During the 40 days leading up to Easter, many Romanians observe Lent, a period when meat consumption is reduced or avoided altogether, especially on Fridays. Even for those who are not particularly religious, this time of year often coincides with the arrival of spring, when lighter, vegetable-based dishes start appearing more often on the table. […]
The other day I was shopping for cheese and sausages at my local Romanian shop when a new product on the shelf caught my eye: a tub of cream cheese with peppers. Instantly, I was transported back to childhood and the version my mom used to make at home, the one I absolutely loved. I […]
Romanian Cuisine, Traditional Romanian Dishes
Traditional Romanian Breakfast – What to Eat in Romania for Breakfast?
I love a good traditional Romanian breakfast. At home, I’m really not a breakfast person. Most mornings start with a hot coffee and that’s about it until lunchtime rolls around. But every time I go back to Romania, something shifts. Coffee is still there, obviously, but it’s suddenly accompanied by plates of food, sliced bread, […]
The other day, while trying to decide what to make for dinner, I realised I was craving something I hadn’t cooked in years. I needed it to be simple and comforting, as I was battling a cold and had very little energy to spend in the kitchen. That’s when this traditional Romanian cauliflower and chicken […]
Winter is a great season in Romania because it comes with so many amazing cookies. And let me tell you, we have a lot of different recipes. Who doesn’t love cookies and cakes anyway? These Romanian walnut and plum jam cookies are a true winter classic. You’ll almost always find them on Romanian Christmas and […]
The Romanian spicy chicken pan recipe is one of those dishes that became popular almost overnight. About 15 years ago, restaurants and pubs in Bucharest’s Old Town started adding it to their menus, usually as the ideal pre-club meal shared with friends. It quickly turned into a favourite because it is comforting, quick to prepare, […]
I’ve been thinking for a long time to write about “mamaliga”, this staple of the Romanian cuisine. But I’ve always delayed it because, even if it’s such a humble traditional dish, is so embedded into us, Romanians, that any way I’d explain the recipe, would create controversy. This is because no mamaliga is the same. […]
When I think back to my earliest memories in the kitchen, nothing comes close to the simple delight of Fidea cu Lapte. Spending the first few years of my life in my grandparents’ home under a communist regime, food was precious, and every sweet treat felt like a treasure. But my grandparents never let me […]
There are certain smells that instantly take me back to childhood, and one of them is the irresistible aroma of freshly baked crescent rolls filled with chocolate. For me, this Romanian chocolate filled crescent rolls recipe brings back memories of high school morning breaks, when I would run to the little bakery at the ground […]
Romanian Vegetarian Dishes, Traditional Romanian Dishes
Romanian Vegetables Stew Recipe – Ghiveci de Legume
I’ll be honest, growing up, I wasn’t the biggest fan of ghiveci de legume. I think it had something to do with the texture of aubergine, which my younger self refused to enjoy, or maybe it was because there was no meat in sight. As a child, the absence of meat in a meal automatically […]