Are you packing your luggage for your most anticipated trip to Lithuania? Then, how about we take a moment of pause, sit back, and read some of the Lithuanian cooking terms? Lithuanian cuisine is known to be one of the most unique, with a traditional concoction of ingredients that you are sure to crave once you land.
Thus, knowing some cooking words that help make excellent Lithuanian food like fried bread or potato pancakes will be an essential asset. If you want to learn Lithuanian and impress the locals, keep reading and enjoy!
Lithuanian Food Facts
Since we are talking about cooking terms in this blog, it is essential to have a quick peek at what the traditional Lithuanian food culture has to provide. Below are some facts and tips on traditional Lithuanian cuisine that will make your trip more exciting and successful.
- While the Lithuanian food base is almost like other European and American countries, filled with bread and cheese, the most fantastic Lithuanian version is the rye bread. Fried bread or Lithuanian dark rye bread is the most popular dish, fried in oil and garnished with cheese sauce. Unlike Mexican or Indian words, Lithuanian cuisine consists of comfort food that is subtle in taste with fewer spices and more sauce and vegetables.
- One of the fascinating facts about Lithuanian dishes is the national dish of Lithuania, Cepelinai. These are potato dumplings stuffed with mind-boggling ground meat, usually served with bacon gravy. The name cepelinai was introduced due to the oval shape of the food that neatly resembles the Zeppelin airship. Once you reach Lithuania, make sure you grab the best Lithuanian beer and have a taste of the Lithuanian national dish.
- Soups are an everyday item that we all love. But what makes the Lithuanians different is that cold beet soup or cold borscht is not just a taste fantasy but also a tradition that is believed to bring good health. Lithuanian soups hold an exalted position, unlike other Eastern European countries or nations. They are one of the most popular, authentic, and traditional Lithuanian dishes that you will encounter in every corner of the country.
- Another exciting fact about traditional Lithuanian foods is the fondness for potatoes and pork. While potato fries and chips are ordinary everywhere, Lithuanian potato dishes like grated potatoes with sour cream, boiled potatoes with rye bread, potato pancakes, potato pudding, etc., are exceptionally famous. The fun fact is that the Germans introduced the potato influence, and it has been listed as one of the nation’s most common and authentic Lithuanian recipes ever since.
Top Dishes In The Lithuanian Cuisine
We cannot move on without going through some tips on what to try once you are seated in Lithuanian restaurants. So, here is a list of all the best traditional dishes you must try during your stay in Lithuania.
- Bulviniai Blynai with Sour cream (Potato pancakes)
- Šaltibarščiai (Cold beetroot soup made with hard-boiled eggs and beets. Usually served with hot boiled potatoes or mashed potatoes.)
- Koldūnai (Lithuanian dumplings stuffed with minced meat)
- Skilandis (Pear-shaped sausage made of beef or pork.)
- Sakotis Raguolis (a Famous Lithuanian cake usually consumed on occasions such as Christmas eve)
- Juoda Ruginė Duona (Black rye bread, traditional food of Lithuanian families served with sour cream, butter, curd cheese, vegetables, ham, etc.)
Lithuanian Cooking Terms Vocabulary
Now, we will discover all the relevant terms related to cooking in Lithuanian so that you can venture around the country with confidence and excitement. Let’s get started in learning more Lithuanian vocabulary.
