Comments on: Romanian Zacusca Recipe http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/ food, wine, beer and Baltimore living Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:19:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Not Afraid To Use It http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5912 Not Afraid To Use It Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:28:24 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5912 Thank you so much for your blog and this recipe. We wanted to do something special for my son's teacher, who is Romanian. We think it turned out fabulous, but I suppose the real test will be what she thinks! :) I do know that we'll be making it often here at our house. Thank you so much for your blog and this recipe. We wanted to do something special for my son’s teacher, who is Romanian. We think it turned out fabulous, but I suppose the real test will be what she thinks! :) I do know that we’ll be making it often here at our house.

]]> By: PurpleD http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5771 PurpleD Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:40:21 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5771 Oh, I forgot...I envision a white wine with this recipe. Maybe you can find a semi-dry Romanian wine. My american husband, accustomed with wines from all around the world, was shocked at how delicious Romanian wines are! Not to mention our plum brandy (Palinca), but that's another story...He even wants to name our daughter Plum Brandy!? :-) Oh, I forgot…I envision a white wine with this recipe. Maybe you can find a semi-dry Romanian wine. My american husband, accustomed with wines from all around the world, was shocked at how delicious Romanian wines are! Not to mention our plum brandy (Palinca), but that’s another story…He even wants to name our daughter Plum Brandy!? :-)

]]> By: PurpleD http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5770 PurpleD Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:33:21 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5770 Greg, your recipe is not "wrong". Although we Romanians agree that there are some guidelines for "Zacusca", every household makes it with a slightly different taste. For example, I like with with more eggplant and mushrooms....Since it's a mix of veggies, it depends on your particular preference. It's important that all of them are mashed into a paste. I've got to try it myself now! :) Greg, your recipe is not “wrong”.

Although we Romanians agree that there are some guidelines for “Zacusca”, every household makes it with a slightly different taste. For example, I like with with more eggplant and mushrooms….Since it’s a mix of veggies, it depends on your particular preference. It’s important that all of them are mashed into a paste.

I’ve got to try it myself now! :)

]]> By: Greg B http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5670 Greg B Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:05:15 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5670 Good luck, Sylwia! come back and let me know how it turns out :) Good luck, Sylwia! come back and let me know how it turns out :)

]]> By: Sylwia http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5662 Sylwia Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:49:22 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5662 Hi All, Thanks for all the suggestions on zacuska. Most of my friends are Romanian and I had a chance to try zacuska many times. My favorite. Just today I got a great bargain on farmers market with peppers and tonight is the cooking zacuska night! Wish me luck!.Sylwia Hi All,

Thanks for all the suggestions on zacuska. Most of my friends are Romanian and I had a chance to try zacuska many times. My favorite. Just today I got a great bargain on farmers market with peppers and tonight is the cooking zacuska night! Wish me luck!.Sylwia

]]> By: Greg http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5617 Greg Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:42:47 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5617 Hi Alyce, Thanks for the helpful comments and the recipe! Given the sheer number of recipes just in the comment section, I'm thinking of having a zacusca festival at my house this fall. Maybe then we can make each recipe and have a bunch of people eat and rate them all to see how we Americans like them :) I know I've eaten other Romanian foods before, and I loved them all. Do you have any other recipes you want to pass on? -gb Hi Alyce, Thanks for the helpful comments and the recipe! Given the sheer number of recipes just in the comment section, I’m thinking of having a zacusca festival at my house this fall. Maybe then we can make each recipe and have a bunch of people eat and rate them all to see how we Americans like them :)

I know I’ve eaten other Romanian foods before, and I loved them all. Do you have any other recipes you want to pass on?

-gb

]]> By: Alyce http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5615 Alyce Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:21:57 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5615 Greg, I am also Romanian. First, I'd like to apologize for my fellow countrymen who were so rude by telling you that your recipe is all wrong. Your recipe is not wrong, it's just different than theirs. There are as many recipes for Zacusca as there are cooks! And every cook boasts that theirs is the best, but that's only because they've become accustomed to that flavor. My recipe includes equal parts (by weight) of bell pepper, eggplant, onion and carrots (yes, carrots). Add oil, salt and pepper. Towards the end of the cooking, I add some tomato paste for some acid, but I don't add whole tomatoes because they are too juicy. You'll know your Zacusca is done when the oil separates from the rest of the paste. If you have the time give this a try, but I'm sure all the other recipes are just as delicious. Oh, and mushrooms is another popular ingredient in Zacusca, but I don't like the texture. Enjoy and thank you for posting about Romanian food. Alyce Greg,

I am also Romanian. First, I’d like to apologize for my fellow countrymen who were so rude by telling you that your recipe is all wrong. Your recipe is not wrong, it’s just different than theirs. There are as many recipes for Zacusca as there are cooks! And every cook boasts that theirs is the best, but that’s only because they’ve become accustomed to that flavor.

My recipe includes equal parts (by weight) of bell pepper, eggplant, onion and carrots (yes, carrots). Add oil, salt and pepper. Towards the end of the cooking, I add some tomato paste for some acid, but I don’t add whole tomatoes because they are too juicy. You’ll know your Zacusca is done when the oil separates from the rest of the paste.

If you have the time give this a try, but I’m sure all the other recipes are just as delicious. Oh, and mushrooms is another popular ingredient in Zacusca, but I don’t like the texture.

Enjoy and thank you for posting about Romanian food.

Alyce

]]> By: Ted http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5409 Ted Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:42:30 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5409 Alex, I received a packet of pepper seeds from Hungary. I am told that the name on the seed package translates to "Pritamin Paprika". The sender said this pepper is also referred to as "gogosari". Do I have the right pepper? I have some growing in my garden. While none are ripe, the shape is the same as those in your web link. Ted Alex, I received a packet of pepper seeds from Hungary. I am told that the name on the seed package translates to “Pritamin Paprika”. The sender said this pepper is also referred to as “gogosari”. Do I have the right pepper? I have some growing in my garden. While none are ripe, the shape is the same as those in your web link.

Ted

]]> By: Greg http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5386 Greg Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:26:23 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5386 Hi Alex, Thanks for the input! I'll be looking forward to making a few more recipes as the season gets on to fall. Maybe I'll do a little taste test of commenter's separate inputs :) Hi Alex,

Thanks for the input! I’ll be looking forward to making a few more recipes as the season gets on to fall. Maybe I’ll do a little taste test of commenter’s separate inputs :)

]]> By: Alex http://foodandwineblog.com/2009/01/01/romanian-zacusca-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-5385 Alex Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:58:33 +0000 http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=1757#comment-5385 lol .. sorry for posting 4 times.. i kept getting some errors .. lol .. sorry for posting 4 times.. i kept getting some errors ..

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