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Let The Flavours Speak To You!
Vidzeme is one of the four cultural and historical regions in Latvia. It is famous for its natural beauty and rich cultural and historical heritage.
Dishes are still prepared here from local food products according to the season. In Vidzeme delicious rye, wheat and buckwheat bread is baked, as well as barley cakes, wheat and scones. Nowadays, mixtures of different seeds, hemp seeds, nuts, dried fruits are also added to the dough, as in the past times only cumin was added instead.
“Stoka" or "staka" dish in the past was made from hemp, nowadays from butter. Gray peas with lard or pea pies are popular, as well as dry boiled peas and beans are also eaten at Christmas. More recent dishes include root vegetable stews and potato dishes. Locals cook milk soup with groats and potatoes, potato dumplings - "klučkas", bake potato pancakes - "blinas". Eating cheese is a big part of tradition on Summer Solstice. A traditional dish is jerky, also called chicken or suckling. It is a soup made from dried pork, barley groats, beans, peas and potatoes. In the spring is cooked so-called "balanda soup", also sorrel-nettle soup. In autumn season - sauerkraut soup, pumpkin soup.
River and lake fish dishes are popular - lampreys, zanders, pike, etc. From sea fish, mostly herring is used. Smoked butes are held in high esteem. Local poultry dishes are also very popular, including game served with delicious sauces. Roast pork and grits with lingonberry jam, meat rolls, fried and boiled potatoes - that's all are served at once! Over time, cold meat, fish in jelly, stuffed eggs, bacon patties, rasol and herring salad have become characteristic dishes of Latvians. Forest delicacies like mushrooms and berries - are widely used. Fresh bee honey with pancakes or boiled butter cream, honey cake, sweet dishes from rye bread, kiselės and curd flatbreads - they all characterize the traditional menu of the local Vidzemene inhabitant even today.
Every housewife has pickled cucumbers, salted mushrooms, juices, jars of jams and sauerkraut stored on the cellar shelves. Also potatoes and vegetables from own backyard garden.
Beer is brewed in Vidzeme, as everywhere in Latvia. It is prepared both according to traditional recipes and in a modern style, adding different flavours. Local honey, berries and fruits are used to make various sweet and sour drinks. Thirst can be quenched with herbal teas, birch juices, berry infusions. On festive occasions - wine or a sip of some stronger drink is enjoyed.
You are welcome to enjoy the culinary heritage in Vidzeme!
Lazdonas Piensaimnieks
Lazdona
Rūjienas amatnieku biedrība RŪZELE
Rūjiena
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