Albanian Recipes

Albanian cooking draws on Mediterranean, Balkan and Ottoman habits, shaped by the mountains of the north and a long coastline to the west and south. Lamb and beef are the everyday meats, and families lean on what the garden gives: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, leeks, spinach and wild greens. Olive oil is the main fat in the south, while butter and yogurt play a bigger role in the hills. Yogurt, white cheese and cottage cheese (gjizë) turn up in soups, bakes and pies, and byrek, a flaky filled pie, is eaten at breakfast, as a snack and at the table. Oregano, mint, garlic and sweet paprika flavor most dishes, and bean stews, stuffed vegetables and slow roasts fill the home menu. Festive meals center on roast lamb at Easter and Eid, and trays of baklava, revani and trileçe appear at weddings and holidays. Meals often end with strong coffee, fruit and a small glass of raki.

Staple ingredients

• lamb
• yogurt
• white cheese
• sweet peppers
• tomatoes
• olive oil
• oregano and mint
• phyllo pastry

• Appetizers 1
• Salads 1
• Main Dishes 4
• Desserts 2
• Snacks 2

Appetizers

• Qofte të Fërguara (Albanian Fried Meatballs)AL45 minEasy

Salads

• Sallatë Fshati (Albanian Village Salad)AL15 minEasy

Main Dishes

• Speca të Mbushur (Albanian Stuffed Peppers)AL1 h 50 minEasy
• Tavë Kosi (Albanian Baked Lamb with Yogurt)AL2 h 25 minMedium
• Fërgesë (Albanian Baked Peppers, Tomatoes and Cheese)AL1 h 20 minEasy
• Pasul (Albanian White Bean Stew)AL2 h 10 minEasy

Desserts

• Bakllavë (Albanian Walnut Baklava)AL1 h 40 minMedium
• Trileçe (Albanian Three-Milk Caramel Cake)AL1 h 10 minMedium

Snacks

• Byrek me Spinaq (Albanian Spinach and Cheese Pie)AL1 h 30 minMedium
• Qifqi (Albanian Fried Rice Balls from Gjirokastër)AL1 h 5 minEasy