wondering about the history/origins of fish sauce, specifically in Asia. I haven't found anything after Googling a bit..
My friend claims that fish sauce was invented in Italy (the Romans?). Can someone help clarify?
asian-cuisinehistoryitalian-cuisine
wondering about the history/origins of fish sauce, specifically in Asia. I haven't found anything after Googling a bit..
My friend claims that fish sauce was invented in Italy (the Romans?). Can someone help clarify?
Best Answer
It was called garum, and indeed the ancient Romans used it, as did the ancient Greeks:
Like the fish sauce of today, it was extremely high in glutamic acid, AKA umami.
In Eurasian Sensation the author says:
That begs a question, right? Did the concept travel, or did Asians develop it independently? Greater minds than mine are working to definitively answer that question:
From The Silk Road Gourmet