Albanian food is a sumptious blend of Mediterranean and Balkans cuisine. The produce is rich and colorful, while the meat is tender.
With foods characterized by the rural areas, mountainous regions and coastline, there are so many exciting flavors to try in Albania.
Get ready for divine tastes and textures as we explore 10 traditional Albanian foods and what makes them so delicious.
1 – Ferges – Summer Stew
Ferges is, without a doubt, one of the most traditional foods in Albania. The dish consists mainly of tomato sauce, cottage cheese, green peppers, and garlic. The main reason why this dish is called a summer stew is that many Albanians like to eat it after it has gone cold. The best way to eat this dish is to wait for it to cool down for about 2-3 hours. This gives it a thicker consistency and makes the ingredients stand out more. Ferges is usually eaten only with bread. I usually dip toasted bread in the dish and eat it. The dish is not really a typical menu option in Albanian restaurants, but you can try it in countryside restaurants that serve traditional food.
2 – Tarator – Cold Yoghurt Appetizer
This appetizer is a great dish that Albanians usually eat before a meat-based entrée. It is usually served during the summer due to it being rather cold when served. The dish is made with Greek yogurt, cold water, shredded cucumber, and salt. The appetizer has the consistency of a soup, so it is normal for this dish to be served in a bowl. It tastes very similar to the traditional Albanian drink dhalle. This is the reason why many foreigners find it surprising when they see tarator served in a bowl. This appetizer is beloved mostly by the older generation as youngsters prefer dhalle because it is more practical to consume.
3 – Byrek – Albanian Pie
Albanian pies remain one of the most preferred traditional foods. People love them because they can take the pies on the go for a quick meal or snack. There are many different types of fillings that can go into a byrek. These include meat, spinach & feta cheese, onions & tomatoes, or cottage cheese, which is the most popular of them all. Not only does this dish have different types of fillings, but it can also come in different shapes. This all depends on the region where you try it. Byrek is usually served with greek yogurt or dhalle.
4 – Ashure – Dessert Porridge of Grains, Fruit, and Nuts
Ashure is a traditional Albanian dessert that originated from Turkey. It has a gelatin consistency that melts in your mouth, giving you the chance to taste the nuts or dry fruit that it is made with. Ashure can best be described as a sweet porridge that is served cold.It is a popular Albanian dessert that is traditionally eaten during the first month of the Islamic calendar. However, you can easily find this tasty dessert in any pastry in Albania all year round.
5 – Tavë Kosi – Baked Lamb or Chicken in Yoghurt
In Albania, chicken baked in yogurt is a beloved traditional dish, commonly served at lunchtime. It is widely known throughout the Balkan as Elbasan tava. It has been named from the Albanian city from where the dish originated. Tave Kosi is usually made with lamb meat but some Albanians also use chicken as an option. The yogurt is mixed with rice and eggs and baked together with the meat. This dish has a very unique taste. The baked yogurt has a soft texture and tastes a bit sour, while the meat balances it well, giving the dish its juicy meaty flavor.
6 – Trilece – Milk Cake
Trilece or also known as milk cake is a light Albanian dessert that originates from Turkish cuisine. It is a popular dessert that is made out of three different kinds of milk that include evaporated milk, heavy cream, and condensed milk. The cake is then topped with brown syrup that gives it a strong sweet taste. Depending on the region, this Albanian cake can be light and consisting of air bubbles or concentrated and thick. The consistency of the cake itself all depends on how much butter is used in the recipe. Trilece has a very unique taste that can be described as lightly crispy and sweet at the top, soft and light in the middle, and juicy on the bottom.
7 – Kackavall ne Furre me Domate – Baked Cheese with Tomatoes
Albanians love to eat this cheese with different types of traditional dishes. Usually, they bake Kackavall along with chopped tomatoes and additional herbs. Baked cheese with tomatoes acts as a side dish as the melted cheese adds flavor when eaten with different kinds of meat. It is really common to find it in Albanian grill house restaurants.
8 – Speca te Mbushur me Oriz – Bell Peppers Stuffed with Rice
Stuffed bell peppers are a very popular local dish. They are widely served throughout all regions of Albania and can be found in countryside restaurants that serve traditional food. The dish consists of green bell peppers that are stuffed with rice. The exact recipe changes depending on the way it was passed on. Some Albanians add chopped lamb meat or tomatoes rather than just rice. The stuffed peppers then are baked and served hot. This dish is served with Greek yogurt, feta cheese, or dhalle. Adding chili peppers or black pepper to this dish is also common amongst Albanians as the spicy kick complements the dish’s mild taste.
9 – Petulla – Fried Dough
Fried dough is a popular dish eaten all throughout the Balkan. In Albania, fried dough is traditionally served in many different ways. Petulla is commonly eaten as a snack or during dinner. You can find food stands that serve fried dough combined with a topping of your choice throughout Tirana and Durres. Toppings include chocolate, strawberry jam, shredded Kackavall cheese, or ketchup. Fried dough is quick and easy to cook in most Albanian households. The most common way to eat them is with feta cheese or honey.
10 – Peshk dhe Perime ne Tave – Fish and Vegetables
Since most of Albania is near the Mediterranean Sea, you can probably guess it will have at least one traditional dish consisting of fish. Almost every restaurant in Albania has a dish that is worth trying at least once, and that is the baked fish and vegetable dish. Usually, the fish is only cleaned from the outside and just put in the stove along with chopped vegetables, all topped with olive oil and salt. This dish is commonly associated with wine or sometimes even raki. It is a signature dish that is loved by most foreigners who try it.
Comments
Post a Comment