Latvian food or cuisine consists basically farmhouse-style food. The food in Latvia is similar to the surrounding countries, like Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Latvia food has been heavily influenced by German, Swedish, and Russian cuisine. Thus a lot of influences are visible in food in Latvia. Latvia food uses common ingredients in its recipes which are found locally - such as potatoes, wheat, barley, cabbage, onions, eggs, and pork. Latvian food is generally quite fatty, and with few spices. A typical example would be boiled black peas with pieces of bacon.
Basically, Latvian food consists of chicken & pork fillets battered in egg and deep fried served with traditional dark rye bread and lots and lots of salads and fresh vegetables. Most of the salads are like a basic potato salad made with various chopped meats (smoked chicken & pork) and vegetables. Most of the salads use a cream based dressing rather than a mayonnaise base.
Latvian Bacon Buns (Pîrâgi) :
These buns can be used as appetizers, as part of a light lunch (with, say, a cup of bouillon), or as part of a party table. They are best straight from the oven, but can be frozen and re-heated.
Latvian Full Course Meal :
Latvian meals are always served with bread of some type. Beef steaks, pork chops with green salad and potatoes on any type are served in many restaurants and at home.
Latvian sweets & baked goods :
Then of course you need the sweets which Latvia is famous for. You have to have a cake or torte, sugar cookies, lots of chocolate and simple Danish style small round breakfast pastries.
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Food in Latvia mainly consists of chicken & pork fillets battered in egg and deep fried then served with traditional dark rye bread and lots and lots of salads and fresh vegetables. Most of the salads are like a basic potato salad made with various chopped meats and vegetables. Most of the salads use a cream based dressing rather than a mayonnaise base. Popular food in Latvia includes dishes such as cabbage soup, small fish with onions, potato salad, smoked or salted eel. Latvian food has main courses of meat or fish. Desserts in latvian food generally feature forest berries.
Latvian food has Hors d'oeuvres which are the best part of the meal. Food in Latvia has local specialties which include kotletes (meat patties), skabu kapostu zupa (cabbage soup), Alexander Torte (raspberry- or cranberry-filled pastry strips), smoked fish (including salmon or trout), sweetbread soup with dried fruit, piragi (pastry filled with bacon and onions) and sorrel soup with boiled pork, onions, potatoes and barley. Food in Latvia has a large selection of excellent dairy products on offer, such as skabs krejums (sour cream). A traditional Latvian cheese is Janis' cheese which is traditionally served during the celebration of Jani. Pickled mushrooms are also a Latvian specialty
Latvian food has popular drinks like beer, vodka, and balzam. Two of the most popular traditional Latvian drinks today are ruguspiens (curdled milk with no other additives) and kefirs (cultured milk). Food in latvia has other popular traditional drinks include kvass (a non-alcoholic drink made from yeast), fresh or fermented birch juice and beer. Beer is a traditional Latvian beverage - it is impossible to imagine ancient or contemporary Latvian celebrations without it. Riga's Black Balsam is a thick, black alcoholic liquid which has been produced since 1700. It is drunk either with coffee or mixed with vodka. Kvass is a refreshing summer drink whereas sparkling wine is also very popular.
There are a number of Latvia restaurants, where the restaurants serve traditional and international cuisine. Riga, is a cosmopolitan city of Latvia, and it offers a variety of good Latvia restaurants serving international, French, Italian vegetarian and other cuisines. Many of the Riga luxury hotels have their own good Latvia restaurants offering good value for tourists in Riga. Most Latvia restaurant accepts major international credit cards. |
