What is Cato's Globi?

Cato's Globi was a dessert from Ancient Rome, that has often been considered "Roman doughnuts" or even unleavened doughnut holes. These doughnuts are from around 160 BC and created by Cato the Elder, who was a Roman politician that had a very successful military career and career. So, what is Globi and what is its history?

A picture of Globi

Globi has been described as a mesh between two desserts: doughnut holes and cheesecake. They are small, fried balls of ricotta cheese and flour covered in sesame seeds and honey. The typical recipe has ricotta, semolina, egg, salt, honey, and oil, according to Eugenia Salza. Globi were known for their crunchy exterior, soft interior, and a complex flavor profile that combined the sweetness of honey with a hint of saltiness from the cheese. They were also a popular street food and were also served at feasts and festivals during the time of Ancient Rome. Their spherical shape was symbolic and linked them to the planet Saturn, which is why they were traditionally consumed during the festival of Saturnalia, which was as an ancient Roman festival held in December to honor the god Saturn, celebrated with feasting, gift-giving, and role reversals, where social norms were temporarily suspended.

The inside of Globi

Globi was created by Roman politician Marcus Porchius Cato, better known as Cato the Elder, who was a true Renaissance man before the Renaissance. To prove it, he wrote a book for farmers called De Agri Cultura, which included the recipe for globi. De Agri Cultura is a book for farmers to maintain their farm in the right way that includes globi's recipe in a section with cake and bread recipes, as these treats were used to satisfy the gods. So, globi's history is that of an offer to the gods that later was sold as street food. Its history shows interesting way that food was preserved, particularly in Ancient Rome.

B, Sarah. “Globi: Roman Doughnuts (C. 160 BC).” A Dollop of History, 6 Sept. 2018, historydollop.com/2018/09/06/globi-roman-doughnuts-c-160-bc/.

Salza, Eugenia. Dining as a Roman Emperor. L’Erma Di Bretschneider, 1995.

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