What to Eat in Romania: Typical Romanian Food and Specialties

Romanian cuisine is rooted in simple yet hearty rural fare. Romania offers sour soups called ciorbă, stuffed cabbage rolls known as sarmale, grilled minced meat mici, or sweet cottage cheese doughnuts called papanași. The local wine industry has a long tradition.

What to Eat in Romania:

  • Sarmale. Stuffed cabbage or vine leaves with minced meat and rice, cooked in cabbage juice or tomato sauce. Considered Romania’s national dish.
  • Mămăligă. Cornmeal porridge, often served as a side dish with various meals. A traditional food of rural Romania.
  • Mici (mititei). Grilled rolls of minced meat, often served with mustard and bread.
  • Tochitură moldovenească. Pork stew with bacon, served with mămăligă, a traditional dish from the Moldavia region.
  • Cozonac. Sweet yeast bread filled with nuts, raisins, and cocoa, typical for holidays like Easter and Christmas. A traditional Romanian dessert.
  • Ciorbă de burtă. Tripe soup, often considered a hangover cure. Popular in Romanian restaurants.
  • Papanași. Fried cottage cheese doughnuts served with sour cream and jam. A popular Romanian dessert.
  • Zacuscă. A spread made from eggplant, onions, tomatoes, and peppers, often served with bread. A typical Romanian summer dish.
  • Salată de vinete. A spread made from roasted eggplant, often eaten with bread.
  • Țuică. Traditional Romanian fruit brandy, most commonly made from plums. Often served as an aperitif or digestif.
  • Drob de miel. Baked lamb offal with vegetables and herbs, a typical Easter dish in Romania.
  • Covrigi. Pretzels sprinkled with salt or sesame seeds, a popular Romanian street food.
  • Plăcintă. A savory or sweet pie filled with various fillings such as cottage cheese, apples, or pumpkin. A traditional Romanian dish.
  • Pălincă. A fruit brandy, often made from apples, pears, or plums. A popular Romanian alcoholic beverage.
  • Jumări. Fried pieces of pork, also known as cracklings, often served as a snack or side dish.
  • Salată de boeuf. A potato salad with beef, vegetables, and mayonnaise, often served during holidays.

Food guide in a nutshell: Romanian Cuisine: 21 Traditional Dishes You Should Try in Romania

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