Albania – A Land of Rich History, Culture, and Unique Cuisine

 

Albania is a country with a rich history and culture, and its cuisine is an essential part of this heritage. White cheese dominates many dishes, both simple and complex. Fresh local ingredients—vegetables, fruits, fish, and meats such as lamb and goat—play a crucial role. Spices are also key, with paprika being a signature seasoning in the region. The Balkan flavors of Albania offer a true feast for the senses, filled with diverse aromas and fresh ingredients. Discover traditional dishes, local specialties, and culinary secrets. Learn what makes Balkan cuisine famous and which dishes are a must-try during your visit to this fascinating country.

 

Meat is the King of Albanian Cuisine

Meat is the centerpiece of Albanian cuisine, and one of the most beloved specialties is lamb.

In restaurants, it is sometimes served as a whole roasted lamb on a spit! However, the most famous dish is lamb ribs, known as brinje qengji.

Most Popular Albanian Dishes

• Byrek – A filo pastry filled with spinach or white cheese (sometimes with meat). Albanians eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

• Tavë Dheu / Fërgesë me melci – Baked liver in a tomato sauce with white cheese and paprika.

• Tavë Kosi – Soft, juicy lamb baked in yogurt in a traditional clay pot.

• Qofte – Minced meatballs, either round or elongated.

• Pulle me oriz – Chicken and rice baked together in an oven.

• Suflaqe – A type of kebab wrapped in pita, containing meat, vegetables, fries, and tzatziki or salc kosi (yogurt sauce).

• Frog legs – Available in some Albanian restaurants, usually sourced from wild frogs.

• Paçe & Paçe Koke – A meat soup made from beef tripe (paçe) or brain (paçe koke).

• Roasted goat’s head – A traditional delicacy among Albanian shepherds, commonly served in restaurants.

• Fërgesë – Fried peppers with cottage cheese and tomato sauce.

• Patllexhan te mbyshur – Stuffed eggplant.

• Speca te mbyshur – Stuffed bell peppers.

• Qofte perime – Fried vegetable patties.

• Japrak – Rice with herbs wrapped in grape leaves.

• Qifqi – Rice fritters with mint, deep-fried.

• Fasule – A traditional Albanian white bean soup.

• Supë me perime – A vegetable soup made with seasonal ingredients sautéed in olive oil.

• Supë me domate – Tomato soup made from tomatoes fried in olive oil.

• Supë peshku – A fish soup cooked with vegetables, similar to fish broth.

• Trahana – A soup made from crushed wheat grains or bulgur mixed with fermented milk and yogurt. It is considered one of the world’s oldest dishes, perfect for warming up on cold days.

Salads and Grilled Vegetables

 

Cheese

 

Albanian cuisine features two main types of cheese:

• Djatë i bardhë – A white cheese similar to feta, often grilled or baked with tomatoes, peppers, and olive oil.

• Kashkaval – A hard yellow cheese, often served as a fried appetizer.

• Pispili / Pete Misri – Cornbread mixed with raw egg and spinach, then baked.

• Bukë Misri – Traditional Albanian cornbread, often served with yogurt or cheese.

• Pasticio – A pasta bake made with spaghetti and feta cheese, baked in milk and eggs.

• Petulla – Albanian pancakes, served with salty cheese, fig jam, or honey.

Seafood

 

If you’re visiting the Albanian coast, you must try fresh fish and seafood. You can find shrimp, mussels, octopus, calamari, and various fish. They are served as standalone dishes, as pasta toppings, fried, boiled, or even raw.

 

A growing trend in Albania is crudo, which means “raw” in Italian. Thinly sliced fish, shrimp, or seafood are drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice, or vinaigrette to enhance the flavor.

 

Must-try fish:

• Sea bream and sea bass – Usually grilled or baked with vegetables.

• Barbun (red mullet) – Small red fish, fried and served in portions of several pieces.

Desserts

• Ashure – A sweet porridge made with slow-cooked wheat, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, and cinnamon.

• Trileçe (Tres Leches Cake) – A sponge cake soaked in three types of milk, topped with caramel.

• Baklava – Available in every bakery.

• Kadif – Thin filo pastry noodles baked and soaked in syrup, sometimes served with ice cream.

• Sultjash – Rice pudding with cinnamon.

• Kos me mjalt dhe arra – Yogurt with honey and walnuts.

• Revani – A semolina cake soaked in sweet syrup.

• Hasude – A caramel-flavored pudding made with butter, olive oil, and nuts.

• Kabuni – A unique dessert made with fried rice, butter, raisins, and traditionally, lamb. It is considered an aphrodisiac.

• Gliko – A traditional Albanian fruit preserve made with fruits or vegetables cooked in sugar syrup, usually in copper pots.

Drinks

• Çaj Mali (Mountain Tea) – Also known as gojnik, this herbal tea is known for its health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.

• It can be enjoyed hot (steeped for 15 minutes) with lemon and/or honey, or as a refreshing cold drink in the summer.

• You can find gojnik everywhere in Albania—in supermarkets, local shops, and even in large bouquets at market stalls.

• Dhalle – A cold yogurt drink diluted with water and seasoned with salt. It is perfect for hot days and is also known for helping ease the effects of heavy drinking.

Albanian cuisine is an extraordinary mix of flavors, history, and tradition. Whether you’re enjoying a hearty meat dish, fresh seafood, or a sweet dessert, you will find that every bite tells a story of this beautiful Balkan country.