Cuisine of Moldova
Encyclopedia
Moldovan cuisine is a style of cooking derived from Moldovan people. It consists mainly of traditional European foods, such as beef
, pork
, potato
es, cabbage
, and a variety of cereal
s.
's fertile soil (chernozem
) produces plentiful grapes, fruits, vegetables, cereals, meat and milk products, all of which have found their uses in the national cuisine. The fertile black soil combined with the use of traditional agricultural methods permits growing a wide range of ecologically clean foods in Moldova.
Moldovan cuisine is similar to the cuisine of the other half of the historical Moldova, now part of Romania
. It has had a considerable influence on the traditional food of other nationalities in this region, while drawing in the past centuries various elements from the Ukrainian
, Bulgarian
, Gagauz
, Lithuanian
, Russian
, as well as Turkish
and Greek cuisines.
– a cornmeal
mash or porridge
. This is a staple bread-like food on the Moldovan table, served as an accompaniment to stews and meat dishes or garnished with cottage cheese, sour cream, cracklings
, etc. Regional delicacies include brânză, a brined cheese, and ghiveci, a mutton stew. Local wines accompany most meals.
Traditional for the Moldovan cuisine are dishes combining diverse vegetables, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, beans, onion, garlic, leek, etc. Vegetables are used in salads and sauces, they are baked, steamed, pickled, salted, or marinated.
Meat products hold a special place in the Moldovan cuisine, especially as the first course and appetizers. Chicken soup and meat ciorbă
are very popular. Roast and grilled pork, beef meatball
s, and steamed lamb are common. Meat and fish are often marinated and then grilled.
Traditional holiday dishes include cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat (known in Romania as "sarma" and in Turkey as "dolma"), jelly,, noodles with chicken, etc. The holiday table is usually decorated with baked items, such as pastries, cakes, rolls, buns with a variety of fillings (cheese, fruit, vegetables, walnuts, etc.), known in Romania as "cozonac", "pască", "poale-n brâu" etc.
In certain regions the cuisine of various minorities is predominant: in the East the Ukrainians eat borscht
; in the South the Bulgarians serve the traditional mangea (sauce with chicken), while the Gagauz
prepare shorpa, a highly seasoned mutton soup; in the Russian communities
, pelmeni
– meat-filled dumplings – are popular. Also popular are a variant of ukrainian varenyky called colţunaşi filled with fresh white cheese (colţunaşi cu brînză), meat
(pelmeni or colţunaşi cu carne) and cherries.
s and fruit juices. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin
(Moldovan brandy
) and local wines.
European grape varieties are used in wine making: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Muscat, etc. Domestic Moldovan varieties include Fetească
, Rara neagră
, Moldova, etc.
Sparkling wine
s have a special place in Moldovan cuisine. The country produces large quantities of classic white and pink sparkling wines, as well as red sparkling wines that were originally introduced in Moldova. The most famous sparkling wines are those made in Cricova winery. Known brands of Moldovan sparkling wines are Negru de Purcari
, Moldova, Chişinău, Cricova, Muscat spumant, National, Nisporeni and others. They are made from a wide range of European grape varieties: Chardonnay
, Pinot blanc
, Pinot gris
, Pinot menie, Sauvignon
, Aligote
, Traminer pink, Muscat blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon
, Pinot noir
. The local variety Feteasca Albă
, also used in sparkling wines, has been cultivated in Moldova since the times of ancient Dacia
.
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
, potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es, cabbage
Cabbage
Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne of the Family Brassicaceae and is a leafy green vegetable...
, and a variety of cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
s.
Background
MoldovaMoldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
's fertile soil (chernozem
Chernozem
Chernozem , also known as "black land" or "black earth", is a black-coloured soil containing a high percentage of humus 7% to 15%, and high percentages of phosphoric acids, phosphorus and ammonia...
) produces plentiful grapes, fruits, vegetables, cereals, meat and milk products, all of which have found their uses in the national cuisine. The fertile black soil combined with the use of traditional agricultural methods permits growing a wide range of ecologically clean foods in Moldova.
