Recipes: We thought it was time to put a few Romanian recipes on the website for those of you who,like to try new recipes. The Romanian food is really good and healthy too!
Tocanita – Romanian Stew – Recipe from a lady in Timişoara
2 ½ # pork, 5 onions, 1 red pepper, ¼ cup oil, 2 Tbsp. vegeta
1 Tbsp. paprika, 3 bay leaves, 2 Tbsp. tomato paste, 2 Tbsp. flour
Chop onions and pepper in small pieces. In large saucepan, fry onions and peppers in oil until soft. Chop pork in small cubes, add and sauté slightly. Add vegeta, paprika, bay leaves and enough water to cover. Simmer on low flame for 1-2 hours or until is very tender. In small bowl mix tomato paste, flour and small amount of liquid from pan. Whisk into pot to thicken. Serve with corn meal, mashed potatoes or rice.
*Vegeta is a dry mix of condiments that is an essential in every Romanian kitchen. It is used dry to sprinkle over meat or chicken before frying or baking, mixed in stews and meatloaf type dishes, and as a seasoning in potato salads and soups.
Mamaliga
Mamaliga, or polenta (corn meal mush), is a staple of the Romanian village diet. The villagers eat it almost every day topped with sour cream and/or fresh sheep cheese. At times it is made thick enough to slice and use as a substitute for bread. It is easy to make and is a wonderful addition to this stew. Try it! Just take a quart of water and add a teaspoon of salt. Slowly whisk in enough corn meal to thicken to a pudding consistency (it will continue to thicken a little as it sits). Serve immediately topped with stew.
