20+ Lithuanian Food Ingredients: The Best List!

Today, we’ll talk about the most common Lithuanian food ingredients. Lithuanian cuisine is an intriguing mix of influences. The eastern part of the country shares a border with Russia, which explains why you’ll find many Slavic ingredients and seasonings in Lithuanian cooking.

The rest of Lithuania’s neighbors can also be found on Lithuanian menus: Poland, Latvia, and Belarus. The country’s small size and proximity to these three nations explain why Lithuanian cooking incorporates many different regional influences. Lithuanian food is a bubbling pot of many different cuisines.

However, Lithuanian cuisine has something of a regional identity of its own. The Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, has a university and several international schools, so the city has become a culinary hub. This accounts for many restaurants, cafes, and other eateries in the city. Traditional regional dishes are also very popular, especially in the countryside.

The list of Lithuanian food ingredients is long and goes on and on. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about the Lithuanian language and Lithuanian food ingredients.

The Most Common Lithuanian Food Ingredients

Pickled Vegetables In Lithuanian

Sauerkraut is a classic Lithuanian ingredient. It’s made by salting and fermenting shredded or chopped, raw or cooked vegetables. There are many different types of sauerkraut, some made with red cabbage, others with white cabbage, and others with a mix of both.

Typically, sauerkraut is eaten with meat or used to accompany other dishes. It’s also used as an ingredient in some Lithuanian soups and stews. Traditionally, it was made by households as a way to preserve their own cabbage and other vegetables from the summer months, when fresh produce was at its peak.

Today, sauerkraut is made commercially in a large number of ways.

EnglishLithuanian
sauerkrautraugintų kopūstų
picklesmarinuoti agurkai
pickled mushroomsmarinuoti grybai
pickled carrotsmarinuotos morkos
pickled peppersmarinuotos paprikos
pickled onionsmarinuoti svogūnai
pickled radishesmarinuoti ridikai
brinesūrymu

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Spices And Herbs In Lithuanian

Most Lithuanians prefer their food with a lot less salt than you might find in other cuisines when it comes to spices. Codified by law, table salt is merely an accessory in Lithuanian cooking, with more traditional salts such as lemon, dill, and mustard being preferred.

Lithuanian seasonings tend to be quite strong, so it’s important to use them sparingly. They’re also often very unique, so you won’t find them in the spice racks of many other countries.

One of the most common seasonings is mustard. It’s used both in dressings and as a flavoring in its own right. It’s also used as a pickle, both as a side dish and as a condiment for main courses. Mustard pickles can be found in all Lithuanian restaurants, as well as in some homes.

EnglishLithuanian
saltdruskos
pepperpipirų
chiličili
mustardgarstyčios
cinnamoncinamono
clovesgvazdikėliai
oreganoraudonėlio lapų
rosemaryrozmarinas
dillkrapai

Vegetables In Lithuanian Cuisine

Vegetables play an important part in Lithuanian cuisine. They’re used in soups, stews, casseroles, side dishes, and pickles. One of the most popular vegetables in Lithuania is beetroot (or “sour” as it’s known in English). It can be found in all supermarkets and is often served as a side dish with meat or fish when ordering in Lithuanian restaurants. Carrots, beets, and other root vegetables are often eaten during the winter months when seasonal produce is at its lowest.

EnglishLithuanian
cabbagekopūstų
carrotsmorkos
beetrootBurokas
potatoesbulvės
tomatoespomidorai
bell pepperpaprika
mushroomsgrybai
onionssvogūnai
garlicčesnako

Meat And Fish In Lithuanian

Lithuanian meat and fish dishes tend to be very straightforward, relying on fresh ingredients and a good balance of flavors rather than heavily spiced. Pork is most common, but other meats such as beef, veal, and lamb are also eaten. Since the country shares a border with the Baltic Sea, fish has become a common ingredient in Lithuanian cuisine.

Salmons, cod, perches, and other types of fresh fish are very popular. They’re usually eaten cooked in a casserole or with vegetables. Dried fish is also eaten, usually as a flavoring in soups and stews.

EnglishLithuanian
porkkiauliena
poultrypaukštiena
beefjautiena
ground beefMalta jautiena
minced meatMalta mėsa
jerkytrūkčiojanti mėsa
fishžuvis
salmonlašiša
chickenvištiena

Lithuanian Words For Fruit

Fruit is used in all its variety in Lithuanian cuisine. Fruits are a cheap, healthy, and tasty way to fill up on a budget. Most Lithuanians have a favorite fruit, and you’ll often find it on restaurant and homemade dessert menus.

EnglishLithuanian
appleobuolys
pearkriaušė
watermelonarbūzas
strawberrystrawberry
orangeoranžinis
lemoncitrina
limekalkių
blueberrymėlynių
cherryvyšnia

Dried Fruits And Nuts In Lithuanian

Dried fruits and nuts are used in a range of sweet and savory dishes in Lithuania. They’re often combined with meat or fish, combined with spices and seasonings, or added to sweet dessert dishes. The most common dried fruit is probably raisins. They’re usually eaten as a snack or dessert and are sometimes used in savory dishes.

Nuts are also used in various savory and sweet dishes in Lithuania. Walnuts, in particular, are a traditional Christmas food, while other nuts, such as almonds and pistachios, are eaten throughout the year.

EnglishLithuanian
dried plumsdžiovintos slyvos
raisinsrazinos
almondsalmonds
hazelnutslazdyno riešutai
dried apricotsdžiovintų abrikosų
walnutsgraikiniai riešutai
pistachiospistacijos
peanutsriešutai
chestnutkaštonas

Pastries And Desserts In Lithuanian

Many of the sweet treats you’ll find in other cuisines are also found in Lithuania, including crepes, doughnuts, and strudels. However, one item that’s unique to Lithuania is what they call “cuckoo clocks” – dainty little desserts with a variety of fillings that resemble cuckoo clocks.

Lithuanian pastries and desserts are some of the most interesting in Europe. This is somewhat because there’s such a large variety of them and partly because many of them are filled with history and myth.

Doughnuts (kugelis) come in a huge variety of flavors and sizes.

Let’s add more words and phrases to your Lithuanian vocabulary with this list:

EnglishLithuanian
doughnutspurga
potato pancakesbulviniai blynai
potato dumplingsbulvių kukuliai
cakespyragaičiai
curd cheese pancakesvarškėčiai
Christmas Eve cakesKūčiukai
curd snackvarškės sūrelis
curd cheese doughnutsvarškės spurgos
honey cakemedaus tortas

Lithuanian Sauces And Dressings

Many Lithuanian sauces are made using mustard as the main dressing. Traditionally, it’s used in both savory and sweet dishes, often as a condiment with vegetables such as sauerkraut.

Sauces and dressings are also very important to a Lithuanian meal. They add flavor, variety, and healthiness to a meal. Mayonnaise is a common sauce found in both sweet and savory dishes.

Raita is a sour cream sauce, often eaten as a dip with bread.

EnglishLithuanian
dressingapsirengimas
mustardgarstyčios
ketchupkečupas
mayonnaisemajonezo
chili sauceČili padažas
vinegaracto
cranberry saucespanguolių padažas
avocado sauceavokado padažas
tartar saucetartaro padažas

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