Albanian Foods Vegetarian Travelers Need to Try
You’ll find stuffed eggplant on many menus in Albania.
Traveling through the Balkans can be tough for vegetarians and vegans (hope you like bread!). Thankfully, more restaurants are catering to veggie needs and offering more diverse menus. However, in Albania, a number of their local dishes have always been vegetarian. Here are some of the vegetarian and vegan foods you need to try in Albania.
Qifqi. According to Rachel Berryman, an American expat who owns Tirana Yoga, the literal translation of this dish is ‘fuckity fuck.’
Foods you need to try in Albania
Fergese. Feta and red peppers, tomato, butter, onion, salt and pepper, olive oil, chili flakes, and basil.
Plaki. Traditional Albanian food that’s fit for vegetarians. It’s made up of fava beans in tomato sauce. Found mostly in the south in Gjirokaster and Berat.
Qifqi. Rice balls with spinach and herbs, found mostly in Gjirokaster.
Turli. A vegetable stew popular in northern Albania where more home-style cooking is done. Make sure to check that no meat has been added if you’re vegetarian.
Peppers with gjize. Stuffed eggplant or pepper, similar to Turkish moussaka. This dish is sometimes stuff with ground beef or other meats, so for the vegetarians, remember to ask whether meat has been added.
Saganaki. Fried cheese. I’m not sure if this is Albanian just Greek. It doesn’t matter if you like cheese :) You’ll find this on menus on the southern coast, which is right next to Greece.
Fresh fruits and vegetables. If you’re renting an apartment, pick up some quality Albanian veg and cook yourself a feast.
Saganaki at Mamma’s Kitchen in Sarande.
Should you tip in Albania?
Agree on a rate up front when you’re taking a taxi, but you don’t tip. For restaurants, it’s standard to round up the bill. You can add an extra 10%, but there isn’t really a tipping culture in Albania.
If you found this article useful, please share it, and subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast. Each week, expats and adventurers share their insider travel tips on the best food, nightlife, and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who's spent the last 8 years living in, and traveling around, Europe.