Part 6/8:
Garum, the star ingredient in many Roman recipes, operates as both a flavor enhancer and a historically rich condiment. Its roots find beginnings in ancient Mesopotamia around 1700 BC, where salt and fish were combined in a manner reminiscent of modern fish sauces. Over centuries, garum evolved alongside cultural exchanges and settlements, spreading from Mediterranean shores to the culinary practices of ancient Greece and Rome.
In the Roman context, fish sauce was revered not merely as a condiment but as a vital flavor agent, often substituted for salt. Although the popularity of garum waned after the fall of the empire, its influence remained, with modern analogs still prevalent in parts of the world.