Taste the Romanian Cuisine - Part 1

"The central characteristic of the Romanian cuisine is its great variety. It is a cuisine influenced by repeated waves of different cultures: the ancient Greeks, with whom Romanians traded; the Romans, who gave the country its name; the Saxons, who settled in southern Transylvania; the Turks, who for centuries dominated Romania; as well as Slavic and Magyar neighbors. All of these influences gradually blended into the varied and delicious Romanian culinary tradition" (Nicolae Klepper — Taste of Romania)

If you are interested in Romanian traditional dishes and want to get to know the most delicious recipes find out here some secrets and eating habits that go along the Romanian food experience.

A. Main dishes

Cabbage rolls – Sarmale

According to the season, winter or summer the dish is prepared with sauerkraut, cabbage or vine leaves which give a particular taste to the dish.

Cabbage rolls are made of ground meat (usually pork, but also beef, sheep, poultry) mixed with rice and other ingredients and rolled into cabbage (vine) leaves. It is usually accompanied by Mamaliga - polenta made of boiled corn flour, as well as by hot peppers and sour cream. Gourmets consider that cabbage rolls are much tastier if they are cooked in a cast iron cauldron over a small fire. If they sit for 2-3 days they gain a special flavor.

Cabbage rolls – Sarmale
Sarmale by one of the Romanian Master chefs www.adihadean.ro

A great Romanian Sarmale recipe can be find here.

Cabbage a la Cluj – Varză a la Cluj

Is sometimes considered “messed up cabbage rolls” but this prejudice is not entirely true. This food is traditional in Transylvania, but has become very popular in other regions as well.

Cabbage a la Cluj – Varză a la Cluj
Cabbage a la Cluj by one of the Romanian Master chefs www.adihadean.ro/

Cabbage a la Cluj www.adihadean.ro

A great Romanian Cabbage a la Cluj recipe can be find here.

Grilled Meat Rolls – Mici, Mititei

This might be called the Romanian traditional fast-food dish. This is a specialty Romanians like to eat in the street, or at picnics. Small day bars with garden and barbecue, where you can hear the sizzling of the meat on the barbecue invite the passing traveler with their tempting smell. They go very well with a Romanian beer.

Grilled Meat Rolls  – Mici, Mititei
Mititei by one of the Romanian Master chefs www.adihadean.ro

"Mici" or "mititei" meaning "little ones" are a kind of grilled sausages that usually come in a cylindrical shape, consisting of ground beef, which is often mixed with ground pork and ground sheep meat. Garlic, black pepper and hot paprika are used to flavor this tasty food. The smoke is a must for the final taste! They are eaten with mustard and fresh bread roll. The legend says the first Mici were in fact sausage fillings without skin.

Now, all we wish you is to be happy and healthy to enjoy the best that Romania has to offer!

Resources:
onejive.com
www.adihadean.ro



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