Albanian Food Recipes

Albanian food recipes share many traits with others from the states of former Yugoslavia. Similarities to the cuisines of Greece, Turkey and other Southeastern European countries are many. First a bit of history.

History
The territory of today's Albania was part of the Greek and Roman empires and then known as Illyria. When the Roman Empire split it became part of the Byzantine Empire and remained like that, with the exception of two periods when they were part of Bulgarian and Serbian empires, until Ottoman Turks incorporated the region in the late 15th century. Like in so many other part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire (and around the world) nationalistic Albanian movements were responsible for several uprisings. Only in 1912, after the first Balkan War, was an independent Albanian state declared. Then the region had been under Turkish rule for more than 400 years, something that is quite visible in the Albanian food recipes of today. A monarchy was installed in 1914. The First World War split the country up into those who wanted to join the Central Powers (and the Turks) and those who wanted to join the Entente. It was held by several powers during the war. After the war the country was occupied in different parts by Greek, Serbs, Italians and French. Political confusion followed, the monarchy was replaced by a republic in 1925. A new monarchy was installed in 1928, the country was headed by Zog between 1924 and 1939, first as president, later as self appointed king. Italy annexed the country in 1939, Zog fled to a life in exile and the monarchy was thus ended. Germany took over from the Italians in 1943. Through out the Second World War communist partisans offered strong resistance against the occupying Germans and Italians. After much bloodshed they managed by own power liberate Albania, this happened in 1944. it remained a communist republic until 1992. The years 1944 until 1985 the country was led by Enver Hoxha's firm hand. The relations with Soviet Union were always tense, they were military allied to USSR only until 1960. The transition to market economy has been slow and several armed internal conflicts have occured; many Albanians have emigrated for these reasons. Problems with criminality and corruption are big. The last few years the stability has been better and things are looking up.

Albanian Cuisine
Albanian food recipes are quite similar to those of Turkey, the 450 years of Ottoman rule is the explanation to that. There are quite naturally many similarities to bordering Balkan states including Greece. You could easily say it belongs to the Mediterraneans cuisines with the use of lots of fresh vegetables, wine and olive oil. Typical ingredients would be bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, potato, aubergine, mint, oregano and rosemary. All types of meat are prepared and eaten, so is fish along the coast. Pies and soups are common fare, a fresh vegetable salad is often a side dish. White cheeses and yogurts are the most common dairy products. The meze style appetizers, so popular in Greece, are also favoured by the Albanians; olives, vegetables, white cheese in brine, cold cut meats and various relishes would be normal components. Of late fast food and foreign influences have changed a lot of eating habits.

Some Examples Of Albanian Food

Gjize Ricota style cheese made from whey.
Kos Yogurt made from goat's or sheep's milk.
Tarhana Is grain, most often wheat, mixed with yogurt. Often prepared into a groat.
Buke The most common bread, made from cornmeal.
Laker turshi The pickled cabbage we know as sauerkraut.
Dolma Grapevine leaf rolls filled with vegetables, rice and meat.
Jahni me fasule Bean soup
Corba A sour soup based on rice.
Terituar A cold yogurt soup, most of the time with cucumbers garlic and spices. Popular all over the Balkans and in the Middle East.
Tave kosi This is the national dish of Albania, baked lamb and rice with a yogurt sauce..
Fergese e Tiranes An oven baked tomato and feta cheese dish.
Qofte Fried breaded minced meat balls. Known as kofta in many Asian countries.
Petanik Dry bean pie.
Kabuni Rice with raisins and cinnamon.
Kolloface Korce A casserole where thin slices of beef are layered with slices of aubergine.
Musaka Oven baked eggplants, egg, potatoes and minced meat.
Harapash i tepelenes Polenta with mutton innards.
Byrek A filled pie made from filo dough.
Lakruar Like a vegetable pizza.
Bakllasarem It is like the byrek but with no filling. Served hot with yogurt and garlic.
Baklav Sweet bread made of filo pastry and filled with nuts. Sweetened with honey. Turkish origin.
Halve A kind of a hard sweet paste made from sesame seeds and nuts. Of Middle Eastern origin.
Kabuni A very traditional dessert. It is butter fried rice with mutton stock, sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Served cold.
Pelte Small sweet lemon cakes made with maizena flour.
Sultjash Sweet rice pudding.
Lokum 'Turkish delight'. Nuts and dried fruits in sugar gel.

Albanian Beverages
The national alcoholic beverage is Raki it is brandy that can be distilled from various types of fruit. Skenderbeg Konjak is a brandy that goes on export. Albania has good soil and climate for wine production, they have produced wine for thousands of years. The wine production have been modernized since the fall of the communist rule and already are some good wines being exported. Lager beer is popular, there is domestic production. Dukagjin is grape juice with cinnamon. Dhalle, which is buttermilk, is quite popular. Caj mali is a tea made from the herb sideritis. Boza is a fermented drink made from wheat and maize. Albanians traditionally drink their coffee in Turkish fashion.

Submitted Albanian Food Recipes
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