What traditional foods are popular in Albania?

Albanian cuisine is characterized by a variety of meat and seafood dishes. Popular traditional foods include:

• Meat Dishes: Common staples include roasts, biftek (beef loin), qebaps (kabobs), and qoftë (meatballs). A specialty of Tirana is fergësë, a hot dish prepared with meat, peppers, eggs, and tomatoes. In southern Albania, kukurec—sheep intestines broiled on a spit—is a traditional entree.1
• Seafood: Carp and the rare, revered koran (trout) are the preferred fish throughout the country.1
• Desserts: Oshaf, a pudding made from figs and sheep’s milk, is a common dessert.1
• Beverages: The traditional drink is raki, a local brandy distilled from grapes, which is frequently consumed before meals.1

Agriculture in Albania supports these culinary traditions, with the country producing a variety of crops including wheat, corn, fruits, and nuts, as well as raising livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle.2