OM

R
F

SaiNT
HiLDeGaRDS
KITCHEN
F o o d s OF H e a l t h
F o o d s OF J o y
J A N Y FOU R NIER-R OSSE T
Translated by Victoria Hbert and Denis Sabourin

Liguori, Missouri

Published by Liguori Publications

Liguori, Missouri 63057-9999
To order, call 800-325-9521
www.liguori.org
Important Notice: This book is intended as an informational reference, not as a
medical guide. Any plant, whether used as food or medicine, can cause an allergic
reaction in some people. Do not take any unknown substances during pregnancy
without consulting a physician. This guide is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. The author and the publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility
or liability in connection with the use of this book.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fournier-Rosset, Jany.
[Recettes de la joie avec Sainte Hildegard. English]
From Saint Hildegards kitchen : foods of health, foods of joy / Jany FournierRosset ; translated by Victoria Hbert and Denis Sabourin. 1st U.S. ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-7648-1951-3
1. Nutrition. 2. Natural foods. 3. Health. 4. Hildegard, Saint, 10981179.
I. Title.
RA784.F65213 1999
641.5.63dc21
9923315
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording or any otherexcept for brief quotations in
printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
English translation copyright 1999, 2010 by Liguori Publications
Printed in the United States of America
First published in France as Les recettes de la joie avec sainte Hildegarde by
ditions Tqui, Paris, France.
13 12 11 10 4 3 2 1
Second U.S. Edition

CONTENTS

Introduction * 7
Basic Ingredients * 15
Foods That Bring Joy 17

Herbs, Spices, and Condiments * 25

Herbs That Bring Joy 27
Spices That Bring Joy 34
Other Foods, Herbs, and Spices in Hildegards Kitchen and Apothecary 37

Beverages * 47
Elixirs and Tonics 49
Wines 56
Coffee and Herbal Teas 62

Saint Hildegards Own Special Recipes * 63

Breakfast * 69
Salads * 75
Soups * 83
Cereals and Cereal Grains * 97
Bread-Making With Spelt 101

Pasta * 105
Meat and Poultry * 109
Fish * 123
Eggs and Egg Dishes * 131
Vegetables * 135
Sauces, Dips, Vinaigrettes, and Roux * 155
Spice Mixtures * 161
Desserts * 165
Syrups and Liqueurs * 191
Jams and Jellies * 199
Table Graces From Saint Benedict and Others * 207
Glossary and Measurements * 211
Tips 211
Cooking Terms Used 211
Conversions and Equivalents 214

Sources for Ingredients * 217

Index * 219

INTRODUCTION
ow wonderful it is to discover the secret of joy in the enlightened revelations of a twelfth-century Benedictine
Abbess! Nine hundred years ago, in the Middle Ages, Hildegard
of Bingen was granted, by means of heavenly visions, precious
knowledge about human nutrition: while the foods of sadness
sap our health and vitality, the foods of joy revitalize us and
help preserve good health in every sphere: physical, spiritual, and
psychological.
How can a simple dietary regimen succeed in preventing illness
and producing radiant health? It does so by eliminating the foods
that result in the black bile of sadness, as Saint Hildegard calls
it, and eating those that prevent its accumulation. On the other
hand, foods of joy chase sadness away and bring happiness and
balm to our hearts.
The author, Jany Fournier-Rosset, is a lay oblate of Saint
Benedict, married, a mother, and well known for her talents as an
accomplished chef. She offers us an original selection of healthy
and avorful recipes, based upon the writings and teachings of
Saint Hildegard.

