This is due to Albanian being a communist country until 1990 and basically disapproving of fast food (except souvlaki!). @AnitaHendrieka Site Powered by Pix & Hue. ).  It’s very strong, you may not be able to drink it all! This Albanian dessert is another rice-based pudding but with raisins, cinnamon, almonds, cloves, brown sugar and sometimes mutton broth.  It’s a darker dessert and not creamy like Sultjash. A cold soup?  Yes!  This dish is a popular Balkan dish, so it’s not only found in Albania.  This delicious soup is made with yoghurt, garlic, thyme and vinegar. Then it’s put all together and baked to make a slice.  It’s dairy heavy but a great dinner dish alongside a salad or a great snack, very filling! My goal is to inspire people to try the Albanian cuisine and cook Albanian Recipes.. Some shops in Albania known as Qofteri specialize in selling qofta as well as beer. It also has as an Italian and Turkish influence. What is it: A nutritious food mostly eaten for lunch is a dish of slowly cooked meat along with a variety of vegetables. ALEKSANDËR, defender of men. People eat Flia with honey and yogurt or even pickled vegetables, jam, and cheese. One of the most famous is byrek with spinach, but the bars, trucks, pastry shops also sell byrek, often with gjize cheese or meat. An expresso only costs 50 lek at my local coffee shop.  Just like seafood, I didn’t drink coffee before I came to Albania so that’s another testament on how good the coffee is! What is it:One of Albania’s favorite dishes, prepared by making a dough of minced meat and several vegetables, further seasoning it with an array of spices and aromatic herbs. 32 of the Best and Most Popular Turkish Foods That You Ought to Try, 35 of the Best Authentic Italian Foods You Have to Try, 18 Best and Most Beautiful Lakes in Arizona. Traditional Albanian food can be described as fresh, healthy and mouth-watering.  The food of Albania has Mediterranean flavours which can be compared to its neighbours in the Balkans. This results in a varied type of cuisine, where lots of different fruits and (root) vegetables are used. Three great empires, throughout the centuries, have subjugated Albania. Flea is traditional Albanian food that varies depending on village and region.  This is a layered pancake dish made using a grill. are typical ancient Illyrians names. In northern Albania, you’ll find traditional Albanian food to have its origins both in the mountains and on the coast, as well as in rural areas. When travelling to Albania I can almost guarantee that you will be surprised about Albanian cuisine.  Albania is not known for its food necessarily, but it should be because it’s delicious. Afrim meaning "approach". The specialty of this dish lies in the method of its preparation since it is made using a sac (spherical metal lid). Flea is traditional Albanian food that varies depending on village and region. What is it: A salty, triangular-shaped pie, made from phyllo (thin, flaky, dough), and filled with a whole lot of ingredients, of which spinach is the most popular. I highly recommend you try … © 2020 (Flavorverse).All rights reserved. Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons are used in many of the Albanian desserts. Make sure you try the figs, blackberries, peaches, plums and watermelon in the summer.  In autumn you will find mandarins and oranges everywhere – and they are mouth-watering juicy! 36. What is it: A savory snack, considered to be Gjirokaster’s (Albanian town) national dish, prepared by kneading a mixture of rice, eggs, mint powder, black pepper, and salt, shaping them into small balls and frying in a special pan having a hollow at the bottom. Cost: 500 ALL ($4.00) What does it taste like: The addition of cucumber, and several herbs, give the soup a cooling effect. This Albanian baby name is associated with Saint Alban. This dish is eaten to celebrate births, weddings, or other auspicious ceremonies, Flia day falls on the 18th of March. Albania has a rich culinary history. Being a vegetarian in Albania is difficult- vegan is hard! Required fields are marked *. Hit me up on social media! Each of them has exercised powerful influences over the Albanian culture and therefore, over Albanian cuisine. What does it taste like: The rice and eggs give it a chewy and smooth taste, while the mint powder leaves a soothing aftertaste. One of the most popular Albanian dishes, one that my mother-in-law makes very well!  This traditional Albanian dish can be described as a quiche.   It’s made with milk, butter, white cheese (feta) and cooked spaghetti. There are notable differences between the food in the north and south of Albania.  In the north, as its colder, you will find more stews and hearty food.  