Romania is known for its beautiful scenery and intriguing history. We have curated 25 recipes for the best mouth-watering Romanian Foods you can make at home!
Moreover, there is also a lot to be said about Romanian cuisine.
Traditional Romanian foods are heavily influenced by Turkish, Balkan, Serbian, Hungarian, and German dishes, and it brings together a mix of fresh ingredients.
Because of the enriched experience, the cuisine is filling and varied.
Their sweet dishes are decadent and delectable, and their savory options are incorporated with vegetables, spices, and herbs.
If you are looking for new dishes to try, you are in for a treat.
We have prepared 25 mouth-watering Romanian foods you can try making for yourself or for family and friends.
Looking for a place to start?
How about beginning with the Romanian Stuffed Peppers, Chiftele, or Romanian Stewed Cabbage.
Check out #11 if you are a fan of sweets.

1. Sarmale
Sarmale can easily be found at every traditional Romanian wedding.
The dish is made of minced meat mixed with rice, spices, and onions, then rolled up in sour cabbage leaves.
You can switch out the minced meat with grated carrots, groundnuts, and chopped mushrooms.
2. Pasca
Pasca is a Romanian dessert bread stuffed with sweet cheese and raisins.
It is like a hybrid between a cheesecake and panettone, soft outside and creamy inside.
Typically made on Easter, Pasca has religious connotations.
The inside of the bread is a swirl of yellow and white.
The yellow represents the resurrection of Jesus, while the white represents the Holy Spirit.
3. Mamaliga
Mamaliga is a well-loved maize flour polenta in Romania.
This firm and the circular dish is almost like a dome of deliciousness.
Made with maize, stock, seasonings, and butter, this easy-to-make Romanian cornmeal porridge can be served at your next dinner party.
It can be a side dish for Sarmale or served plain with sour cream and cheese.
Romanian Stuffed Peppers, also called Ardei Umpluti, is a famous dish usually served in the summer when peppers are in a full season.
The recipe is easy to make, delicious, and perfect for lunch or a family dinner.
You can serve the dish as is or pair it up with mashed potatoes or other vegetables.
5. Placinta
Placinta, also called Placinta Cu Branza, is a round, cheese-filled bread found on the streets of Romania.
Made with milk, egg, and cheese, this dish is ideal for cheese lovers, pie lovers, and those who are looking for something both sweet and savory.
Romanian Meatball Soup, also called Ciorba de Perisoare, is a classic and traditional Romanian soup made with meatballs simmered in delicious and flavorful vegetable broth.
The soup is served with a raw spicy pepper, a few tablespoons of sour cream, and crusty bread.
Ciorba de Perisoare is often served at dinner and on cold winter nights.
7. Cozonac
Cozonac is a classic and simple Romanian sweetened bread.
Traditionally made during Christmas and Easter, this citrus-scented, soft, and sweet dough is twisted around a nutty filling, creating a spiral design.
The result is a beautiful and festive bread with a tender and chewy crumb.
Romanian potato salad is made in every Romanian home.
Made with gherkins, olives, and eggs, this versatile recipe is easy to make and fulfilling.
The salad can be a fantastic lunch or dinner for those who want a meatless meal.
Salate de Vinete, a Romanian eggplant dip, is a traditional Romanian dish similar to the Baba Ghanoush.
The light spread is usually a part of a Romanian appetizer platter.
The platter has a variety of items, such as meatballs, smoked meats, sausages, cheeses, and Zacasca or Fasole Batatu.
The platter also comes with a loaf of rustic crusty bread, which is ideal for enjoying the dip.
Salate de Vinete can be served for breakfast or lunch or served as an appetizer.
11. Mucenici
Mucenici is a Romanian dessert traditionally prepared every 9th of March when the country celebrates the Christian holiday called 40 Martyrs of Sebaste.
The 40 Martyrs refers to a group of Roman soldiers imprisoned for eight days after refusing to give up their Christian religion.
This is why the dessert is in the shape of the number eight.
Romanians created these baked sweet bread with a liquid syrup containing ground walnuts in memory of the brave soldiers.
Mucenici bread is soft, chewy, not too sweet, and is often paired with a glass of milk.
14. Mici
Mici, which means “small” in Romanian, are homemade sausages stapled at Romanian barbecue parties.
Perfect for meat lovers, this dish can also be found in the streets of Romania.
Made with ground beef, ground pork, pepper, and thyme, you can prepare this delectable dish at your next picnic or barbecue.
