Are you interested in cooking and would love to learn about the food ingredients in Albanian? In this blog post, we will tell you about the most commonly used elements that make Albanian cuisine special. Albanian cooking becomes incredibly easy with the basic know-how of these words. So if you’re ready for that and more, keep reading below!
Traditional Albanian food uses ingredients like minced lamb, cottage cheese, grilled meat, black pepper, feta cheese, tomato sauce, and much more that enhance the taste of each dish. So whether you are a foodie or a chef, learning the common food ingredients in Albanian cuisine is crucial.
Vegan Food Ingredients In Albanian
The fruit and vegetable industry comprises 20 percent of Albanian farming but generates 36 percent of its exporters, which is anticipated to expand. It has been noticed since the Ottoman empire. So if you are a vegetarian, you’ll be surprised at your options in this country. You can find several restaurants offering vegetarian options!
Fruits
Here are some fruits for you so that you can make Albanian cuisine.
English | Albanian | English | Albanian |
Apple | Apple | Lime | Gëlqere |
Apricot | Kajsi | Mango | Mango |
Avocado | Avokado | Kelay | Kelay |
Banana | Banane | Watermelon | shalqini |
Blackberry | Blackberry | Mulberry | Manit |
Blueberry | Boronica | Orange | portokalli |
Cherry | Qershia | Papaya | Papaja |
Coconut | Kokosi | Passionfruit | Fruti i pasionit |
Cucumber | Kastravec | Peach | Pjeshkë |
Durian | Durian | Pear | Dardhë |
Dragonfruit | Fruti i Dragoit | Persimmon | Hurmë |
Fig | Fik | Pineapple | Ananasi |
Gooseberry | Trashëllia | Pineberry | Pineberry |
Grape | Rrushi | Quince | Ftua |
Guava | Gujava | Raspberry | Mjedër |
Jackfruit | Jackfruit | Soursop | Soursop |
Plum | Kumbulla | Star fruit | Fruta me yje |
Kiwifruit | Kivi | Strawberry | luleshtrydhe |
Kumquat | Kumkuat | Tamarind | Tamarind |
Lemon | Limon | Yuzu | Yuzu |
Vegetables
Vegetables have a special place in Albanian culture. For traditional foods, you should know how to say vegetables in Albanian.
English | Albanian | English | Albanian |
Artichoke | Angjinarja | Green Onion | Qepë e gjelbërt |
Bean | Fasule | Kale | Kale |
Beetroot/Beet | Panxhari / Panxhari | Leek | presh |
Bell Pepper (Capsicum) | Piper zile (kapsik) | Lettuce | Marule |
Bitter Gourd | Pagur e hidhur | Mint (Peppermint) | Nenexhik (Mente) |
Broccoli | Brokoli | Mushroom | Kërpudha |
Brussel Sprout | Lakër Brukseli | Onions (Red) | Qepë (e kuqe) |
Cabbage | Lakra | Parsnip | Parsnip |
Carrot | Karrota | Peas | Bizele |
Cauliflower | Lulelakra | Potato | Patate |
Celery | Selino | Pumpkin | Kungull |
Chayote | Chajote | Radicchio | Radicchio |
Chilly (Red Chilli) | Ftohtë (ftopër i kuq) | Radish | Rrepkë |
Chive | qiqra | Spinach | Spinaqi |
Coriander leaf | Gjethja e koriandrit | Squash | Kungull |
Corn (or Maize in the UK) | Misri (ose misri në MB) | Taro | Taro |
Cucumber | Kastravec | Tomato | Domate |
Eggplant (Aubergine) | patëllxhan (patëllxhan) | Turnip | Rrepë |
Garlic | Hudhra | Yam | Yam |
Ginger | Xhenxhefil | Zucchini | Kungull i njomë |
Mushrooms
Also, learn about the mushrooms now that you are learning valuable ingredients in Albanian food.
English | Albanian |
Beech Mushroom | Kërpudha Ahu |
Black Trumpet Mushroom | Kërpudha e zezë e trumbetës |
Enoki Mushroom | Kërpudha Enoki |
Hedgehog Mushroom | Kërpudha iriq |
King Trumpet Mushroom | Kërpudha Mbreti Trumpet |
Morel Mushroom | Kërpudha Morel |
Porcino Mushroom | Kërpudha porcino |
Portabello Mushroom | Kërpudha Portabello |
White Button Mushroom | Kërpudha me butona të bardhë |
Non-Vegetarian Food Ingredients In Albanian

Many people in Albania are non-vegetarian, and if you are also one of them, then this section is all you need if you also want to make traditional dishes of Albania.
