There's old-fashioned cooking and then there's this. Mersu is the oldest known dessert in human history, being discovered on – of all things – a shopping receipt from ancient Mesopotamia. Tasting History with Max Miller, a show dedicated to resurrecting recipes from ages long past, took a stab at recreating the sweet, nutty date-filled pastry with ingredients that you don't have to travel back in time for. It's perfect for munching on over a match of The Royal Game of Ur.
It looks surprisingly simple, and I personally will be trying it at my earliest convenience – surely if an ancient Mesopotamian can do it, a writer of no particular baking talent armed with modern technology can too. The channel, which is worth checking out, is full of non-intimidating recipes from all across history for your next themed dinner, no wine-drowned geese required.
Previously:
• Warabi Mochi: a gooey Japanese summer dessert, now in chocolate mint
• This ethereal cloud gelatin dessert looks almost too good to eat
• Hairy cactus or spun-sugar dessert?
• These People Pot Pies will make you want to skip dessert