15. Drob De Miel
Lamb-based recipes are very popular among Romanians, but while a lamb broil is easier to make, the Drob De Miel recipe is more complicated.
Even though it takes time to prepare, this dish is a must-try for those who want to taste authentic Romanian cuisine.
If you aren’t keen on eating lamb, you can substitute it with chicken, pork, or mutton.
16. Salata De Boeuf
Salata de Boeuf is a traditional beef salad made with beef, potatoes, peas, and mayonnaise.
This creamy and flavorful dish is a great appetizer.
If you want to consider a veggie option, add carrots and pickles instead of beef.
Ciorba Radauteana, or chicken soup with garlic and sour cream, is an incredible soup that makes a great appetizer.
Soothing and tasty, this dish will definitely become a family favorite.
To prepare this incredible traditional Romanian chicken noodle soup, you can make your own chicken broth.
You can serve it with vegetables, and you can choose the noodles to add to the dish.
18. Supa De Galuste
Supa De Galuste is a fresh, savory, and light soup made with chicken and has fluffy semolina dumplings.
A staple in every Romanian household, this dish is perfect for those looking for a soup that is not too thick and heavy on the stomach and those who want something warm on a cold rainy night.
19. Fasole Batuta
Fasole Batuta is a creamy white bean puree topped with caramelized onions.
The puree makes for a filling and simple meal, especially when there is not much fresh produce around.
Fasole Batuta is paired with sausages, smoked meats, or ham, but you can also use it as a spread for toasted bread slices.
20. Papanasi
Papanasi is a famous mouth-watering Romanian dessert.
It is a cheese doughnut filled with either sour cream or jam.
The dessert only takes a few essential ingredients to make, and it is a delicacy that everybody will love.
Mancare de Mazare is an easy-to-make traditional Romanian dish that is both sweet and savory.
This green pea stew combines basic flavors with a tomato base, dill, bacon, and vegetables.
Mancare de Mazare is perfect for those who are always in a hurry and have no time to cook.
The recipe only takes 30 minutes to prepare, and the result is a delicious stew that the entire family will be satisfied with.
Salata de Vara Romaneasca is a fresh, tangy, herby salad.
Made with tomatoes, cucumbers, dill, herby, parsley, salty feta, tart vinegar, and olive oil, this dish just gets better and tastier the longer you leave it in the fridge.
This salad can be eaten as an appetizer.
Cabbage plays a very important role in Romanian dishes, and this traditional Romanian Cabbage Stew proves it.
The nostalgic childhood stew is usually served with red onions, smoked sausage, and crusty white bread.
24. Gogoshi
Gogoshi is Romania’s answer to donuts.
This version of donuts is ideal for those who are not a fan of sweets.
Made with salt, sugar, lemon zest, yeast, and flour, Gogoshi is often served as a snack or dessert.
You can also eat this donut for breakfast and pair it with coffee.
25. Ciobra De Loboda
Ciobra de Loboda is a delicious and hearty Romanian sour soup made with rice, purple spinach, and vegetables.
The sour flavor of the traditional soup comes from adding stevie leaves, which is another exotic Romanian leafy green vegetable, and lemon juice.
You can serve the Ciobra de Loboda as an appetizer or pair it up with bread.
The bottom line
The traditional Romanian cuisine is more than just cabbage rolls.
Several underrated dishes are worth trying.
From hearty soup and satisfying appetizers to savory meat to flavorful vegetables, there is a Romanian meal that will get you hooked.

Top 25 BEST Traditional Romanian Foods🍴
Romania is known for its beautiful scenery and intriguing history. We have curated 25 easy recipes for the best mouth-watering Romanian foods you can make at home!
Ingredients
- Sarmale
- Pasca
- Mamaliga
- Romanian Stuffed Peppers
- Placinta
- Romanian Meatball Soup
- Cozonac
- Romanian Potato Salad
- Salata De Vinete
- Tochitura
- Mucenici
- Zacusca
- Chiftele
- Mici
- Drob De Miel
- Salata De Boeuf
- Ciorba Radauteana
- Supa De Galuste
- Fasole Batuta
- Papanasi
- Mancare De Mazare
- Salata De Vara Romaneasca
- Romanian Stewed Cabbage
- Gogoshi
- Ciobra De Loboda
Instructions
- Skim through our Romanian Foods list.
- Select the recipe you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Spill your thoughts on our Facebook page!