Vocabulary A-C
| English | Lithuanian |
| Add | Papildyti |
| Age | Amžius |
| Arrange | Sutvarkyti |
| Aerate | Aeruoti |
| Bake | Kepti |
| Beat | Mušti |
| Batter | Tešla |
| Blacken | Juodinti |
| Baste | Baste |
| Barbecue | Barbekiu |
| Blend | Sumaišykite |
| Boil | Virinama |
| Bone | Kaulas |
| Brush | Šepetys |
| Burn | Deginti |
| Can | Gali |
| Cover | Viršelis |
| Caramelize | Karamelizuoti |
| Carve | Drožti |
| Cut | Iškirpti |
| Chop | Sukapoti |
| Churn | maišytuvas |
| Char | apdeginti |
| Cool | Saunus |
| Cream | Kremas |
| Coddle | virkite ant silpnos ugnies |
| Cured | Išgydytas |
| Combine | Sujungti |
| Chunk | Gabalas |
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Vocabulary D-H
| English | Lithuanian |
| Debone | Debone |
| Deep fry | Giliai kepti |
| Dough | Tešla |
| Dip | panirti |
| Drizzle | Dulksna |
| Decorate | Dekoruoti |
| Dry | Sausas |
| Drape | Uždengti |
| Drain | Nusausinkite |
| Descale | Nukalkinti |
| Deglaze | Deglazuoti |
| Fold | Sulenkite |
| Ferment | Fermentuoti |
| Flip | Apversti |
| Flavor | Skonis |
| Force | Jėga |
| Frost | Šerkšnas |
| Froth | Putos |
| Form | Forma |
| Fry | Kepti |
| Freeze | Užšaldyti |
| Garnish | Garnyras |
| Grate | Sutarkuoti |
| Grind | Sumalkite |
| Grill | Grilis |
| Glaze | Glajus |
| Harden | Sutvirtinti |
| Heat | Šiluma |
Vocabulary I-P
| English | Lithuanian |
| Ice | Ledas |
| Insert | Įdėti |
| Infuse | Infuzuoti |
| Juice | Sultys |
| Knead | Minkyti |
| Layer | Sluoksnis |
| Leave | Palikti |
| Lift | Pakelkite |
| Melt | Išlydyti |
| Marinate | Marinuoti |
| Microwave | Mikrobangų krosnelė |
| Mix | Sumaišykite |
| Mash | maišalas |
| Measure | Išmatuoti |
| Mold | Pelėsiai |
| Mince | Faršas |
| Mound | Piliakalnis |
| Make | Padaryti |
| Oil | Alyva |
| Oven fry | Kepti orkaitėje |
| Open | Atviras |
| Overcook | Pervirti |
| Peel | Nulupkite |
| Poach | Brakonierius |
| Pour | Supilkite |
| Percolate | Perkošti |
| Pierce | Pradurti |
| Press | Paspauskite |
| Prepare | Pasiruoškite |
| Pull | Traukti |
| Prick | Dūris |
| Preserve | Išsaugoti |
| Pickle | Marinuoti agurkai |
Vocabulary Q-S
| English | Lithuanian |
| Quarter | ketvirtis |
| Reduce | Sumažinti |
| Raise | Pakelti |
| Reheat | Pakaitinti |
| Roast | Skrudinti |
| Roll | Ritinys |
| Render | Pateikti |
| Raw | Neapdorotas |
| Refrigerate | Atšaldyti |
| Rub | Įtrinti |
| Refresh | Atnaujinti |
| Salt | Druska |
| Scald | Nuplikyti |
| Scoop | Samtelis |
| Sear | Apskrudinti |
| Season | Paskaninti |
| Shirr | Shirr |
| Scallop | Šukutės |
| Saute | Pakepinti |
| Scramble | Peštynės |
| Skewer | Iešmuo |
| Skin | žievelė |
| Slice | Supjaustykite |
| Simmer | Troškinti |
| Scatter | Išsklaidyti |
| Slide | Skaidrė |
| Soak | Mirkyti |
| Spread | Plisti |
| Stuff | Daiktai |
| Strain | Įtempti |
| Sweeten | Pasaldinti |
| Sprinkle | Pabarstykite |
| Stir | Išmaišykite |
| Stir fry | Maišydami pakepinti |
| Stew | Troškinti |
| Smoke | Rūkyti |
Vocabulary T-Z
| English | Lithuanian |
| Toast | Skrudinta duona |
| Thicken | Sustorėti |
| Trim | Apkarpyti |
| Toss | Mesti |
| Tenderize | Sušvelninti |
| Temper | Nuotaika |
| Twist | Pasukti |
| Turn | Pasukite |
| Tie | Kaklaraištis |
| Taste | Skonis |
| Thin | Plonas |
| Warm | Šiltas |
| Wedge | Pleištas |
| Whisk | Plakti |
| Wrap | Apvyniokite |
| Wind | Pasisukimas |
| Wash | Nuplaukite |
| Zest | Prieskonis |
Cooking Verbs In Lithuanian
Now that you know the cooking terms, it is important to also familiarize yourself with the verb forms. Doing so will help you communicate better without getting baffled. So, here is a list of common cooking verbs you can use in the Lithuanian kitchen while preparing the popular Lithuanian snack.