In the south, along the coast especially you will find a lot of fresh seafood and lighter meals. The vegetarian version is the same, but without the lamb. The name honors the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. The fruit Banana is called as banane in Albanian . Teaming it with a spicy dip or even a  beverage would give you utter delight. What does it taste like: Rich and delicious with every bite of it compelling you to crave for more. If you’re a vegan, it’s going to be hard because nearly every Albanian dish is made with dairy or other animal products.  The friends I have that are vegan stuck with fresh fruit (which is so juicy and the best in the world!) Petulla is like little fried doughnuts or churro balls.  It’s usually served with honey or chocolate sauce.  Along the Albanian Riviera, you will usually find people walking up and down the beaches selling these little treats!  There are similar treats all over the Balkans, but Petulla is a traditional Albanian dessert. Salad made from tomato, green pepper, cucumber, onion, and olives or even a platter of fried potatoes come as a side dish. Kadaif is a sweet and crispy Albanian dessert which looks like it has hair on top!  It’s also made with filo pastry like Baklava.  It’s simple to make.  The filo pastry is shredded to make it’s strange texture.  It’s very sweet, like a lot of Albanian desserts and contains walnuts with a syrup which makes up most of the dessert. Plump is the main component of the Albanian national drink Rakia. What is it: A skinless sausage, made by grilling mincemeat. You must try the mussels in Albania if you love seafood.  They are also incredibly affordable, as is all the seafood here. 38. Albanian cuisine is a mixture of the national cuisines of the surrounding countries. What is it: A traditional sweet dish prepared by frying rice in butter, caramelized sugar, and mutton broth. ANDREA, man, warrior. The fruit Apricot is called as kajsi in Albanian . and lots of fresh salads.  Vegan restaurants are hard to come by, hopefully in the future that will change!  You may find one in the capital of, The Best Summer and Music Festivals in Albania. Nuts are common, notably almonds and walnuts, and everything is cooked and doused with generous amounts of olive oil, produced locally. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. What is tavë kosi? Grilled vegetables are a popular complement to any Albanian dish, especially if you’re having grilled meat which is also popular in Albania.  Have them with a dash of balsamic vinegar and it’s delicious! 35. Albania Travel Guide for First Timers: Everything You Need! and lots of fresh salads.  Vegan restaurants are hard to come by, hopefully in the future that will change!  You may find one in the capital of Tirana. This traditional Albanian bread is firm, dense and known as soda bread.  It’s a great compliment to a meal and its very inexpensive. Your email address will not be published. Alban (Latin origin) meaning "from Alba". Don’t worry, it’s the head of a lamb! Traditional dishes here are meat or vegetable casserole, petula (which resembles Russian bliny), rice boiled in meat or vegetable broth, pasta, chicken and rice, sudjuk (a kind of salami), eggplant and egg or parsley filling, sweets and corn flour cakes. 45.Lule - Lule is among the cutest Albanian girls' names and it … You can find some local Albanian beer, the most popular being Korca which is made in the city of Korca – wow who would have thought? People these days are always in the lookout for some different kind of names. Albanian Walnut Cake with Lemon Glaze is a good example in this case. My name is Jay and I run this website. Albanian boy names are funky and cool, which you may consider in giving such names to your baby boy too. We ope ed a restaurant in Saranda to make sure folks had options. This Albanian tavë kosi is comfort food through and through. What is it: A healthy drink, made by mixing yogurt with milk or water alongside other spices, mostly had in summer. It may be derived from the Illyrian tribe of Albani (Albanian: Albanët) recorded by Ptolemy, the geographer and astronomer from Alexandria, who drafted a map in 150 AD which shows the city of Albanopolis located northeast of Durrës. Besides drinking it just like that, you can team it with a spicy fry or snack. Lamb is baked in an earthenware dish with eggs and yogurt. Another great seafood option and another one you will find on the menu everywhere in cities like Vlora, Saranda and everywhere in between. Flija is a typical dish of Albanian cuisine, prepared both in Albania and Kosovo.Although it is commonly termed as a pie or a cake, flija can more accurately be described as a stack of layered pancakes. Of Albania, including maps and statistics as well as a comfort food in.! The national cuisines of the best places to eat in Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean statistics as well a. Is filled with meat stuffings as byrek and everything else as pita its taste. 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