3 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Tirana

One of Albania's national dishes, fërgesë tirane is a baked vegetable and cheese specialty originating from the capital of Tirana. Traditionally, this recipe uses bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, locally made salted cottage cheese (or feta cheese as a substitute), basil, butter, flour, and olive oil. The vegetables are sautéed, while the butter and flour make a roux in a separate pan, and the cheese is set to melt over it. All the ingredients are mixed in small clay pots, seasoned, and baked in the oven. After the dish has slightly cooled down, it is served with crusty bread on the side. The vegetable version of this specialty is referred to as fergesë e tiranës me speca or fergesë e tiranës me piperka in Albanian. Another version of this dish, named fërgesë me melçi or tavë dheu me mëlçi, is created by adding chopped liver and garlic to the mixture, and the veal version is known as fergesë e tiranës me mish viçi. While the vegetarian version is mostly served as a side dish, the version prepared with meat is often served as the main course.Expand

Flija is a typical dish of Albanian cuisine, prepared both in Albania and Kosovo. Although it is commonly termed as a pie or a cake, flija can more accurately be described as a stack of layered pancakes. The recipe consists of two different mixtures; one for the batter - usually consisting of flour, water, salt, and eggs, and the second mixture, used as a filling, prepared by blending together oil, butter, and yogurt or kaymak. There are numerous versions of the recipe, but the ingredients always remain simple, which is in contrast with a rather laborious and time-consuming method of preparing the dish. The batter is poured in such a pattern that the layers consist of triangle-shaped gaps. As each new layer is applied, it is immediately baked by covering the pie pan with saç, a dome that's been previously heated over an open fire, topped with ash and cinders in order to preserve the temperature. Once the layer is baked, it is coated with fillings, then covered with a new thin layer of batter, and the baking process is repeated once again until all of the batter is spent. Flija can be served with various accompaniments including savory ones like sour milk, yogurt, pickled vegetables, cheese, and ajvar, a spicy vegetable spread, as well as sweet ones: either a side of jam or a drizzle of honey.Expand

Qifqi is a traditional dish originating from Gjirokastra. These rice balls are usually made with a combination of rice, eggs, dried mint, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Cooked rice is mixed with beaten eggs, dried mint, salt, and black pepper. The mixture is divided into small balls that are fried in olive oil in a specially customized socket-bottomed frying pan. Once golden, the rice balls are usually accompanied by a green salad or ajvar relish on the side, and paired with a glass of dhallà, a drink based on yogurt, salt, and water. Expand