| English | Lithuanian |
| To cook | Virti |
| To bake | Kepti |
| To chop | Susmulkinti |
| To mince | Sumalti |
| To slice | Supjaustyti |
| To grease | Sutepti |
| To mix | Maišyti |
| To stew | Troškinti |
| To barbecue | Prie kepsninės |
| To fry | Kepti |
| To grind | Šlifuoti |
| She is baking | Ji kepa |
| They are chopping | Jie pjausto |
| I am mincing | Aš smulkinu |
| He is slicing | Jis pjausto |
| I am greasing | Aš tepu |
| She is mixing | Ji maišosi |
| I am frying | aš kepu |
| They are grinding | Jie šlifuoja |
Lithuanian Food Ingredients
Since we are already talking about cooking, baking, and mincing, let us quickly go through some of the ingredients commonly used in many Lithuanian dishes. Learning these will only enhance your skills and make you more clear about your desires as you order from the Lithuanian menu.
| English | Lithuanian |
| Basil | Bazilikas |
| Black pepper | Juodasis pipiras |
| Chili | Čili |
| Cinnamon | Cinamonas |
| Corriander | Kalendra |
| Cumin seeds | Kmynų sėklų |
| Fresh berries | Šviežios uogos |
| Garlic | Česnakai |
| Ginger | Imbieras |
| Ground mustard | Maltos garstyčios |
| Ground cardamon | Sumaltas kardamonas |
| Green onions | Svogūnai |
| Oregano | raudonėlis |
| Paprika | paprika |
| Poppy seeds | Aguonos |
| Root vegetables | Šakninės daržovės |
| Spring onions | Svogūnų laiškai |
If you want to learn more about ingredients, check out the Lithuanian Ingredients Guide by Ling.
Cooking Phrases In Lithuanian
Although reading some words will help you become a better speaker, learning some phrases will double the effect. If you want to learn phrases in Lithuanian to make Lithuanian traditional foods, refer to the table below and discover the standard lines you can regularly use in a kitchen.
| English | Lithuanian |
| Always bake after coating bread crumbs | Visada kepkite apibarstę duonos trupiniais |
| Baking is a fun hobby | Kepimas – smagus hobis |
| Bake the cake for 25 minutes | Pyragą kepkite 25 minutes |
| Cook the chicken till its tender | Kepkite vištieną, kol ji suminkštės |
| You should tenderize the pork | Turėtumėte suminkštinti kiaulieną |
| You should bake in a hot oven | Reikėtų kepti karštoje orkaitėje |
| Cut the pieces properly | Tinkamai supjaustykite gabalus |
| Chop the onions into tiny pieces | Svogūnus supjaustykite smulkiais gabalėliais |
| You should roast the pork for 5 minutes | Kiaulieną reikia kepti 5 minutes |
| The cake needs to be frozen | Tortą reikia užšaldyti |
| Mix the paste with the meat | Sumaišykite pastą su mėsa |
| Can you stir fry vegetables? | Ar galite maišyti daržoves? |
| Add the Lithuanian cheese to the fries | Į bulvytes suberkite lietuvišką sūrį |
| Preheat the oven before baking | Prieš kepdami įkaitinkite orkaitę |
| We will add baked potatoes with fish | Dedame keptas bulves su žuvimi |
| Spread the curd cheese evenly | Tolygiai paskleiskite varškės sūrį |
| The crust should be thinner | Pluta turi būti plonesnė |
| Saute the soup for 10 minutes | Troškinkite sriubą 10 minučių |
| Can you grind it for me? | Ar galite jį sumalti už mane? |
| The dish looks delicious | Patiekalas skaniai atrodo |
Wrapping Up!
Enjoyed learning the above lists? Knowing such terms will only make your journey more open and accurate. No matter where you go, food will always be the universal language of making friends and finding love. Thus, understanding cooking terms will boost knowledge of the country’s cooking and food culture. Moreover, if you are a food blogger or a fantastic cook, these words will surely come in handy once you start your Lithuanian cooking journey.
Learn With Ling!
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