10 kinds of Lithuanian cuisine that cannot be missed
Lithuanian cuisine relies heavily on root vegetables (potatoes and beetroots), meat and dairy products, all of which can be grown in Lithuania's cold climate. Lithuanian food is full, hearty, meant to keep your heart warm, and certainly worth a try. There are ten traditional Lithuanian dishes here, which have been passed down from grandparents to grandchildren for centuries.
Cepelinai (Zeppelin)
Starting with Lithuania's national dish, cepelinai is a large dumpling made from a mixture of raw and cooked potatoes, filled with pork, poured in a spoon of sour cream and bacon sauce. Although originally called didzkukuliai, they were renamed cepelinai in the 20th century due to their resemblance to Zeppelin.
Fried bread (Kepta Duona)
Fried bread or kepta duona is Lithuanian rye bread, fried, seasoned with garlic and salt, served with cheese sauce. Often eaten as a snack accompanied by beer, fried bread is the most popular comfort food and brings warm memories to many Lithuanians.
Beetroot soup (Burokėlių Sriuba)
Beetroot soup is a warm, cozy soup flavored with a mixture of beetroot, onion, carrot and celery meat (usually pork) and salt, pepper and dill. When served, the beetroot soup should be a beautiful red color with potatoes meant to be added to the soup.
Cold-stored borscht (Saltibarsciai)
Seasonally, this beetroot and yogurt soup is accompanied by boiled eggs and boiled potatoes. Notably, the refrigerated borscht is a shockingly bright pink that is a sign of warm weather arrival in Lithuania.
Grybukai (mushroom biscuit)
Don't let the translated name mislead you, grybukai is not made with mushrooms, they are just mushroom-like cookies. Grybukai is a delicious little food flavored with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom, glazed to make white "stems" and black "hats".
Stir-fried tofu cake
Fresh cheese curds are a staple of Lithuanian families and can be used to make a variety of dishes. A favorite dish is fried cheesecake, a simple cheese curd with a dash of flour, eggs and fried sugar. Usually served with fresh berries and jams, cheesecakes can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Potato pancakes
When it comes to Lithuanian cuisine, the potato is the true king and any number of potato dishes are often consumed during the week. Potato pancakes are a simple dish that involves grated potatoes, onions and eggs mixed together and fried. They are served with dill, shallots and sour cream.
Kibinai
Kibinai is a delicious handmade pie that is the national dish of the Kariate people, an ethnic Turkic who lived in Lithuania for centuries. The flaky soft crust that surrounds meat, vegetables, cheese curds or berry jam makes kibinai a favorite snack or side to accompany the soup.
Kugel
Kugelis is a hearty baked potato pudding or lasagna that sometimes contains meat, served with lingonberry jam, bacon or sour cream. As with most Lithuanian dishes, the recipes vary from person to person, so each different venue has a different kugelis, which makes it an exciting dish.
Raguolis or Sakotis
Raguolis, also known as sacrotis, is a traditional Lithuanian cake that is often served on special occasions such as weddings, Christmas Eve and Easter. This cake is a large, hollow ring with or prickly edges, made from dripping batter, when the cake is turned over a saliva-like cooker.
