Lithuania’s nutrition

Lithuanian cuisine features the products suited to the cool and moist northern climate of Lithuania: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, berries, and mushrooms are locally grown, and dairy products are one of its specialties. Since it shares its climate and agricultural practices with Northern Europe, Lithuanian cuisine has some similarities to Scandinavian cuisine. Nevertheless, it has its own distinguishing features, which were formed by a variety of influences during the country's long and difficult history.

InfluencesBecause of their common heritage, Lithuanians, Poles, and Ashkenazi Jews share many dishes and beverages. Thus there are similar Lithuanian, Litvak, and Polish versions of dumplings (koldūnai, kreplach or pierogi), doughnuts spurgos or (pączki), and blynai crepes (blintzes). German traditions also influenced Lithuanian cuisine, introducing pork and potato dishes, such as potato pudding (kugelis or kugel) and potato sausages (vėdarai), as well as the baroque tree cake known as Šakotis. The most exotic of all the influences is Eastern (Karaite) cuisine, and the dishes kibinai and čeburekai are popular in Lithuania. Torte Napoleon was introduced during Napoleon's passage through Lithuania in the 19th century.

Traditional foodOn Christmas Eve they eat «kūčiukai" (special plates oval flour and milk from poppy seeds), herring, fish, mushrooms, "kisielius" (cranberry pudding), vegetable salads (beets or bean salads, for example), bread, wheat, honey, nuts, cakes with poppy seeds and apples. Also they don’t have meet dishes that night.

Other traditional food is:•Cepelinai or Didžkukuliai, a dumpling made from grated potatoes usually stuffed with minced meat.It’s named like that, because its shape resembles the airship Zeppelin. The cepelinai is typically about 10-20 inches long, although the size depends on the place prepared. After baking, the cepelinai served with sour cream and bacon or pork.

• The Šakotis is a popular Lithuanian traditional cake, similar to the German Baumkuchen. In Poland is called sekacz. Its name means "branched", which describes the characteristic shape. It is baked with butter layers onto a rotating spit in a special oven. It can be decorated with chocolate and flower ornaments, but often served simple. the Šakotis is one of the most important desserts in Lithuanian celebrations, especially weddings or birthday parties. It’s often eaten at Christmas.

• Saltibarsciai, it’s a traditional Lithuanian cold beet soup and one of the favorite recipes of summer. It suits with sandwiches, roast pork, barbecue, sausage or whatever. It is an ideal dish for lunch or a quick dinner after a long day at work in hot summers. It adds a nice fresh touch to the picnic on the beach.