Moldovan cuisine is similar to the cuisine of the other half of the historical Moldova, now part of Romania
Romanian cuisine
Romanian cuisine is a diverse blend of different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact, but it also maintains its own character...
. It has had a considerable influence on the traditional food of other nationalities in this region, while drawing in the past centuries various elements from the Ukrainian
Ukrainian cuisine
Ukrainian cuisine has significant diversity, historical traditions. "Cuisine - Flavors and Colors of Ukrainian Culture."] . Accessed July 2011. Common foods used include meats, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, berries and herbs...
, Bulgarian
Bulgarian cuisine
Bulgarian cuisine is a representative of the cuisine of Southeastern Europe. Essentially South Slavic, it shares characteristics with other Balkans cuisines...
, Gagauz
Gagauz people
The Gagauz people are Turkic speaking group living mostly in southern Moldova , southwestern Ukraine , south-eastern Romania and northeastern Bulgaria. Unlike most other Turkic speaking people, the Gagauz are predominantly Orthodox Christians...
, Lithuanian
Lithuanian cuisine
Lithuanian cuisine features the products suited to the cool and moist northern climate of Lithuania: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, berries, and mushrooms are locally grown, and dairy products are one of its specialities...
, Russian
Russian cuisine
Russian cuisine is diverse, as Russia is the largest country in the world. Russian cuisine derives its varied character from the vast and multi-cultural expanse of Russia. Its foundations were laid by the peasant food of the rural population in an often harsh climate, with a combination of...
, as well as Turkish
Turkish cuisine
Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines. Turkish cuisine has in turn influenced those and other neighbouring cuisines, including that of western Europe...
and Greek cuisines.
Dishes
Perhaps the best known Moldovan dish is a well-known Romanian dish, mămăligăMamaliga
Mămăligă is a porridge made out of yellow maize flour, traditional in Romania and Moldova. It is similar to the Italian polenta.In Transylvania and in Carpathia mămăligă is also called puliszka...
– a cornmeal
Cornmeal
Cornmeal is flour ground from dried maize or American corn. It is a common staple food, and is ground to fine, medium, and coarse consistencies. In the United States, the finely ground cornmeal is also referred to as cornflour. However, the word cornflour denotes cornstarch in recipes from the...
mash or porridge
Porridge
Porridge is a dish made by boiling oats or other cereal meals in water, milk, or both. It is usually served hot in a bowl or dish...
. This is a staple bread-like food on the Moldovan table, served as an accompaniment to stews and meat dishes or garnished with cottage cheese, sour cream, cracklings
Pork rind
Pork rind , is the fried or roasted skin of a pig. Frying melts most of the fat from the pork rind...
, etc. Regional delicacies include brânză, a brined cheese, and ghiveci, a mutton stew. Local wines accompany most meals.
Traditional for the Moldovan cuisine are dishes combining diverse vegetables, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, beans, onion, garlic, leek, etc. Vegetables are used in salads and sauces, they are baked, steamed, pickled, salted, or marinated.
Meat products hold a special place in the Moldovan cuisine, especially as the first course and appetizers. Chicken soup and meat ciorbă
Ciorba
Ciorbă , from Persian, via the Turkish word çorba is a general Romanian word describing sour soups consisting of various vegetables and meat...
are very popular. Roast and grilled pork, beef meatball
Meatball
A meatball is made from an amount of ground meat rolled into a small ball, sometimes along with other ingredients, such as breadcrumbs, minced onion, spices, and possibly eggs...
s, and steamed lamb are common. Meat and fish are often marinated and then grilled.
Traditional holiday dishes include cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat (known in Romania as "sarma" and in Turkey as "dolma"), jelly,, noodles with chicken, etc. The holiday table is usually decorated with baked items, such as pastries, cakes, rolls, buns with a variety of fillings (cheese, fruit, vegetables, walnuts, etc.), known in Romania as "cozonac", "pască", "poale-n brâu" etc.
