flipSoðinn göltr — honey-and-juniper boiled boar
Soðinn göltr — honey-and-juniper boiled boar
Why this dish? Forseti sits among the Æsir who feast in Asgard, where boar meat abounds — an echo of the boar Sæhrímnir of the Eddas, boiled each evening in Valhalla. But the judge eats with moderation: this festive dish reminds him that even at the gods' banquet, one keeps a clear head to render judgment the next day.
A boar shoulder long-simmered in its broth, glazed with dark honey and scented with crushed juniper berries. The meat falls apart at the spoon, coated in a sauce both salty and sweet. A hall dish, served steaming on the common table for each to help themselves with the point of their knife.
Approach, traveler, and hold out your bowl. At my table in Glitnir we share the boiled göltr, as befits the Æsir: the flesh long-simmered in salted water, then glazed with the honey of Asgard's hives and the bitter berries of the juniper. Yet remember this, you who will plead tomorrow: drink and eat with measure, for the judge who drowns in abundance loses the balance of his judgment. Justice is rendered with a clear mind, not a heavy belly.
- •Boar shoulder (or farm pork) — a fine piece for the company (feast meat)
- •Dark forest honey — by the ladle (sweet glaze)
- •Juniper berries — a handful, crushed (resinous aromatic)
- •Sea salt — by hand (seasoning)
- •Onions and wild thyme — according to the basket (broth base)
Soðinn göltr — honey-and-juniper boiled boar
A boar shoulder long-simmered in its broth, glazed with dark honey and scented with crushed juniper berries. The meat falls apart at the spoon, coated in a sauce both salty and sweet. A hall dish, served steaming on the common table for each to help themselves with the point of their knife.
Why this dish? Forseti sits among the Æsir who feast in Asgard, where boar meat abounds — an echo of the boar Sæhrímnir of the Eddas, boiled each evening in Valhalla. But the judge eats with moderation: this festive dish reminds him that even at the gods' banquet, one keeps a clear head to render judgment the next day.
Approach, traveler, and hold out your bowl. At my table in Glitnir we share the boiled göltr, as befits the Æsir: the flesh long-simmered in salted water, then glazed with the honey of Asgard's hives and the bitter berries of the juniper. Yet remember this, you who will plead tomorrow: drink and eat with measure, for the judge who drowns in abundance loses the balance of his judgment. Justice is rendered with a clear mind, not a heavy belly.
Ingredients (period version)
- Boar shoulder (or farm pork) — a fine piece for the company (feast meat)
- Dark forest honey — by the ladle (sweet glaze)
- Juniper berries — a handful, crushed (resinous aromatic)
- Sea salt — by hand (seasoning)
- Onions and wild thyme — according to the basket (broth base)
Ingredients
- Pork or boar shoulder — 1.5 kg (feast meat)
- Chestnut or buckwheat honey — 4 tbsp (sweet glaze)
- Juniper berries — 1 tbsp, crushed (resinous aromatic)
- Coarse sea salt — 2 tbsp (seasoning)
- Onions — 2, cut in half (broth base)
- Fresh thyme — a few sprigs (aromatic)
Method
- Place the shoulder in a large pot of cold salted water with the onions, thyme, and crushed juniper berries.
- Bring to a simmer and skim, then cook at a gentle boil for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the meat yields under a fork.
- Remove the meat, place it in a dish, and brush generously with honey.
- Roast for 15 minutes in a hot oven (200°C), basting with the melted honey, to caramelize the surface.
- Slice thickly and spoon over some reduced broth. Serve at the center of the table, to share.
How it was made : Meat was boiled far more often than roasted: the cauldron hung over the central hearth was the quintessential cooking tool of Viking halls. Honey and juniper, both abundant in Scandinavia, were among the few local 'spices' before the arrival of goods from the East.
The contemporary twist : Serve the piece on a rough wooden board, scattered with whole juniper berries and a drizzle of warm honey, 'hall table' style — each person helps themselves with a knife, as in Asgard.
Sources : Snorri Sturluson, Edda (Gylfaginning) — the boar Sæhrímnir and the feasts of the Æsir · Daniel Serra & Hanna Tunberg, An Early Meal: A Viking Age Cookbook (2013)
Forseti · Charactorium
