Despite the fact that Lithuanian cuisine has similar features to Belarusian culinary, and in addition, it was influenced by German, Slavic and Polish gastronomic traditions, it is unique and distinctive.
National cuisine of Lithuania
The main ingredient in many dishes is potatoes: puddings, pancakes, potato sausages (“buderay”) and “zeppelins” (a potato dish with meat filling, poured over with a sauce of sour cream, butter and spices) are made from it. On the Lithuanian table, there are always dishes from game, fish, meat, so it is worth trying black pudding ("bloodwort"); smoked eel; herring with fried onions and sour cream; goose stuffed with apples, mushrooms or cabbage; smoked pork ears with sauerkraut, peas and cracklings. The pride of the local table is rye black bread, pieces of which are fried, sprinkled with grated cheese, rubbed with garlic and served with Lithuanian beer.
Popular dishes of Lithuanian cuisine:
- “Skilandis” (smoked pork sausages);
- "Kumpis" (pork ham stuffed with herbs, garlic and spices);
- “Shaltibarschiai” (cold borscht in the form of beetroot on kefir);
- “Carrot apkyapass” (a dish in the form of a carrot casserole);
- “Tomato sryuba” (tomato soup with rice);
- “Indariti agurkay” (a dish of stuffed cucumbers).
Where to taste Lithuanian cuisine?
Since traditions are respected in Lithuania, here you will find a sufficient number of catering establishments where you can taste Lithuanian cuisine. In addition, travelers are advised to look into the brewery restaurant, where, in addition to the foamy drink and snacks for it, visitors are offered to choose any dishes from the European or Lithuanian menu.
In Vilnius it is worth having a bite to eat at Avilis (this restaurant has a mini-brewery, so you can watch how beer is brewed, taste this drink and dishes such as beer soup, beer ice cream, fruit in jelly from beer, and Lithuanian fish and meat dishes) or “Ritos Smukle” (from drinks you will be offered to order carrot or apple juice, and from Lithuanian dishes - Lithuanian beetroot soup or potato pancakes with meat), in Kaunas - in “Lietuvos Patekalai” (the institution specializes in traditional dishes made from potatoes - potato casseroles, zeppelins, potato cutlets).
Cooking courses in Lithuania
In the culinary school Culinary School TRAKU 9, those who wish can learn how to cook Lithuanian dishes at the culinary courses open here.
A trip to Lithuania can be timed to coincide with the Palanga Smelt Festival (Palanga, February), where you can taste fish dishes presented in the fairgrounds, as well as watch the competitions between fishermen.