S AINT H ILDEGARD : A S HORT B IOGRAPHY

Born in 1098 in Bockelheim, Germany, of noble parents, Hildegard

was the youngest of ten children. As custom dictated, she was
dedicated to God at the age of eight. Her training and education

Introduction

BeVeRaGeS

Beverages in Saint Hildegards monastery were probably limited to water, milk (from cows, goats, and
sheep), wine, and beer. Drinks, as well as foods, were
thought to have both medicinal and culinary uses, as
do the elixirs, tonics, and soothers given in this section.
Wines and wine vinegars were other essentials in
Saint Hildegards array of curative potions. Sometimes
the wine was infused with ashes, cooked with herbs,
spiced, used to temper unhealthful aspects of plants,
or infused with honey and herbs. This section also
contains some of Hildegards wine-based remedies.
Recommendations for herbal teas and a coffee
substitute are also included here.

St. Hildegard of Bingen believed

that all should drink with health in mind.
She considered beer, spelt, coffee,
fruit juice thinned with mountain spring water,
fennel, rose hip or sage teas, wine, and
goat milk, all acceptable drinks.

Elixirs and Tonics

LAVENDER ELIXIR
2/3 cup fresh lavender owers
3 quarts white or red wine
1 2/3 cups honey
When the lavender is freshly harvested, crush the owers and
pass through a sieve. Cook the wine with the honey at medium
temperature; add to this the crushed lavender until the taste of the
lavender permeates the mixture. Strain the mixture. Then, every
three days (not daily), drink this lukewarm liquid. It may help alleviate pain in the liver and in the lungs. According to Hildegard,
lavender wine will provide a person with pure knowledge and a
clear understanding.
Elixirs are healing remedies; they address situations
of imbalance and symptoms of illness.

ELIXIR FOR THE STOMACH

1 part fresh or powdered ginger
1/2 part thyme leaf
2 parts fresh or powdered galingale
wine
Make a mixture using the proportions given above. Take 2 to 4
pinches of this mixture and add it to 1/2 glass of wine, sweetened
or unsweetened. Take this elixir before going to bed for a period
of 2 to 4 months.

49

Beverages

SouPS

Without a doubt, soups or potages were a dietary

mainstay during Saint Hildegards time. Here are
soups featuring the traditional vegetables and seasonings. A special feature of this section is the addition of
cereal grains, such as pearl barley or rice, to soups.
They cook quickly and give the soup a rich consistency
and better presentation. By adding cereal grains, you
will also have a more nourishing dish which is easily
digested. It is also possible to incorporate either spelt
or oat akes, depending upon your personal taste or
preference. Cereal akes are the product of grain
preparation by which the grain is passed through metal
rollers to atten it after which it is cut into smaller
akes. Flaked cereal grains are also sometimes called
rolled.

The soul is a breath of living spirit,

that with excellent sensitivity,
permeates the entire body to give it life.
Just so, the breath of the air makes the earth fruitful.
Thus the air is the soul of the earth,
moistening it, greening it.

St. Hildegard of Bingen

HERBED CROUTONS
8 slices French or hearty whole-grain bread
2 tbsps vegetable oil
1 tbsp garlic salt, or more to taste
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
pinch ground thyme
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Brush each side of the bread with vegetable oil, and cut the slices
into cubes. Spread the cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet
lightly coated with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with the garlic salt and
pepper. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a 350 F oven until toasted.
In the meantime, combine basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, paprika,
and Parmesan in a small bowl. Sprinkle on the toasted croutons
and return to oven for 2 or 3 minutes. Cool on a rack or on paper
towels.

CREAMY ZUCCHINI SOUP

2 lbs zucchini, unpeeled and thickly sliced
3 tbsps oil
4 cups water
1 tbsp heavy cream
mint leaves for garnish
galingale, salt, pepper to taste
Saut the zucchini slices in the oil. Season with the galingale,
salt, and pepper. Add the water and cook for about 15 minutes.
Pure the mixture in a blender or food processor. Return to pot
and heat gently. When ready to serve, add the cream and garnish
with the mint leaves.