English | Albanian |
Bacon | Proshutë |
Beef | Mish viçi |
Chicken Liver | Mëlçia e pulës |
Chicken Stock | Stoku i pulës |
Chops | Bërxolla |
Crab | Gaforrja |
Free Range Chicken | Pulë me rreze të lirë |
Grass Fed Chicken | Pulë e ushqyer me bar |
Keema | Keema |
Kidney Meat | Mishi i veshkave |
Lamb Meat | Mishi i qengjit |
Meat Stock | Stoku i mishit |
Mutton | Mish deleje |
Mutton Liver | Mëlçia e deles |
Organic Chicken | Pule organike |
Partridge | Thëllëza |
Pork | Mish derri |
Quail | Thëllëza |
Skinned Chicken | Pulë me lëkurë |
Turkey | Turqia |
Seafood
Seafood is an integral part of Albanian dishes, especially in central Albania, so it would be a sin not to learn about these while teaching everything else.
English | Albanian |
Clams | Molusqe |
Cod | Kod |
Crab | Gaforrja |
Crayfish | Karavidhe |
Cuttlefish | Sepje |
Krill | Krill |
Land snails | Kërmijtë e tokës |
Lobster | Karavidhe |
Octopus | Oktapod |
Oysters | Goca deti |
Prawn | Karkaleca deti |
Salmon | Salmon |
Shrimps | Karkalecat |
Snails | Kërmijtë |
Squid | Kallamar |
Trout | Trofta |
Tuna | Tuna |
Whelks | Whelks |
Condiments
If you love condiments, then this section is for you. Use these condiments to elevate the taste of your Albanian food. This will be especially handy if you want to try a traditional dish.
English | Albanian |
Basil | Borziloku |
Bay Leaves | Gjethet e dafinës |
Cayenne | Cayenne |
Chili Powder | Pluhur djegës |
Cinnamon | kanellë |
Cloves | Karafil |
Cumin | Qimnon |
Curry Powder | Pluhur kerri |
Fennel Seed | Fara kopër |
Garlic Powder | Hudhra pluhur |
Ground Cardamom | Kardamom i bluar |
Ground Ginger | Xhenxhefil i bluar |
Ground Mustard | Mustardë e bluar |
Mace | Mace |
Nutmeg | Arrëmyshk |
Onion Powder | Pluhur qepe |
Oregano | Rigon |
Rosemary | Rozmarina |
Smoked Paprika | Paprika e tymosur |
Thyme | Trumzë |
Healthy Sauces
Time to get healthy with these healthy sauces in Albanian.
English | Albanian |
Apple cider vinegar | Uthull molle |
Balsamic vinegar | Uthull balsamike |
Grass-fed butter | Gjalpë e ushqyer me bar |
Hummus | Hummus |
Kimchi | Kimchi |
Lemon juice | Lëng limoni |
Mustard | mustardë |
Nut butter | Gjalpë arrash |
Nutritional yeast | Maja ushqyese |
Olive oil | Vaj ulliri |
Pesto | Pesto |
Plain Greek yogurt | Kos i thjeshtë grek |
Raw honey | Mjaltë e papërpunuar |
Red hot sauce | Salcë e kuqe e nxehtë |
Tahini | Tahini |
Tamari | Tamari |
Toasted sesame oil | Vaj susami i thekur |
Limited Sauces
Let’s now look at how to say different limited sauces in Albanian, just in case you want to try Albanian food with them.
English | Albanian |
Artificial sweeteners | Ëmbëlsues artificialë |
Barbecue sauce | Salcë Barbecue |
Fat-free salad dressing | Salcë sallate pa yndyrë |
Margarine | Margarinë |
Pancake syrup | Shurup petullash |
Wrapping Up

That’s it for this blog post. Hopefully, now you can easily make any Albanian dish since you know all the food ingredients you need in Albanian cooking. Also, check out our article on Albanian food and Albania Travel Guide.
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