Compot [kom’pot] was invented to preserve the sweetness and flavor of summer fruits for the wintertime. It is a non-alcoholic clear juice, made by boiling fruits and sugar in a large volume of water.
Posts tagged Tradition
MY PARENTS’ HOUSE IS NOT FOR SELLING
In Moldova we have a song that translates as “my parents’ house is not for selling”. I think it also refers to this story. Chisinau-Palanca, from Calarasi district is a route that will make you feel fully rewarded; the atmosphere you will find at “Casa Parinteasca” Guesthouse will have a similar effect on you as a “retreat” in an exotic country.
THREE HOLIDAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST WITH THEIR SPECIFIC MOLDOVAN DISHES
For almost every holiday, there is a special dish in our culture. And I’m not at all joking when I say that on 2, 3 and 4 August we have three specific dishes for three different holidays.
Let me explain what each dish is and the holiday it represents!
TEN REASONS WHY TO VISIT MOLDOVA DURING THE HODINA FESTIVAL
It started from a madness and it should stay that way – a beautiful madness on the bank of the Dniester in the Pohreabea village. We have nature, Nistru, vegetarian food, music, relaxation, art, friends. What more could you wish for in August in Moldova? Every year we hope Hodina will gather more and more Moldovans returning home and tourists coming to discover Moldova.
FIVE MUST TRY DISHES AT IA MANIA FESTIVAL
I was browsing through this year’s IA MANIA Festival photos and I already miss the aroma and the taste of this special dishes. As we say in Moldova : Plouă-n gură! (It’s raining in my mouth! = my mouth water) so I decided to share with you my top 5 MUST TRY DISHES at IA MANIA Festival
ZUCCHINI PANCAKES
I admit I wasn’t a big fan of zucchini pancakes when I was little, but I came to really appreciate this dish when I grew up. The pancakes are savory and garlicky, ideal for a late night snack with beer, or an early breakfast with sour cream and a hard-boiled egg. You can make these pancakes using other vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes or peas. Sometimes I mix two different types of vegetables for a more fragrant taste.
POTATOES WITH GREEN BEANS
n Moldova you can find several varieties of beans that are good to eat fresh, before they mature and are ready to be dried. These are early- harvested yellow flat beans, consumed in summer. You may cook the beans with garlic, new potatoes or braised with sour cream. My memory tells me that yellow beans with potatoes and dill came top of my summer food list, especially when cooked in the small cast iron pot, which I brought with me to Canada.
WHITE CHERRY CONFITURE
White cherry confiture is the most delicate and rare of all traditional confitures.
Why is it so special? because it will drive you crazy with its taste. Whether we use it for tea, ice cream, pancakes or babă albă, this confiture is the finest, sweetest creation from our cuisine.
STUFFED ZUCCHINI
Similar to our traditional sarmale [sar’male], stuffed zucchini is made with the same filling but in a different way. I prefer sarmale; however, this dish is for those who don’t like the taste of vine leaves or pickled cabbage: a different recipe for those who seek new flavors. Do you know how delicious a stuffed zucchini with homemade sour cream can be?
ABOUT ME – WHO IS NATA ALBOT?
My name is Nata Albot. I am an event producer, entrepreneor and journalist passionate about cooking. I hope that one day you’ll come to Moldova to see how beautiful and delicious it is, through the festivals that me and my K Lumea team organize in our motherland.