85

Soups

INDEX

gar, about 143

almonds
about 20
recipes with 119, 129,
172173, 187
anise
recipes with 90, 163, 176
angelica
about 37
angelica ice cream 181
crystallized 37
apples
about 38
recipes with
apple cake 178179
baked 189
Indian-style apples 188
oat or spelt muesli 71
artichoke cups with
green peas 143

Bain-marie 211
basil
about 38
recipes with 107
beans
recipes with 89, 91, 96,
142, 147,
beef with cream sauce,
let of 111
blanching 211
bouquet garni 211
Benedict, Saint 12

Bernard of Clairvaux,
Saint 9
berries
blackberry 202
elderberry 206
gooseberry 203
juniper 42
laurel 43
beverages 4763
bread, spelt 103
breakfast 6973
butter, garlic nut 73

Cakes
apple cake 178179
cinnamon coffee 73
herb cake 144
jelly roll 180
maursois nut cake 176
nut cake 176
pear cake 177
raisin rum cake 169
spelt cakes with
coriander 133
spice loaf 168
thousand vegetable
cake 146
zucchini cake 178
caramelize 212
carrots
recipes with
braised 138
mixed vegetables 138

219

Saint Hildegards
cousinat soup 86
spelt etouffe 100
spelt soup 89
terrine 152
celery 38
cereal grains 17, 69, 83, 97
cereals
cream of spelt 71
granola 72
muesli 71
chamomile, German
about 27
recipe with 55
chervil 39
chestnuts
about 20, 88
recipes with
braised 137
chestnut crpes 167
chestnut an 175
chestnut ice cream 181
chestnut jam 201
chestnut pudding,
chilled 174
chestnut pure 167
chestnut souf 183
chestnut soup 88
chocolate chestnut
balls 173
olive chestnut loaf 137
chicken
recipes with
almond chicken 119

chicken breast strips

with rosemary 113
chicken brochettes 112
chicken in wine 113
coconut chicken
soup 103
crpes stuffed with
chicken 114
rosemary chicken 120
salad 78
scallops of chicken 115
stewed chicken 121
chickpeas
about 39
recipes with 100, 149
cinnamon 34
clary sage
about 33
elixer 50
cloves 35
cooking vessels, metal,
use of 14
coffee, substitute 62
coffee cake
spelt cinnamon 73
cookies
almond cookies 172
almond crunchies 172
anti-nausea 67
cookies that bring joy 65
ginger 66
laxative 66
lavender-almond
sweetmeats 173
no-bake chocolate
chestnut balls 173
three-ginger 171
court-bouillon
about 212
recipe for 125
Cornish game hens,
roasted 117
cream cheese,
homemade 175
crme ptissire 169
crpes
batter 187
crpes stuffed with
chicken 114

220 Index

crpes stuffed with

swiss chard 151
croutons, herbed 85
cumin
about 34
recipes with 67, 78, 89,
90-92, 100, 107, 114, 116,
127, 133, 137, 140-142, 145,
146, 149, 151, 154
curry seasoning
recipes for 145, 163164
recipes with 95, 105, 154

plum pudding 187

pumpkin marmalade 184
quince pie 189
raisin rum cake 169
spice loaf 168
stewed medlar fruit 169
stewed gs in wine 174
three-ginger cookies 171
zucchini cake 178
dill 27
dips 157
dittany 39

Dandelions

Eating with wisdom

about 39
recipes with 77, 206
decoction 212
desserts 165190
almond crunchies 172
almond cookies 172
almond meringues 187
angelica ice cream 181
apple cake 178179
baked apples 189
caramel semolina 182
chestnut crpes 167
chestnut ice cream 181
chestnut an 175
chestnut pudding,
chilled 174
chestnut pure 167
chestnut souf 183
cream cheese,
homemade 175
crme ptissire 169
crpes 187
eggs in a cloud with
caramel sauce 185
English cream 182
g pie 168
jelly roll 180
lavender-almond
sweetmeats 173
maursois nut cake 176
no-bake chocolate
chestnut balls 173
nut cake 176
pear cake 177
pears stewed in wine 188

of the body 2324

egg dishes 131134
eggs in a cloud with
caramel sauce 185
English cream 82
French piperade 148
herb cake 144
nettle cake 144
nettle omelette 134
poached eggs 133
spelt cake with
coriander 133
electuary, galingale 68
elixirs 49
clary 50
harts-tongue 51
lavender 58
revitalizing 53
stomach 56-58, 60
elixirs, tonics 5965
English cream 182
etouffe 212

