|Part of a series on the|
Moldova's fertile soil (chernozem) produces plentiful grapes, fruits, vegetables, grains, 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.
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, Jewish, Russian, as well as Turkish and Greek cuisines.
Perhaps the best known Moldovan dish is a well-known Romanian dish, mămăligă (a cornmeal mush 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, and pork rind. 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, aubergine, cabbage, beans, onion, garlic, and leek. 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, known as ciorbă is very popular. Roast and grilled pork, beef meatballs, and steamed lamb are common. Meat and fish are often marinated and then grilled.
Traditional holiday dishes include stuffed cabbage rolls with minced meat (known in Romania as "sarma" and in Turkey as "dolma"), pilaf (a rice dish), jelly, noodles, chicken, and much more. The holiday table is usually decorated with baked items, such as pastries, cake, rolls, buns, and a variety of fillings (cheese, fruit, vegetables, walnuts, etc.), known in Romania as "cozonac", "pască", and "poale-n brâu".
In certain regions, the cuisine of various minorities is predominant. In the Eastern areas, 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) is 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.
Sparkling wine has 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 the 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, that includes Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot menie, Sauvignon, Aligote, Traminer pink, Muscat blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot noir. The local variety Feteasca Albă, also used in sparkling wines, has been cultivated in Moldova since the times of ancient Dacia.
Invârtită (Specific Moldovan food) filled with cheese.
- Moldovan Cuisine on allmoldova.com
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cuisine of Moldova.|
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wines of Moldova.|