Ballokume is an Albanian cookie originating in the city of Elbasan,[1][2] which is popular throughout Albania and Albanian communities.[3][4] It is traditionally eaten on Dita e Verës, an Albanian pagan holiday celebrated on 14 March.[1][2][4][5] It is sometimes called kulaç me finj, as it may optionally contain finj, a mixture of ashes from a wood stove boiled in water.[4][6]
 | |
| Alternative names | Ballakume, Kulaç me finj |
|---|---|
| Type | Cookie |
| Place of origin | Albania |
| Region or state | Elbasan |
| Main ingredients | Corn flour, butter, sugar, eggs |
| Variations | Milk, ashes |
It consists of butter, sugar, eggs, and cornflour. It is traditionally kneaded in a copper bowl, which is supposed to improve the texture of the dough.[1][2][6] The dough must be kneaded vigorously, which is why the men of the house are often involved in the ballokume preparation.[1][2][7]
Etymology edit
Tradition holds that the name comes from a 16-century Ottoman ruler of Elbasan who, after having tasted a small cake made from corn flour cooked in a wood fire, exclaimed: “Është ba si llokume!” (“It’s as good as a lokum!“), the word ballokume resulting by contracting this sentence.[2][4][7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d Wilson, Thomas M. (November 30, 2023). Europe: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9798216171409.
- ^ a b c d e "Albanian Ballokume Recipe | Travel Food Atlas". 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Jacob, Jeanne; Ashkenazi, Michael (January 15, 2014). The World Cookbook: The Greatest Recipes from Around the Globe. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9798216168324.
- ^ a b c d "Dita e Verës: Cooking ballokume with Mirela of Papare The Beauty of Small Things for welcoming Spring". The Albania Insider. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Elbasani Ballokume - traditional sweet Archived 2020-03-21 at the Wayback Machine Monarch
- ^ a b "Ballokume Elbasani Authentic Recipe". Taste Atlas. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ a b Abitbol, Vera (2 November 2019). "Albania: Ballokume". 196 flavors. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
External links edit
- Ballokume recipe - Albanian Way
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