Fats and oils,

use of 19
fennel
about 18
recipes with
Arnauds fennel
au gratin 145
fennel in coconut
milk 141
fennel in white
wine 142

fennel souf 153

fennel soup 90
fennel terrine 81
thousand vegetable
cake 147
ferns
ddleheads 79
harts-tongue 33, 62
gs
in jam 203
in pie 168
stewed in wine 174
nes herbes 212
sh
about 21
recipes with 127139
let of perch with
blue cheese 127
monksh,
American style 128
perch with
bay leaves 126
trout amandine 129
trout in papillote 130
trout in white wine 129
an
chestnut 175
nettle 143
axseed syrup 198
owers 38-46
recipes with
dandelions 77
hellebore
(Christmas rose) 56
herb and ower
salad 77
lavender 49, 173
violets 52
food choices and diet 10, 12,
13, 22
foods that bring joy 17
fruits
about 14
apples 38
peaches 44
pears 45
recipes with 56, 59, 71,
72, 78, 168, 178, 189,
203205

Galingale
about 35
recipes with 49, 5253,
57, 68, 79, 82, 85, 86,
89, 92, 93, 94, 157-159, 188
garlic 41
gentian 41
recipe with 57
gilding 212
glaze 212
gnocchi, Italian 108
granola 72

arts-tongue ferns 51
hazel 41
hellebore 42
herbs
dried, use of 211
about
anise 39
bay leaves (laurel) 58
chamomile,
German 27
dill 27
dittany 39
gentian 41
hyssop 28, 42
lavender 43
lungwort 43
mint 2930
mouse-ear 44,, 63
parsley 30
plaintain 45
psyllium 31
sage 32
savory 45
Hildegard
ideas on health and
healing 7-14
1747, 69, 75, 156
life and spirituality 714
Hippocrates 10, 28
humors, four 1011
hypocras 194
hyssop
about 28, 42
recipes with 114, 118,
120, 138, 149

Ice cream 181

Jams and jellies 200-206
about 199
recipes for
blackberry jelly 202
chestnut jam 201
dandelion jelly 206
elderberry jelly 206
g jam 203
gooseberry jelly 203
milk jam 201
onion jam 204
quince jelly 205
rose hip jam 202
walnut jam 204
juniper 42

Lamb
loin of 112
spring stew with 118
laurel
about 43
recipes with 58
lavender
about 43
recipes with 49, 54, 58
lemon balm soother 53
lemons 56
licorice
about 32
recipes with 52, 66,
167, 174, 175,
177-178, 188-189
liqueurs 191197
liqueur of love 193
nut liqueur 196
peach-leaf liqueur 197
quince liqueur 195
sage liqueur 197
Saint Clements
cordial 193
lungwort (pulmonaria)
about 43
recipes with 60

Index 221

Marinade, marinate 213

Parsley

Mary, Blessed Virgin 12

mayonnaise 158
measurements and
equivalents 214-216
meats
about 21
recipes with 111122,
126, 128, 132
mints
about 2930
recipes with
50, 54-55, 58-59
types of
eld mint 29
pouliot mint 30
water mint 30
mouse-ear 53
muesli, oat or spelt 71
muf ns, spelt 104
mugwort 54

about 30
recipes with 60
pasta 117118
pastry cream 170
peach leaves 59
peaches 44
pears
about 45
recipes with
pear cake 177
pears stewed
in wine 188
pepper 36
Physica, Hildegards 13
pie
g 168
quince 189
plantain
about 45
recipes with 93
poultice 18
poultry
recipes with 122125,
127, 129131
puddings 174, 187
pumpkin
recipes with 95, 151, 184

