Although the letter E contains fewer Romanian food names than many other letters, it still represents an interesting mix of café desserts, hearty meat dishes, preserved ingredients, and everyday home cooking. Some recipes originated in Romania, while others were adopted from neighboring European cuisines and gradually became part of Romanian culinary tradition.
Exploring foods beginning with E offers a glimpse into Romania’s ability to embrace outside influences while preserving its own distinctive flavors and cooking techniques.
This guide introduces authentic Romanian foods that start with E, highlighting traditional recipes, popular favorites, and regional specialties enjoyed across the country.
E Explores Romania’s European Culinary Influences
Romanian cuisine has evolved through centuries of cultural exchange, and several foods beginning with E reflect this rich history.
One popular example is Ecler, the Romanian version of the classic éclair. Found in bakeries throughout the country, these light choux pastries are filled with vanilla cream, chocolate cream, or coffee-flavored custard before being topped with glossy chocolate icing. They remain one of Romania’s favorite café desserts.
Another well-known dish is Escalop de Pui, a chicken cutlet prepared by lightly flattening chicken breast before pan-frying or serving it in a creamy mushroom or pepper sauce. It is commonly accompanied by mashed potatoes, rice, or seasonal vegetables.
Its equally popular counterpart is Escalop de Porc, a pork escalope prepared using similar techniques. The tender pork is often served with mushrooms, cream sauce, or roasted potatoes, making it a comforting choice in many Romanian restaurants.
You’ll also encounter Enibahar Murat, allspice preserved with vegetables or used in traditional pickling mixtures. Although not usually served as a standalone dish, allspice plays an important role in flavoring Romanian pickled vegetables, sausages, and preserved foods.
Other authentic Romanian foods and culinary terms beginning with E include Estragon în Oțet (tarragon preserved in vinegar), Escalop cu Ciuperci (mushroom escalope), Escalop vienez (Viennese-style escalope), Ementaler Pane (fried Emmental cheese), Eclere cu Vanilie (vanilla éclairs), Eclere cu Cafea (coffee éclairs), Eclere cu Ciocolată (chocolate éclairs), and Eclere Mini (mini éclairs).
These foods demonstrate how Romanian cuisine blends local traditions with European culinary influences to create familiar yet distinctive dishes.
Benefits of Learning Romanian Foods Beginning With E
- Complete your Romanian food vocabulary from A to Z.
- Discover authentic Romanian café favorites.
- Learn about European influences on Romanian cuisine.
- Explore pastries, meat dishes, sauces, and preserved ingredients.
- Recognize classic foods served across Romania.
- Improve confidence when reading Romanian restaurant menus.
- Strengthen memory through alphabetical learning.
- Prepare for travel by identifying local specialties.
- Support classroom and worksheet activities.
- Learn more about Romania’s culinary history.
- Find inspiration for cooking Romanian-inspired meals.
- Experience both sweet and savory Romanian foods.
- Build a deeper appreciation for Romanian food culture.
Romanian Foods That Start With E
Foods beginning with E reveal another side of Romanian cuisine, where elegant pastries, comforting meat dishes, and carefully preserved herbs all have an important place.
Although this letter contains fewer traditional recipes, the dishes remain widely recognized in Romanian homes, bakeries, cafés, and restaurants, reflecting the country’s blend of local traditions and European culinary heritage.
Romanian Veal Escalope
Escalop de Vițel
Syllable: es-kah-LOP deh vee-TSEL
Pronunciation: Escalop de Vițel
- Romanian veal escalope is tender and flavorful. – Escalopul de vițel este fraged și gustos.
- We served Romanian veal escalope for dinner. – Am servit escalop de vițel la cină.
- My family enjoys escalop de vițel on weekends. – Familia mea se bucură de escalop de vițel în weekend.
Romanian Chicken Escalope
Escalop de Pui
Syllable: es-kah-LOP deh POOY
Pronunciation: Escalop de Pui
- Romanian chicken escalope is juicy and delicious. – Escalopul de pui este suculent și gustos.
- We cooked Romanian chicken escalope for lunch. – Am gătit escalop de pui la prânz.
- My mother often prepares escalop de pui. – Mama mea pregătește des escalop de pui.
Escalope with Mushrooms
Escalop cu Ciuperci
Syllable: es-kah-LOP koo choo-PERCH
Pronunciation: Escalop cu Ciuperci
- Escalope with mushrooms has a rich creamy flavor. – Escalopul cu ciuperci are un gust bogat și cremos.
- We enjoyed escalope with mushrooms for dinner. – Am mâncat escalop cu ciuperci la cină.
- My father likes escalop cu ciuperci very much. – Tatălui meu îi place foarte mult escalopul cu ciuperci.
Traditional Pickling Spice Mix
Enibahar în Murături
Syllable: eh-nee-bah-HAR uhn moo-ruh-TOOR
Pronunciation: Enibahar în Murături
- Traditional pickling spice mix adds rich flavor to vegetables. – Enibaharul în murături dă un gust bogat legumelor.
- We use the traditional pickling spice mix every autumn. – Folosim enibahar în murături în fiecare toamnă.
- My grandmother always keeps enibahar pentru murături at home. – Bunica mea păstrează mereu enibahar pentru murături acasă.
Romanian Cuisine Adapts International Recipes Into Local Favorites
One of the strengths of Romanian cooking is its ability to adopt international recipes while giving them a distinctly Romanian character.
Ecler has become a staple in Romanian pastry shops, while Escalop de Pui and Escalop de Porc are everyday restaurant favorites prepared with local ingredients and traditional side dishes. Even ingredients such as Enibahar Murat continue Romania’s long tradition of preserving foods and enhancing flavor through pickling.
Together, these specialties demonstrate how Romanian cuisine continues to evolve while remaining deeply connected to its culinary roots.
Practice Activities
- Learn five Romanian foods beginning with E.
- Practice pronouncing each Romanian food name.
- Create flashcards with pictures and ingredients.
- Match foods with their preparation methods.
- Read authentic Romanian recipes.
- Watch Romanian bakery and cooking videos.
- Organize foods into pastries, meat dishes, and preserved ingredients.
- Research the history of Romanian Ecler.
- Visit a Romanian bakery or restaurant and identify foods beginning with E.
- Keep an alphabetical Romanian food notebook.
- Try making homemade éclairs or a Romanian-style escalope.
- Compare Romanian pastries with those from neighboring countries.
- Share your favorite discovery with family or friends.
- Test your knowledge using the worksheet.
Continue Your Romanian Food Alphabet Journey!
The letter E may be smaller in number, but it still introduces a memorable collection of Romanian specialties. From creamy Ecler and hearty Escalop de Pui to flavorful Escalop de Porc and aromatic Enibahar Murat, these foods highlight Romania’s ability to combine local traditions with broader European influences.
Which Romanian food beginning with E would you like to try first? Share your favorite in the comments, suggest another authentic E specialty, and continue exploring the Romanian food alphabet one delicious letter at a time.






