The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Albanian Foods. If you manage to be in an Albanian restaurant or you are visiting Albania, I recommend the following:
1. Tavë Kosi
It is one of the most appreciated dishes by the locals. It is typical of Elbasan, a town near Tirana, but is found throughout the country, from mountain villages to coastal towns. Tavë Kosi is a tasty quiche-like dish made with lamb, eggs and yoghurt.
2. Perime ne Zgare
They are nothing more than grilled vegetables, popular in Albania and the rest of the Balkan countries. Eggplants, zucchini, onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc., used as an appetiser or as an accompaniment to main dishes. If you like to eat vegetarian food, don’t worry, even in the grills you will find perime ne zgare.
3. Fërgesë Verore me Speca dhe Domate
It is one of the best and tastiest Albanian meals made with peppers, tomatoes and cottage cheese. It is mainly found in Tirana and its surroundings, as it is a typical dish of the central region of Albania. The fresh products are cooked together and form a cream; it is perfectly accompanied with homemade bread.
4. Grilled Meat
Although Albanians incorporate many vegetables in their diet, meat certainly does not lose prominence at lunchtime and a great example of this is the “Zgara” (as it is also known). It is a partially native dish and partially coming from other cultures, which is based on meat well seasoned with local flavours, and can be served either roasted or fried. It is one of the most consumed dishes in the region.
5. Baklava
Baklava is the star of Turkey as well as of the Balkan Peninsula: you will find it everywhere while visiting Albania and in various sizes and types. The typical Albanian variety of this famous cake is made with walnuts, but in bakeries and pastry shops there is a pistachio version, which is even tastier.
6. Byrek
The most famous food in Albania is byrek, a savoury pastry made with filo pastry. You will find it all over the country, in different sizes and types. One of the most famous is byrek with spinach, but bars, trucks, and pastry shops also sell byrek, often with gjize cheese or meat. All versions are delicious!
7. Qofte
This is one of the most popular meat dishes in the region, made from grilled meatballs, although you can also find them with other types of cooking. Usually qofte is seasoned with spices and mint and served with raw onion and salad, although you can also order it with a variety of different side dishes.
8. Fish
Located on the seafront, Albania is famous for its seafood. In the restaurants located along the coast and in the main cities of the Riviera, such as Vlora and Saranda, you can eat fresh and excellent fish. Eating fresh seafood and fish while in Albania admiring the fabulous sea views from the terraces of the restaurants is a must.
9. Trilece
The word comes from Spanish and means “cake made with three milks’ ‘; in fact, trilece is prepared with milk, cream and concentrated milk. Calling it “delicious” is not enough. Trilece is a pleasure for the palate and a fresh cake perfect for warm Albanian days.
10. Fried Kaçkavall
Kaçkavall is a typical cheese used in the southern Balkans and southern Italy. It is a salty yellow cheese that is often served as a starter in restaurants. Menus offer several options, such as kaçkavall salad and baked kaçkavall, but the best is fried kaçkavall, one of the most delicious dishes in the region.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional European Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.