In certain regions the cuisine of various minorities is predominant: in the East the Ukrainians eat borscht
Borscht
Borscht is a soup of Ukrainian origin that is popular in many Eastern and Central European countries. In most of these countries, it is made with beetroot as the main ingredient, giving it a deep reddish-purple color...
; in the South the Bulgarians serve the traditional mangea (sauce with chicken), while the Gagauz
Gagauz people
The Gagauz people are Turkic speaking group living mostly in southern Moldova , southwestern Ukraine , south-eastern Romania and northeastern Bulgaria. Unlike most other Turkic speaking people, the Gagauz are predominantly Orthodox Christians...
prepare shorpa, a highly seasoned mutton soup; in the Russian communities
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, pelmeni
Pelmeni
Pelmeni are dumplings consisting of a filling wrapped in thin, unleavened dough that originated in Siberia and is a dish of Russian cuisine. Pelmeni are common in Russia and have similar names in other languages: , pyal’meni; pilmän; , pel’meni; ; .- Ingredients :The dough is made from flour and...
– meat-filled dumplings – are popular. Also popular are a variant of ukrainian varenyky called colţunaşi filled with fresh white cheese (colţunaşi cu brînză), meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
(pelmeni or colţunaşi cu carne) and cherries.
Beverages
Nonalcoholic beverages include stewed-fruit compoteCompote
Compote is a dessert originating from 17th century France made of whole or pieces of fruit in sugar syrup. Whole fruits are immersed in water and with sugar and spices added to the dish, over gentle heat. The syrup may be seasoned with vanilla, lemon or orange peel, cinnamon sticks or powder,...
s and fruit juices. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin
Divín
Divín is a village and municipality in the Lučenec District in the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia.-History:In historical records, the village was first mentioned in 1329 as a parish and a castle...
(Moldovan brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
) and local wines.
European grape varieties are used in wine making: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Muscat, etc. Domestic Moldovan varieties include Fetească
Feteasca
Fetească can refer to* One of the following traditional Romanian/Moldovan wine grapes or wines:** Fetească Albă** Fetească Neagră** Fetească Regală* Fetească of Romania*Feteasca, a village in Leuşeni Commune, Hînceşti district, Moldova...
, Rara neagră
Rara neagra
Rara Neagră is an indigenous Moldovan dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. The name translates as The loose black . It is a late-ripening variety that gives red wines which are typically dark colored, rich in acid and may exhibit a pronounced fruity character...
, Moldova, etc.
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
s have a special place in Moldovan cuisine. The country produces large quantities of classic white and pink sparkling wines, as well as red sparkling wines that were originally introduced in Moldova. The most famous sparkling wines are those made in Cricova winery. Known brands of Moldovan sparkling wines are Negru de Purcari
Negru de Purcari
Negru de Purcari is a quality red dry Moldovan wine, produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Rara Neagră and Saperavi grapes. The wine has a dark ruby, saturated color.-Areas of production:...
, Moldova, Chişinău, Cricova, Muscat spumant, National, Nisporeni and others. They are made from a wide range of European grape varieties: Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, Pinot blanc
Pinot Blanc
Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produced white fruit....
, Pinot gris
Pinot gris
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance...
, Pinot menie, Sauvignon
Sauvignon
Sauvignon may refer to:*Sauvignon blanc – a white wine grape*Sauvignon vert – a white wine grape widely planted in Chile. Also a name in California for muscadelle*Sauvignon gris – a pink wine grape*Cabernet sauvignon – a red wine grape...
, Aligote
Aligoté
Aligoté is a white grape used to make dry white wines in the Burgundy region of France, and which also has significant plantings in much of Eastern Europe including Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria. With , it was the 22nd most planted vine variety in the world in 2004...
, Traminer pink, Muscat blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, Pinot noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
. The local variety Feteasca Albă
Feteasca alba
Fetească Albă is a Romanian - Moldovan white grape variety, mainly cultivated in Moldova and Romanian regions of Moldavia and Transylvania, as well as in the Hungarian wine region of Eger.In Moldova, it uses the biggest area planted among local varieties -...
, also used in sparkling wines, has been cultivated in Moldova since the times of ancient Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
.