The World | Europe | Lithuania

Lithuanian cuisine is similar to that of its neighbors, Estonia and Latvia, and it is diverse, simple, and delicious. Staple foods include grains (rye, wheat, barley and oats), potatoes, beets, meat (especially pork and poultry), fish, and dairy products. Cheese is widely used in Lithuanian cooking, especially a Lithuanian specialty called suris, which is a delicious hard cheese resembling Italian ricotta. Some Lithuanian cheeses are made with fruit, and a favorite is smoked cheese, which goes well with Lithuanian beer. Seasonings include caraway, dill, parsley, and bay leaves, and ginger, honey, and allspice are used in baking.