Latvian Recipes: Traditional Flavors from the Baltics
Latvian Recipes is a fusion of flavors from the Baltic region with influences from Germany, Russia, and Scandinavia. The country’s harsh climate and long winters have shaped the cuisine, which is characterized by hearty dishes and preserved foods. Rye bread, smoked fish, and pork are stapled ingredients in many Latvian dishes.
Traditional Latvian cuisine also features an array of dairy products, including sour cream, cottage cheese, and buttermilk. These ingredients are used to make dishes such as skābeņu zupa (sour cream soup) and rupjmaize ar sviestu (rye bread with butter).
Latvian cuisine is also known for its use of wild berries and mushrooms. Chanterelles, blueberries, and cranberries are commonly found in dishes such as kāpostu tīteņi (cabbage rolls with mushrooms) and zemenes ar biezpienu (strawberries with cottage cheese).
If you’re looking to explore the flavors of the Baltics, be sure to try traditional Latvian dishes such as cepumi (Latvian cookies), karbonāde (breaded pork cutlet), and kartupeļu pankūkas (potato pancakes).
