Unless you’re Romanian or grew up with Romanian friends, chances are pretty low that you’ve tried Romanian food. After all, when was the last time you saw a Romanian restaurant in your city? But the truth is that Romanian cuisine is a very interesting one to explore. Here are three dishes we’d recommend starting with.
Sarmale
Looking for some comfort food to make this winter? Sarmale might be the perfect choice. The dish is slow-cooked cabbage rolls stuffed with ground pork and rice. They’re not too difficult to make, but they are time-consuming, so try prepping this dish over the weekend when you have some spare time.
Mămăligă
Essentially the Romanian version of polenta, Mămăligă is cornmeal porridge, traditionally cooked in a round-bottomed kettle called a ceaun. This dish requires few ingredients, making it a great option for those of us who like to cook and eat simple meals.
Ciorbă
A traditional Romanian sour soup, Ciorba actually can be made with different proteins including pork, chicken, beef, fish, and/or a variety of vegetables. Its sourness and acidity usually come from borş (fermented wheat bran), lemon, lemon salt, or sauerkraut juice.
