Europe

Svíčková na Smetaně is a traditional dish from the Czech Republic consisting of larded beef and dumplings served with a creamy vegetable sauce. The beef is slow cooked over the vegetables until tender. The vegetables are then used to make the sauce. Svíčková na Smetaně is usually served with a dollop of cream, a slice …

Cepelinai is Lithuanian dish of dumplings stuffed with a pork and onion mixture and smothered in creamy bacon and mushroom sauce. Cepelinai is considered the national dish of Lithuania and is a point of comfort and pride, as cepelinai take a careful hand to form correctly.  Due to the recipe’s difficulty, it comes as no …

Buchty are Czech baked buns prepared using yeast dough, which includes a sweet stuffing, brushed with rum and melted butter. The texture is similar to French brioches. Some of the commonly used fillings include tvaroh, poppy seed, chocolate, or plum jam. Buchty is usually topped with powdered sugar or vanilla sauce, but one can also …

Grah is a hearty stew popular in Bosnia and Croatia made of smoked sausage, beans, vegetables, and the iconic Vegeta seasoning. It is best served in winter to fend off the cold and is often enjoyed alongside a cabbage salad and freshly baked bread.  The stew takes some planning in advance, as its mixture of …

Trdelník is a traditional Bohemian tube-shaped dessert that is generally prepared using yeast dough. The strips of dough are then wrapped around a trdlo and traditionally baked over hot coals. Finally, the dish is topped off with sugar combined with nuts or cinnamon. Whilst most commonly associated with Prague and the Czech Republic, Trdelník is …

Pearà is a traditional sauce from Verona, Italy, made from stale bread, marrow, broth and black pepper. The marrow is melted before adding the grated or crumbles stale bread. Then broth is added as the sauce cooks over several hours. The ground pepper is reserved for last. Pearà sauce is popular mostly in the Verona …

Lepinja is a type of Balkan flatbread prepared using three ingredients: salt, flour, and water. Generally accompanied by minced meat (cevapi), it is widely consumed in the Balkan countries of Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Lepinja is normally baked at a high temperature, which gives the bread its golden-brown crust. It is usually served at …

Bacalhau à Brás is a Portuguese dish consisting of salted cod, straw potatoes and eggs that are seasoned and stir-fried together to create a creamy meal. It is often garnished with olives and parsley for that signature Mediterranean flair.  While this dish can take some planning in advance (a must when using salted cod), Bacalhau …

Schweinshaxe is a German dish made using pork knuckle. The knuckles are seasoned with a spice rub then cooked until tender, usually slow roasted or simmered. The roasted version is well liked for its crispy skin. The spice rub includes caraway if roasted, but bay leaves and cloves if simmering. Most recipes also call for …

Foie Gras is a traditional French dish prepared using a duck or goose’s liver which has been fattened by force feeding. It is consumed in several ways, such as baked, pan-seared, or as a terrine. It is often served as an appetizer or as a main course and is typically paired with crusty bread, fruits, …

Lobio is a bean stew originating from the country of Georgia. Traditionally, dry beans are used and prepared by first soaking in water before cooking. The beans are cooked with onions, garlic and spices. They are stewed until tender.  Since lobio simply means beans, it has a lot of different recipe variations and appearances. Lobio …

Kaiserschmarrn is an Austrian dessert made from pancakes. The rich batter for this pancake is made using eggs butter, milk, sugar, flour. Before flipping over, rum soaked raisins are added to the cooking pancake. The cooked pancake is then torn into small pieces and cooked again, in butter and sugar until it is caramelized. It …

Revani is a traditional cake which is popular throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It usually contains, flour, yogurt, eggs, sugar, baking powder and semolina. After baking, the cake is soaked in a light syrup before serving. Semolina is a type of course flour made from durum wheat. Since revani is enjoyed in many …

Knedlíky is a type of Czech dumpling made using flour, milk and yeast. It is known for its unique cylindrical shape, similar to a roll, that is then boiled and sliced into flat and oblong dumplings. They are often eaten as a side to savory dishes such as soups and stews.  While Knedlíky refers to …

Kurnik, also referred to as wedding pirog or tsar pirog, is a type of Russian savory pie typically stuffed with chicken, onions, eggs, rice or kasha, and several other optional ingredients. Occasionally, this dish is also stuffed with boiled rooster combs. Origin & Cultural Significance The kurnik is believed to have been invented in southern …

Hutspot is a traditional Dutch dish made from boiled potatoes, onions and carrots. This dish has an interesting origin in Dutch history and is now known as a cheap and nutritious comfort food. Made with hearty and starchy vegetables, Hutspot is often enjoyed on winter days.  To incorporate Hutspot into a high-protein meal, many Dutch …

Kosovo, a small country nestled amongst the mountains of the Balkans, is a new political addition to the Balkan states, made so by its self-proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008. Despite Kosovo’s status as a young and still disputed country, it has its own share of time-honored traditions of cuisine, culture, and beyond.  At the …

Bienmesabe is a Spanish dessert made using ground almonds, egg yolk and honey as its main ingredients. Other ingredients such as cinnamon, lemon zest and sweet wine are also added, depending on the recipe used. Bienmesabe is a dish that is influenced by Moorish cuisine (those from Arabic North Africa) and is particularly popular in …