Robin and Little John’s Culinary Escapades: Delightful Disney Recipes from Sherwood Forest

Robin Hood and Little John are not just heroes of Sherwood Forest; they’re also quite the food enthusiasts, as depicted in Disney’s classic animated film! This movie, a favorite for many, is packed with adventure and, surprisingly, some mouth-watering medieval-inspired dishes. Let’s delve into the culinary world of Robin Hood and Little John and recreate some of the iconic foods featured in the film, from a hearty burnt beef stew to sweet pies and even prison gruel.

Little John’s “Burnt” Beef Stew: A Rustic Medieval Feast

Remember the scene where Robin And Little John are cooking outdoors? Their stew gets a little too cooked, bubbling and burning over a roaring fire. This slightly charred mishap is hilariously noticed by Friar Tuck.

Friar Tuck tasting the burnt stew cooked by Robin and Little John

Alt text: Friar Tuck, a cartoon badger character from Disney’s Robin Hood, grimaces slightly while tasting a spoonful of dark, bubbling stew from a large cauldron hanging over a fire, implying the stew cooked by Robin Hood and Little John has a burnt or overly spicy flavor.

While we won’t intentionally burn our stew, we can capture the spirit of a rich, medieval beef stew that Robin and Little John might have enjoyed (before it got too fiery!). This recipe is inspired by medieval cooking and offers a robust and flavorful experience.

Little John Burnt Beef Stew Recipe

• Servings: 6
• Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Coat the beef pieces thoroughly with flour.
2. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
3. Brown the beef in the hot oil, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
4. Introduce the cinnamon, mace (or chili powder), cloves, crushed peppercorns, chopped onion, and parsley to the pan. Add a splash of beef stock to deglaze the pan, scraping up the flavorful browned bits from the bottom. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions begin to soften.
5. Transfer the contents of the frying pan, including all the juices, into a large pot.
6. Pour in the remaining beef stock, add a pinch of salt, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, or until the beef is wonderfully tender.
7. While the stew simmers, prepare the bread mixture. Soak the stale whole wheat bread in cider vinegar and saffron (or turmeric).
8. Once the beef is tender, stir in the bread mixture into the stew. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes. This allows the bread to break down, naturally thickening the stew.
9. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference.
10. Serve hot, traditionally with biscuits or crusty bread for a truly medieval experience.

Close-up of Little John's Burnt Beef Stew in a bowl

Alt text: A comforting bowl of Little John’s Burnt Beef Stew, featuring tender chunks of beef in a rich, dark gravy, garnished with fresh parsley, showcasing the hearty medieval-inspired dish.

Trigger’s Blackberry Pie: A Sweet Escape

After the archery tournament, the hapless vulture Trigger seeks refuge in a pie stand, specifically among the blackberry pies! This scene inspires a delicious, creamy blackberry pie, fit for hiding in or simply enjoying.

Trigger hiding in Blackberry Pies

Alt text: Cartoon image from Disney’s Robin Hood depicting Trigger, a vulture character, clumsily hiding amongst a display of blackberry pies at a market stall, with only his feet and tail feathers humorously sticking out.

Trigger’s Blackberry Pie Recipe

• Servings: 8
• Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, red wine, saffron (if using), ginger, mace (or chili pepper), and cloves. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
2. Remove the saucepan from the heat immediately after boiling.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and honey until well combined and slightly pale.
4. Temper the egg mixture by slowly drizzling a small amount of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture while continuously whisking. This prevents the eggs from scrambling. Gradually pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining hot cream liquid, whisking constantly.
5. Arrange the fresh blackberries and chopped dates evenly in the pre-baked pie shells. Gently spoon the prepared cream mixture over the fruit, filling the pie shells.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for approximately 45 minutes, or until the filling is set and no longer jiggly.
7. Let the blackberry pie cool slightly before serving.

Maid Marian’s Currant (Blueberry) Pie: A Royal Treat

In the same market scene, Maid Marian joins the pie-throwing fun to aid Robin Hood’s escape, famously wielding currant pies. Since currants can be harder to find, blueberries make an excellent and delicious substitute, as used in this recipe.

Maid Marian with Currant Pies

Alt text: Cartoon image of Maid Marian from Disney’s Robin Hood, depicted playfully throwing currant pies with a smile, showcasing her spirited and helpful nature during Robin Hood’s escape.

Maid Marian’s Currant (Blueberry) Pie Recipe

• Servings: 8
• Difficulty: Easy-Medium

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Prepare the pie crust using the pie crust mix according to package directions, but incorporate 1 egg yolk and lemon zest into the dough for added flavor.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
3. Gradually add sugar and cornstarch to the beaten egg whites, continuing to beat for about 5 minutes until the mixture is glossy and well combined.
4. Gently fold in the red currants (or blueberries) into the meringue mixture, ensuring they are evenly distributed. Pour this mixture into the prepared pie crust.
5. Bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the meringue topping is lightly browned and set.
6. Allow the pie to cool before serving to allow the filling to set completely.

Not-in-Nottingham Prison Gruel: A Humble Dish

In a stark contrast to pies and stews, there’s the less appealing prison gruel, seen when the rooster narrator is jailed. Gruel, a simple porridge, was indeed common in prisons. This recipe recreates this basic, yet historically relevant, dish.

Prison Gruel being served to rabbits

Alt text: Still image from Disney’s Robin Hood showing mama rabbit feeding her baby rabbits a bowl of plain-looking gruel inside a prison cell, highlighting the simple and meager food provided to prisoners in Nottingham.

Not-in-Nottingham Prison Gruel Recipe

• Servings: 1-2
• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix the oatmeal with a little cold water to form a smooth paste. This helps prevent lumps when cooking.
2. Pour the remaining water into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Add the oatmeal paste to the boiling water and stir continuously. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
4. Season with salt to your taste.
5. Serve warm. Gruel is traditionally quite plain but can be customized with toppings if desired.

Will it Steal from the Rich and Give to the Poor (Taste Buds)?

Overall, this culinary journey through Robin Hood’s world is quite rewarding! The blackberry and currant pies are delightful sweet treats, perfect for any dessert lover. The beef stew, while perhaps not actually burnt, is a hearty and flavorful meal. The gruel, while simple, offers a taste of history.

Verdict:

Stew – 7/10

Blackberry pie – 7.5/10

Currant (blueberry) pie – 9/10

Gruel – 4/10

Enjoy recreating these Disney-inspired recipes from Robin Hood and Little John’s adventures in Sherwood Forest!