World Flavors Cookbook

Romania Recipes

Romanian cuisine is a hearty blend of Balkan, Central European, and Ottoman influences. Known for its use of cornmeal (mămăligă), sour soups (ciorbă), and variety of smoked meats and cheeses.

Recipes from Romania

• Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls)

  Romania's national dish—tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a savory mix of minced meat, rice, and spices, slow-braised to perfection.

• Mici / Mititei (Grilled Minced Sausages)

  Flavorful skinless grilled sausages made from a blend of beef, lamb, and pork, seasoned with garlic and bicarbonate of soda.

• Ciorbă de Burtă (Tripe Soup)

  A rich, creamy, and tangy soup made from beef tripe, flavored with garlic, vinegar, and a velvet-like egg yolk and cream base.

• Zacuscă (Eggplant-Pepper Spread)

  A smokey, slow-cooked vegetable spread made from roasted eggplants and red peppers, a winter pantry essential.

• Drob de Miel (Easter Lamb Loaf)

  A traditional Easter dish made of lamb offal, fresh green onions, and dill, baked in a pastry or caul fat.

• Cozonac (Traditional Sweet Bread)

  A rich, fluffy citrus-scented sweet bread swirled with a decadent walnut and cacao filling.

• Papanași (Cheese Doughnuts)

  Traditional fried doughnuts made with cow cheese, served warm with sour cream and blueberry jam.

• Salată de Vinete (Eggplant Salad)

  A smokey, creamy eggplant dip made from fire-roasted eggplants, traditionally mixed with sunflower oil or mayonnaise.

• Piftie / Răcituri (Jellied Pork)

  A traditional winter dish of pork meat and skin in a clear, garlic-heavy gelatin broth.

• Ciorbă de Perișoare (Meatball Soup)

  A tangy soup with delicate rice-and-meat dumplings, loaded with garden vegetables.

• Tochitură Moldovenească (Pork Stew)

  A robust pork stew from Moldova, served with polenta, fried eggs, and salty sheep cheese.

• Bulz (Grilled Polenta Balls)

  Grilled balls of polenta stuffed with sheep cheese and bacon, a shepherd's favorite.

• Fasole Bătută (Whipped Beans)

  Silky, garlic-infused bean purée topped with caramelized onions.

• Ardei Umpluți (Stuffed Peppers)

  Bell peppers stuffed with a savory meat and rice mixture, slow-cooked in tomato sauce.

• Ciorbă Rădăuțeană (Radauti Soup)

  A lighter alternative to tripe soup, made with chicken but retaining the signature garlic-cream base.

• Ostropel de Pui (Chicken Garlic Stew)

  Chicken pieces braised in a thick tomato and garlic sauce.

• Salată de Boeuf (Romanian Potato Salad)

  A celebratory festive salad made of finely diced boiled vegetables, meat, and pickles, bound with mayonnaise.

• Pasca (Easter Cheesecake)

  A ritual Easter dessert featuring a sweet bread base and a rich cow cheese and raisin center.

• Chiftele (Fried Meatballs)

  Crispy fried meatballs flavored with garlic, dill, and parsley.

• Covrigi (Romanian Pretzels)

  Traditional hot pretzels sprinkled with salt, sesame, or poppy seeds, the ultimate street snack.

• Mucenici (Sweet Dough Figures)

  Traditional figure-eight pastries baked and covered in honey and walnuts, or boiled in a sweet spiced soup.

• Gomboți cu Prune (Plum Dumplings)

  Potato dough dumplings stuffed with whole plums, rolled in toasted cinnamon breadcrumbs.

• Varză Călită (Braised Cabbage)

  Slow-cooked cabbage with tomatoes and smoked meat, a rustic and flavorful staple.

• Ciorbă de Fasole în Pâine

  Hearty bean and smoked meat soup served inside a hollowed-out loaf of crusty bread.

• Mujdei de Usturoi (Garlic Sauce)

  A powerful, creamy garlic sauce that is the soul of Romanian grilled meats and fish.

• Țuică (Plum Brandy)

  The traditional Romanian spirit, twice-distilled from fermented plums.

• Socată (Elderflower Juice)

  A naturally carbonated, refreshing juice made from fermented elderflowers, lemon, and sugar.

• Salam de Biscuiți (Biscuit Salami)

  A nostalgic no-bake chocolate dessert made with biscuits, walnuts, and cacao, shaped like a salami.

• Cornulețe (Sweet Crescents)

  Tender, melt-in-the-mouth crescent cookies filled with walnut paste or plum jam.

• Ciorbă de Perișoare (Meatball Soup)

  Traditional tangy meatball soup with rice and herbs.

• Pâine de Casă (Homemade Bread)

  Crusty, large loaves of country-style bread.

• Telemea Cheese Platter

  Romania's most famous brined cheese, served with tomatoes and onions.

• Salată Orientală (Potato Salad)

  A simple, vinegary potato salad with onions and olives.

• Mămăligă

  Romania's national polenta — a firm cornmeal porridge sliced with string and served with brânză (sheep cheese), sour cream, and fried eggs.