Romanian cuisine is surprisingly varied, with a strong emphasis on local ingredients. Romania, being a country with rich soil and diverse geography, has a variety of boldly tasting dishes, usually containing meat, fish or vegetables mixed with sauces made from tomatoes, sour cream, garlic and herbs.
Romanians love their food accompanied by fresh bread!
Recipes for this traditional cuisine have been passed down through generations and most popular include:
-Sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls)
-Mamaliga (a cornmeal porridge)
-Pui la tava cu carne de porc si ciuperci (chicken roast with mushrooms)
-Fasole rosie boabe cu orez sau legume la aburi (red kidney beans cooked with rice or vegetables steamed).
-Ardei umpluti (peppers stuffed with rice and minced meat)
-Ciorba de văcuță (beef soup)
-Supa de taietei (noodle soup)
-Salata de boeuf (potato and beef salad)
-Salata de vinete (eggplant salad)
-Cartofi dulci cu branza (sweet potatoes with cheese)
-Pastrav la gratar (grilled trout)
-Tăieței cu lapte (sweet noodles in milk)
With all these delicious dishes, it’s no wonder that Romanian cuisine has been declared part of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Now everyone can experience this rich culture through delicious food!
Garlic is an important ingredient used in Romanian cuisine. Its most popular use is in “mujdei” – a garlicky sauce that brings intense flavor to meat, fish or vegetables.
Bread is always an important part of the Romanian meal. In every region of Romania, bread is made in different ways and has various delicious uses. Some of the most common ingredients in Romanian bread are white flour, graham flour, potatoes, or cornmeal.
Bread usually accompanies the first course – soup, but Romanians also like to add a spoonful of sour cream or yogurt to their soups because it makes them richer, thicker and tastier. Some Romanian soups become boldly flavorful when eaten with spicy green peppers or pieces of raw red onion.
In Transylvania, Romanians have been preparing food for centuries using traditional recipes passed down from generations. Even today they prepare delicious dishes that are perfect examples of Romanian cuisine: beef goulash with polenta cakes; potato stew with veal tongue and liver; goose leg filled with buckwheat groats…and don’t forget about pastrami!
Romanian fish dishes are very flavorful and fresh tasting: traditional carp from the Jiu River, dried whitefish with polenta, grilled trout or fried fish pieces.
Romanian desserts are delicious too! One of the most popular ones is a cake called “Chec cu mere” – a delicious fruitcake made with walnuts and apples baked between layers of pastry dough.
Romanian street food is also delightful: one can enjoy “gogosi” (donuts), “mici” (spicy grilled ground beef sausages with fresh white cheese), “plăcinte cu brânză și smântână” (a delicious flatbread filled with cheese) or “covrigi” (fluffy pretzels) on the go, while visiting one of Romania’s beautiful cities.
Some of the most popular Romanian beverages are wine and palinca. Romania is one of the largest producers of grapes for wine making, but beer has also been known to be brewed there since medieval times! A variety of different delicious beers can be found such as lagers, ales, stouts and porters.
Palinca is a fruit-flavored, strong brandy made from apricots or plums in Romania’s eastern regions. It has been enjoyed by Romanians for centuries! Today it can be found at trendy bars throughout the world where people drink delicious cocktails with palinca as an ingredient instead of vodka.
