Introducing some of the most well-known Lithuanian dishes to try during your Erasmus+ mobility!
Dear community members!
Have you already got yourself familiar with Lithuanian local cuisine? Or maybe you are still planning to come to Lithuania for your future mobility and are curious about the traditional food?
In today’s blogpost, I am happy to share with you a short introduction into main Lithuanian dishes!
Cold beetroot soup (Šaltibarščiai)
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This bizarre looking thing is one of the most popular Lithuanian dishes, seen all around the country’s restaurants and terraces, especially during summer. It mostly consists of beet sour blended with kefir, egg, cucumber and other toppings, based on individual choice. It is usually served with fried potatoes.
This soup is also widely known in other countries within the region (Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus), so there are different variations and recipes that one can experience.
While it might look scary due to its color, it is an essential dish to try once being in Lithuania! It is also very easy to cook at home, as it requires just few ingredients.
If you dear trying to cook it yourself, you can check the recipe here:
https://www.lithuania.travel/en/news/cold-beetroot-soup
Otherwise, when being in Lithuania during your mobility, you will be able to easily order the soup at the majority of Lithuanian restaurants, especially during the summer.
Potato dumplings (Cepelinai)
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Cepelinai or potato dumplings (sometimes called zeppelins) is a traditional Lithuanian dish, known for its massive size. These dumplings are usually stuffed with ground meat, but some variations may replace the meat with dry curd cheese or mushrooms. Cepelinai are served together with sour cream as well as pieces of bacon or pork rinds.
While it is considered as of the most notorious Lithuanian national meals, due to its size and heaviness you would not see locals eating cepelinai every day. However, it is still regarded as one the most popular national dishes and is much worth trying.
Once in Lithuania, do not hesitate to order it, but I would not recommend eating much before, as finish a portion of cepelinai might be challenging! While usually this dish consists of two dumplings, you can ask your waiter to prepare just one, in case you would want to have a smaller portion.
Kefir is a great drink to have aside when eating cepelinai.
It might be rather complicated to cook cepelinai properly on your own, but if you are interested in trying, check the recipe here:
Kibinai
JurateBuiviene/Shutterstock.com
Kibinai are a traditional pastries of Crimean Karaites, who have settled in Lithuanian territory during the XIV century under the rule of Vytautas the Great. Kibinai are mostly associated with the town of Trakai and surrounding region. While pastries are traditionally filled with lamb, many different variations exist, including pastries stuffed with chicken, curd cheese, mushrooms or spinach.
If you are going to visit Trakai, trying Kibinai is a key part of the whole experience! You will find lots of restaurants and shops, offering these pastries around the town. Reaching the town is easy as it has train line, connecting it with the capital city of Vilnius and it takes just around 30 minutes to get there. So, it can be a great destination for a day trip.
Do not forget to order a broth soup as a side dish- this will make the whole culinary experience even better!
Curious to try making this dish at home? Check the recipe here:
https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-blog/erasmus-recipes/recipe-for-lithuanian-kibinai-1012211
What are your thoughts about these dishes? Would you be curious to try it? Let’s have a chat about in Living Abroad forum!
Yours,
Gytis
OLS Lithuanian community manager