Elven Recipes from Middle Earth
BY Alison Wiebe
A curated guide to our most enchanting elven recipes, from starlit spring and summer banquets to fall and winter ethereal forest feasts.
Have you ever wondered what do elves eat and drink in Middle Earth? We know about lembas bread and Miruvor, but these ethereal and resourceful beings would have needed a well-rounded diet to sustain their woodland realm and thriving elven community. We have gathered our favourite recipes inspired by the elves of Rivendell from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings for a closer look at the elven diet.
From the Elven gardens
These two savoury tarts show how the elves make use of spring and fall produce to create rustic, elegant and nourishing fare. The Potato Leek and Pea Shoot Tart (left) and Butternut Squash Goat Cheese and Kale Tart (right) both work as vegetarian entrées for a light elven meal, or as appetizers paired alongside an elven cocktail.
The spring and summer gardens yield plenty of produce for this Chive Blossom Salad with Pickled Carrots and Goat Cheese (left) and these Crispy Chard Cakes (middle) with garlic yogurt sauce. During the fall and winter months, the resourceful elves are enjoying this Roasted Delicata Squash with Brown Butter Vinaigrette (right).
Botanical delights
Lavender and rosemary are gathered from the gardens of Rivendell for these fragrant recipes. Lavender Lembas bread (left) adds floral notes to the renowned elvish way bread for a sweet and buttery nourishing treat. Whipped Ricotta (right) is drizzled with rosemary-infused honey and topped with salted and toasted walnuts and rosemary for a luscious appetizer served with toasted bread.
Elves as Hunters
While fans of Peter Jackson’s films might consider elves to be strictly vegetarian, the books show them hunting and feasting on meat. But it wouldn’t be an elven recipe if it wasn’t truly elegant and accompanied by a herbaceous sauce. For breakfast, the elves are nourishing themselves on Herbed Lamb Sausage with Green Sauce (left) and a golden egg. For dinner, the elves are feasting on Juniper Grilled Lamb Chops with Arugula Mint Pesto (right).
beneath the Starlight
Born under starlight, before the sun and the moon were created, elves have a natural affinity to the magic of starlight. In honour of their origins, they have prepared two dishes in the shape of a star. A Spring Greens Star Bread (left) is a herbaceous and satisfying appetizer and Arwen’s creation, Evenstar Pavlova with Blueberries and Lemon (right), is a decadent dessert to serve as the finale to a great elven feast.
Elven Drinks
These elvish elixirs are full of the bounty of the elvish gardens with fresh botanicals, honey and florals. Perhaps the most restorative elven cocktail, is Miruvor (left) – made with the honey and nectar of Yavanna’s flowers. A Woodland Realm Cocktail (middle) scented with fir is poured in honour of Legolas of the Woodland Realm, and a golden Honey Sage Cocktail (right) is poured in honour of the golden-haired Lady of Lorien, Galadriel.
