Flia
Place of origin | Kosovo, Albania |
---|---|
Associated cuisine | Albanian cuisine |
Main ingredients | Flour, water, salt |
Ingredients generally used | Butter, yogurt, oil, eggs, nuts |
Flia or flija (Albanian indefinite form: fli) is an Albanian dish typical of northern Albania and of the cuisine of Kosovo.[1][2][3] It consists of multiple crêpe-like layers brushed with cream and served with sour cream and butter. The name translates to "sacrifice" (see fli). Flia is prepared in the shape of the Sun (Albanian Dielli) also featuring sunbeams.[4]
Tradition
March 17, which falls within the traditional Albanian festivities of Verëza (spring equinox), is recognized as "Flia Day" in which families invite their relatives for preparing and eating flia.[5] It is assumed that flia began to be prepared by Albanians for Verëza as a sacrifice to the Sun-god.[4]
Preparation
Flia requires very simple ingredients: flour, water, butter, yogurt, eggs, oil and salt. Some variations use kaymak as the filling instead.[6] The main ingredients (flour, water and salt) are mixed together until they become like pancake batter. Layers of batter are baked using a saq which is a spherical metal lid used for baking.
References
- ^ Flija
- ^ "Kosovo Guide". Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
- ^ Kosovo Pastry dishes Archived 2013-05-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Flija, mbretëresha e kuzhinës shqiptare që simbolizon diellin në Ditën e Verës" [Flija, the Queen of Albanian Cuisine that Symbolizes the Sun on Summer's Day]. KultPlus (in Albanian). Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ^ "Albanian Flija | Albanian Pancake". My Albanian Food. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Albanian Flija | Albanian Pancake". My Albanian Food. Retrieved 2022-09-23.