
- caraway and coriander
- hard cheese from camel milk
Eastern Jungle
- oranges, lemons and limes
- melons, mangos and bananas
- rice
- saffron and vanilla
Meat Consumption
Plant magic makes it fairly easy to cultivate and harvest most plant-based ingredients.
In contrast, hunting or slaughtering animals is a messy job, and preserving the meat requires more effort.
Consequently, Elves get most of their protein from legumes, eggs, or dairy. Meat is usually reserved for the weekly rest days.
Sauces
Fruit chutneys are a popular condiment for meat, seafood, or cheese. Vegetable-based dishes are typically served with a dip made from yoghurt or cream cheese.Example Dishes
Lower Class
- pie with parsnip, leek, and cream cheese, seasoned with chives and garlic
- pie with pears and walnuts
- soup with broccoli and radish, seasoned with parsley
- pea stew with oats, seasoned with marjoram
- stir-fry with duck, beans, and zucchini, seasoned with dill and thyme
- grilled wild boar steak with berry chutney and rye bread
- grilled squid, seasoned with garlic vinegar, and served with cucumber chutney
- baked fish and potatoes, seasoned with garlic and dill
Upper Class
- casserole with pumpkin, zucchini, and bacon, gratinated with white cheese, seasoned with nutmeg and pepper
- bell peppers filled with minced mutton and almonds, seasoned with rosemary and served with garlic yogurt
- salad with tomatoes and roasted almonds, prepared in mustard sauce
- oat dumplings filled with dates and sesame
- lentil dumplings in peanut sauce, seasoned with pepper and cloves, served with roasted wheat bread
- potato dumplings filled with bacon and olives, seasoned with coriander
- puff pastry with orange filling, seasoned with vanilla
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