Curried Goat and Food Sources

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

So, I've been thinking a lot about hobbit culinary economics lately (what hobbits eat, especially differences between what gentle-hobbits and common hobbits eat). We know from the books that they have foods such as tea and coffee that come from warm regions in our world; I wonder where in Middle-Earth tea and coffee and presumably spices come from? (Can one make a case for hobbits having hot-region spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg? If they have tea and coffee, I think one can.)

Speaking of spices, my family is from a coffee-and-spice producing country, Jamaica, and here's a dish we love. Lamb can be substituted for the goat. Serve with plain white rice.

Curry Goat.

4 lbs goat with bones, sawed into 2 inch pieces
2 large yellow onions
2 medium potatoes
4 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp allspice
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
4 tbsp frying oil
4 cups water
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix the goat with 1/2 the curry powder. Peel and chop the potatoes into 1-inch chunks; peel and chop the onions into 1/2 inch chunks. Stir the vegetables into the marinating goat.

Heat a large frying pan and brown the meat, in small batches, in the oil. Place the browned goat in a 10 to 12 quart stove-top casserole and add the vegetables from the marinade, pan drippings, remaining spices and 4 cups water; cover and simmer until tender, about 3 hours or so Uncover the pot for the last hour or so in order to thicken the sauce a bit. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 8.

Comments

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

*mouth waters*

I've never had goat, but I'm open to anything. I'm a curry slut, though, so I bet it's marvelous!

I bet much of the tea and coffee must come from Umbar?? I don't know...

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

The interesting question of course is how the spices, coffee and tea get to the Shire. There must be a pretty healthy set of trade routes in Middle Earth -- probably along the coasts for spices, and a long Dwarf-run routes inland, don't you think?

[sila-lumenn.livejournal.com]

I've often wondered about how the hobbits got some of their more exotic foodstuffs. No doubt the dwarves have something to do with it. I've always imagined the dwarves as being great at bartering. And they do have dealings with men. Things like coffee, tea and spices no doubt come to the Shire over a circuitous route via men of the south, to men of the north, to dwarves and eventually to hobbits.