A raguolis or sakotis cake is one of the most impressive Lithuanian dishes.

Weirdest Cake Wins The Day: Lithuanian Dishes For Beginners

The beautiful country of Lithuania has had a long and interesting history, which is also evident in its cuisine, as it has been influenced by those of Poland, Germany, and Hungary, among others. The country’s cold climate and its fertile ground mean that it is rich in root vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, and beetroots; while berries and mushrooms also grow abundantly. Lithuania also has a big production of meat and dairy products. Most Lithuanian dishes are rich and heartwarming, and well worth a try.

The Lithuanian Dishes To Try At Least Once

If we had to describe Lithuanian cuisine in one sentence, we’d probably call it “food for the soul”. Made with natural ingredients that aim to keep you warm from the inside, it is delicious with its rich flavors and aromas. These are the Lithuanian dishes anyone should try at least once.

Cepelinai (Zeppelins)

There was no other way we’d start but with Lithuania’s national dish: Cepelinai. The dish was originally called didzkukuliai, but it was aptly changed to cepelinai in the 20th century thanks to its shape that resembles a zeppelin airship. Cepelinai are big dumplings whose shell is made with a potato mix and the filling with pork meat. They are doused in a delicious sauce made of sour cream and bacon.

Cepelinai has taken its name from the dumplings' resemblance to zeppelins.
Cepelinai is the most traditional of all Lithuanian dishes, the country’s national dish.

Kibinai (hand pies)

The Lithuanian equivalent to Cornish pasties, these flaky hand-made pasties are the national dish of an ethnic minority that lives in Lithuania, the Karaite. The delicious pastries are usually filled with onion and mutton meat, but they can be found in different variations containing cheese, vegetables or even berry jam.

Kibinai is a traditional Lithuanian dish that can be found in many different variations.
Kibinai are hand-made pasties you can find in different variations.

Saltibarsciai (cold borscht)

One of the most famous dishes in Eastern Europe, the borscht is a soup made with a variety of vegetables, such as carrots, onions, and potatoes. In Lithuania, the basic ingredient of cold borscht (or Saltibarsciai) is the beetroot. It is served as the weather starts to get hotter, and it is accompanied by sour cream, boiled eggs, and potatoes.

One of the most traditional Lithuanian dishes, but also a dish which is much loved in the whole of Eastern Europe, is the cold borscht.
Saltibarciai is a cold and sour soup whose basic ingredient is the beetroot.

Raguolis / Sakotis

Lithuanians also have a sweet tooth. When it comes to special occasions, they go above and beyond to prepare a special cake that looks like a tree – hence the name Raguolis, which means ‘spiked’ and Sakotis, which means ‘branched’. To make the cake take its final shape, bakers put a hollow cake on a spit and close to a heat source, pouring successive layers of batter as it turns. This is how the ‘spikes’ or ‘branches’ are formed. When ready, the cake is cut and served as is, or together with cream and fruit, such as berries.

Raguolis is also known as Sakotis, or Tree Cake because of its shape.
Raguolis or Sakotis is a special cake that is not the easiest dish to prepare.

Have we whetted your appetite for these Lithuanian dishes? You can learn even more about Eastern European culture and traditions here. If you want to discuss the way Raguolis is made with one of the Lithuanian girls on AnastasiaDate, why not visit our page today. Social media users can follow us on Twitter too.

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