Nettle, stinging
about 19
recipes with 134, 143, 144
noodles with vegetables 107
nuts
about 20
almonds 20
chestnuts 21
hazelnuts 41
recipes with 71-72, 100,
196

Oats 17
omelette
French piperade 148
nettle 134
onions
recipes with
onion jam 204
onion soup, creamy 100
oregano 53, 44, 68, 85
orgeat syrup 186

222 Index

Quiche
pumpkin 151
spinach 150

atatouille 152
roux
about 213
recipe for 159

Sage 32
recipes with 61
salads 7580
cauliower terrine 79
dandelion salad 77
dandelions in vinegar 77
ddlehead fern salad 79

herb and ower salad 77

salad nioise with spelt 80
spelt salad with chickpeas
and green beans 100
sauces 159-160
bchamel 160
for cucumbers 159
green sauces for sh 161
mayonnaise 158
roux 159
sour cream 158
vinaigrette 159
savory 45
scallops
chicken 115
veal 116
Scivias, Hildegards 8
seeds
aniseeds 38
fenugreek 40
psyllium 31
soothers
lemon balm 53
soufs
chestnut 183
Chinese squash 154
fennel 153
soups
bean soup 91
chestnut soup 88
cream of celeriac 87
cream of tomato 86
creamy harvest soup 94
herb soup, simple 95
Hildegards cousinat
soup 86
peasant soup,
country-style 92
pumpkin 95
spelt soup with
carrots, turnips,
& Swiss chard 89
zucchini 85
sour cream 158
sources for
ingredients 217218
spaghetti with basil 110

spelt
about 98-99
cooking of spelt
grains 99
recipes with 62, 65, 66, 67,
71-73, 80, 89-92, 94, 97, 99,
100-103, 113, 118, 121-122,
128-129, 133, 137, 140-142,
144, 146
spices
cinnamon 34
cloves 35
cumin 34
fenugreek 40
galingale 35
juniper 42
licorice 32
nutmeg 36
pepper 36
spinach quiche 150
squash souf 154
Swiss chard
crpes with 141
loaf 147
syrup, axseed 198

Table graces 207-209

teas
herbal 62
mint tisane 55
sedative 55
temperature conversions
214-216
terrines
carrot 152
cauliower 79
fennel 81
poultry liver 82
tisane 55
tonics
booster 54
warming 54

tortillas 104
turnips
about 56
with mixed vegetables
138

Veal
recipes with 116, 119
vegetables 135154
about
chestnuts 2, 20, 88
fennel 18
nettles 19
recipes with 135154
artichoke cups with
green peas 143
carrot terrine 152
cauliower terrine 79
celeriac soup 87
chestnut soup 88
Chinese squash
souf 154
chickpeas with
vegetables 149
crpes stuffed with
Swiss chard 141
fennel in coconut
milk 141
fennel in white
wine 142
fennel souf 153
fennel soup 90
fennel terrine 81
French piperade 148
green peas and
beans 147
herb cake 144
nettle cake 144
onion soup 90
pumpkin quiche 151
ratatouille,
Tunisian 152

sauted vegetables 150

spelt soup 89
spinach quiche 150
spring beans 142
Swiss chard loaf 147
thousand vegetable
cake 146
tomato soup 86
zucchini soup 85
venison, sauted 122
vinaigrettes, for salad 159
violets
about 46
recipes with 52
viriditas 1112
Von Spannheim,
Mother Jutta 89

atercress 46
wine, in beverages
49-53, 56-61,
194-195, 197
winter restorative 54

Yeast, homemade 101

Zest, of citrus fruit 21
zucchini
cake 178
grilled 139
soup 85, 94
with spelt 140

Index 223