Lithuanian Food | My Food Odyssey

Feb 17

My Food Odyssey Lithuanian Cooking Book | www.myfoododyssey.com

NEW! Lithuanian Cookbook Now Available!

I am delighted to announce that my Lithuanian recipes are now available in a handy cookbook. The recipes are explained in detail, with step-by-step photos provided where needed. Each recipe has been thoroughly tested and I have suggested alternatives for some hard-to-find ingredients. If you are new to Lithuanian cooking it is an ideal introduction. The book also contains a number of stunning photographs of the Lithuanian landscape and wildlife. Available in both paperback & Kindle formats from just US$2.99 here. The Kindle version is also available FREE with all paperback purchases! Read more

Jul 16

Half sour pickles (Rauginti Agurkai) | www.myfoododyssey.com

8 Comments

Half-Sour Pickles | Rauginti Agurkai [Recipe]

There are a few condiments that I always have in my refrigerator. The first is mayonnaise – I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t need it for something, especially in summer. The other is half-sour pickles. Those tangy, crunchy pickles are so versatile, from adorning a burger to adding zing to tartar sauce. Read more

Feb 28

Lithuanian Kugelis | www.myfoododyssey.com

47 Comments

Lithuanian Kugelis | Potato Pudding [Recipe]

Asta walked into the kitchen and sniffed the air, taking in the familiar scent. “Ooh, are you making kugelis?!” she asked excitedly. “I am – I’m testing recipes. How do you make yours?”, I replied. Asta wrinkled her forehead in confusion. “What do you mean, how do I make mine? There’s only one way to make kugelis.” Alas, if only it were so. Read more

Dec 7

Lithuanian Sauerkraut (Rauginti Kopustai) | www.myfoododyssey.com

38 Comments

Lithuanian Sauerkraut | Rauginti Kopūstai [Recipe]

In our house certain things happen so often that they have been given their own name. One of our most frequent occurrences is “where-is-age”, a phenomenon whereby Arūnas can’t find something he needs, despite the fact that the item is exactly where it’s supposed to be. “Where’s my wallet?” “It’s in the drawer, darling.” (Where it always is.) “Where are my keys?” “They’re in the drawer, darling.” (Where they always are.) You get the gist. Read more

Dec 1

24 Comments

Lithuanian Cabbage Rolls | Balandėliai [Recipe]

Preparing traditional dishes is never straightforward as everyone has their own view on how they should be prepared. There is nothing more soul-destroying than spending several hours cooking a meal only to get a look from your husband that says “these are not as good as my mother’s”. I have received that look many times as I developed my recipes for šaltibarščiai, koldūnai and cepelinai. With my balandėliai, I a little fared better – I got “the look” for the first attempt only. After that, something unprecedented happened – I was told they were even better than his mother’s. Read more

Mar 3

Curd Cheese Doughnuts (Varske Spurgos) | www.myfoododyssey.com

46 Comments

Curd Cheese Doughnuts | Varškės Spurgos [Recipe]

When I first heard about curd cheese doughnuts I thought they sounded very strange. I had a vision of a chunk of cheddar sandwiched between two sides of a sugary ring doughnut, similar to a filled bagel. I’d been making cheesecake with cream cheese (which is really just curd cheese blended with cream) for years, so I don’t know how it was so difficult for me to get my head around. It wasn’t until I tasted one of the little fluffy delights freshly made at a farmers’ market here in Lithuania that I was sold on the idea. Read more

Jan 28

Lithuanian Cepelinai (Potato Dumplings) | www.myfoododyssey.com

80 Comments

Cepelinai for Beginners [Recipe]

The first time I made cepelinai I failed miserably. And the second time. And probably the third time. After that, I called it quits and resolved only to eat cepelinai that had been prepared for me by someone who knew what they were talking about – either at a restaurant or by one of our Lithuanian friends. Read more

Dec 8

Lithuanian Christmas Eve Biscuits / Kūčiukai | www.myfoododyssey.com

35 Comments

Lithuanian Christmas Eve Biscuits | Kūčiukai [Recipe]

Christmas is a time for tradition. What’s fascinating to me is how much those traditions vary from country to country and even from family to family. Some children post their letter to Santa up the chimney, some through the regular mail. Some leave out milk and cookies for Santa, but in our house it was a bottle of Guinness and a few mince pies. (Clever ole Dad!) Some traditions don’t believe in Santa at all. Read more

Apr 9

Lithuanian Koldunai (Meat Dumplings) | www.myfoododyssey.com

61 Comments

Lithuanian Koldūnai | Meat Dumplings [Recipe]

They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. In my case, this was particularly true. In the early days of our relationship I remember plying my man with rich stews of lamb shanks in red wine sauce served with super-creamy mashed potato, mixed seafood platters served on a lazy Susan with a big bowl of chips and a selection of dipping sauces set in the middle and regular full Irish breakfasts. He still jokes about how he could hear the “chitzzz” of a fresh beer being opened as soon as he set an empty bottle down on the table. Read more

Sep 21

Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup (Saltibarsciai) | www.myfoododyssey.com

59 Comments

Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup | Šaltibarščiai [Recipe]

Growing up I was never a big fan of beetroot. I think this was due to the highly acidic pickled stuff you get in jars, which was pretty much the only type of beetroot available back then. My grandmother used it on all her salads and everything else on the plate would be tinted purple and tainted with its earthy, sour taste. Read more

Dec 19

8 Comments

No Turkey This Christmas

There’ll be no turkey for me this Christmas. In fact, there’ll be no meat at all. I’m spending Christmas with my in-laws in Lithuania, where the main celebration is on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Read more