Pirates of the Caribbean feast
Pirates of the Caribbean: Salmagundi
When I first started doing research on what pirates really ate on their long voyages, I basically came to the conclusion that we would probably be quite sick if I recreated the same food. Pirates drank a lot of beer and rum because it keep fresh longer. There was also the typically sea biscuit or hardtack which was a hard tasteless biscuit that needed to be soaked in water in order to bite through it.
In the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Barbossa explained to Elizabeth during her meal, that the crew was cursed and was unable to eat food. It’s also the reason why they were stocked with an abundant amount of food because if and when the curse was lifted, the crew had access to a variety to pick from.
Aye. That’s exactly what I thought when we were first told the tale. Buried on an island of dead what cannot be found, except for those who know where it is. Find it, we did. There be the chest. Inside be the gold. And we took ’em all. We spent ’em and traded ’em and frittered ’em away on drink and food and pleasurable company. The more we gave ’em away, the more we came to realize…the drink would not satisfy, food turned to ash in our mouths, and all the pleasurable company in the world could not slake our lust. We are cursed men, Miss Turner. Compelled by greed, we were, but now…we are consumed by it.
Barbossa, Pirates of the Caribbean
A traditional dish I found that was typically served on ships during the 17th century was Salmagundi. Salmagundi essentially means a salad or a hodgepodge of various food items. The foods typically found on this plate would be cold meats, fish, fruit, and vegetables. A few traditional recipes even call for turtle meat.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Salmagundi
Components:
grilled shrimp
- 8-10 – pieces of shrimp, shell on
- 2 – garlic cloves, minced
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
- 1/2 – lemon, medium
- 2 – eggs, large
- olives
- grapes
- heirloom tomatoes
poached chicken breast
- 1 – chicken breast
- 1 – carrot, medium, medium diced
- 1 – celery, medium diced
- 2 – sprigs of thyme
- 2 – garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp – sea salt
Directions:
- Add the chicken, carrot, celery, thyme, garlic, and salt to a medium saucepan. Cover with 1″ of water and place it over medium heat. Bring it to a gentle simmer and let it cook for around 15 minutes until cooked through or the internal temperature reaches 150F. Let cool before slicing.
- For the grilled shrimp, simply toss the shrimp in the minced garlic, a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Heat a cast iron grill until hot and grill the shrimp just until cooked through.
- The eggs are incredibly simple. Place the eggs in a pot with enough water to cover the eggs. Bring the eggs to a boil and immediately turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 6 minutes and then transfer them to an ice bath. Peel and slice in half.
- Arrange the fruit, chicken, shrimp, and tomatoes on a platter. Add nuts, anchovies, or any other meat or fruit you desire.
Salmagundi looks delicious! I’ve never thought about what pirates eat…
Thank you Lynn! Isn’t it funny? I was at a complete lost when I came to the conclusion that the food they ate was disgusting but this dish saved the day. Thanks again and I love your blog and videos!
LOVE your website! It all looks so amazing and made with passion for movies and food! Will try your Pirates of the Caribbean Themed Recipes for a movie night. Thank you for your hard work 🙂
Best regards, Magnolia
Thank you so much, Magnolia! I’m so happy you’re loving the site!