A bit about traditional cooking in Romania

Romanian cuisine is possibly one of the hardest in the world to define. Much like the history of Romania, it seems like everyone and their mom has had a hand in the metaphorical cookie jar here. From the Southern Slays of the former Yugoslavia came the sarmales and ghiveciu, from Hungary the tokany, gulyas, and paprikash, from Austria the strudels, tortes, and schnitzel, from Turkey the pilafs, baklava, halva, dolmas, as well as strong Turkish coffee. Russians contributed the taste for soured soups, blini, and a variety of dark breads made from rye and coarse wheat flours, while German migrants brought a love of hearty potato dishes and blond beers. There's even a recipe from ancient Rome floating around out there, in the form of... (read full article)

'*' denotes recipes not found in the Pofta Buna book.

Drinks

AFINATA/AFONYA PALINKA (BLUEBERRY LIQUEUR)
CAFEA TURCEASCA/TOROK KAVE (TURKISH COFFEE)
SOCATA/BODZA LE (SOC-ELDERBERRY FLOWER WINE)
SUC CONCENTRATE*
TUICA FIARTA (HOT TUICA)
VIN FIERT/FORRO BOR (HOT WINE)

Soups

BORS MOLDOVENESC CU CARNE (MOLDOVAN MEAT BORSCHT)
CIORBA DE PERISOARE/HUSGOMBOC LEVES (MEATBALL SOUP)
CIORBA DE ZARZAVAT (GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP)
GULAS DE PUI/CSIRKE GULYAS (CHICKEN GOULASH)
MEGGYLEVES (SOUR CHERRY SOUP)
PACAL LEVES (HUNGARIAN PACAL SOUP)
SUPA DE GALUSTE (DUMPLING SOUP)

Salads

SALATA DE BOEUF (FRENCH SALAD)
SALATA DE SFECLA (RED BEET SALAD)
SALATA DE VARZA/KAPOSZTA SALATA (CABBAGE SALAD)
SALATE DE VINETE/VINETE SALATA (EGGPLANT SPREAD SALAD)

Main Dishes

CHIFTELE (ROMANIAN MEATBALLS)

COLTUNASI (STUFFED DUMPLINGS)
CSIRKEPAPRIKAS (HUNGARIAN PAPRIKA CHICKEN)
FASOLE (BEANS IN TOMATO BEAN GRAVY)
GHIVECI (VEGETABLE MEDLEY)
HALUSKI (CABBAGE AND NOODLES)
MICI (ROMANIAN GRILLED SAUSAGES)
SARMALE/TOLTOTT KAPOSZTA (STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS)
SCHNITZEL/BECSI SZELET

Side Dishes

CASCAVAL PANE (FRIED CHEESE)
DOVLECIEI PANE (FRIED SQUASH)
FELII DE VINETE SI ROSII (SLICED EGGPLANT AND TOMATOES)
MAMALIGA/PULISZKA (POLENTA)
MUJDEI (GARLIC PASTE)

Desserts

ALIVANCA (MOLDOVAN CORNMEAL CAKE)
CHEC DE CACAO (CHOCOLATE CAKE)
CLATITE/PALACSINTA (CREPES)
COLIVA (SWEET WHEAT PUDDING)
COZONAC/KALACS (SWEET BREAD)
MACAROANE CU ZAHAR (MACARONI WITH SUGAR)
PANDISPAN CU VISINE/MEGGYES TESZTA (SOUR CHERRY CAKE)
PLACINTA (FRIED PASTRY)
RULADA CU GEM (JELLY ROLL CAKE)
SZILVASGOMBOC (PLUM DUMPLINGS)
TORT DE NUCI/DIOS SUTEMENY (NUT CAKE)
TURTA DULCE/MEZES POGACSA (HONEY CAKES)

Canning

COMPOT (FRUIT PRESERVES)
DILL PICKLES
DULCEATA (JAM PRESERVES)
SUMMER PICKLES
WINTER PICKLES
ZACUSA/ZAKUSZKA (VEGETABLE SPREAD)

Not seeing what you're looking for? Check out a few good links to other Romanian recipe collections!

A Romanian Cookbook - recipes from a real Romanian!

Dictionare.com - Retete - for the adventurous, multilingual Pofta Buna chef...