Moldovan Cuisine

Mamaliga is a firm or soft cornmeal dish similar to polenta. It is commonly served with cheese, sour cream, meat, or fish and is a staple shared across Moldovan and Romanian food traditions.

Plăcinte are filled pastries made with dough and fillings such as brânză, potatoes, cabbage, pumpkin, or sour cherries. They may be baked or pan-cooked and can be either savory or sweet.

The two cuisines share many dishes because of their close historical and geographic ties, including mamaliga and plăcinte. Moldovan cooking also shows strong Ukrainian, Russian, and Turkish influences, especially in preserved foods, soups, and meat dishes.

A practical first meal is mamaliga with brânză and sour cream, followed by a filled plăcintă. A traditional soup such as zeamă is another useful introduction to Moldovan home cooking.