Part of a series on
Albanians
Nation
Albania
By region or country
Australia · Bulgaria Croatia · Germany Greece · Italy/Arbëreshë Kosovo · Macedonia Montenegro · Romania Serbia · Sweden Switzerland · Ukraine · United States
Subgroups
Arbëreshë · Arvanites · Souliotes · Cham · Arbanasi
Albanian culture
Art · Cinema · Dress · Literature · Music Sport · Cuisine · Mythology · Epic Poetry
Varieties of Albanian
Gheg · Tosk · Arvanitika Arbëresh · Cham
Religion
Islam Orthodox Roman Catholicism Protestantism Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church Kosovo Protestant Evangelical Church Italo-Albanian Catholic Church Judaism in Albania Orthodox Church in America Albanian Archdiocese
History
Origins · History
v t e

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2010)

The cuisine of Albania is influenced by Turkish, Greek, and Italian cuisines, as well as ancient Greek, ancient Roman and Byzantine cooking. Every region in Albania and Kosovo has its own unique dishes. Albanian cuisine is characterized by the use of various mediterranean herbs such as Oregano, Black Pepper, Mint, Basil, Rosemary and more in cooking meat and fish. Olive oil and butter is also a main ingredient in different dishes.

In Albania, meat (lamb, cow, rabbit and chicken) is used heavily in various dishes in most of the country. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas such as Durrës, Vlorë, Shkoder, Lezhe and Sarandë.

Vegetables are used in almost every dish. Usually, Albanian farmers grow every vegetable present in the Mediterranean region and sell them at the local Farmers Market. Vegetables are brought fresh at the Farmers Market early in the morning and this market is opened everyday.

The main meal of the Albanians is lunch, which usually consists of gjellë, the main dish of slowly cooked meat, and a salad of fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and olives. The salad is dressed with olive oil, vinegar, and salt.

Appetizers[link]

• Bread (Bukë) or Corn Bread (Bukë misri) are ever present on the Albanian table. Hence the expression for "Going to eat a meal" (Albanian:për të ngrënë bukë) can be literally translated as Going to eat bread.
• Chicken livers
• Eggplant appetizers
• Dolma (Stuffed pepper with rice and meat)
• Pickled cabbage (Laker Turshi)
• Fried sardines with lemon (Sarraga me Limon)
• Albanian-style meze platters that include prosciutto ham, salami and brined cheese, accompanied with roasted bell peppers (capsicum) and/or green olives marinated in olive oil with garlic
• Papare: bread leftovers cooked with water, egg, and Gjize (a special type of Ricotta)

Salads[link]

• Albanian potato salad
• Albanian tossed salad
• Bean salad
• Cabbage salad
• Tomato and pepper salad

Soups[link]

Tarator is a chilled yogurt and cucumber soup and is popular in the summer months

• Bean Jahni soup
• Potato and cabbage soup
• Soup with lemon
• Tarator
• Trahana

Fish[link]

• Oven-baked trout (or Ohrid trout) with onions and tomatoes
• Baked fish with olive oil and garlic
• Baked carp or eel

Meat[link]

• Tavë kosi, baked lamb and yogurt dish
• veal or chicken with walnuts^[1]
• Fërgesë of Tirana with Veal
• Fried meatballs or, Qofte të fërguara.
• Kolloface Korçe
• Veal with very large lima beans
• Harapash, which is polenta with the intestines of lamb, butter, cheese and corn flour

Vegetables[link]

Dolma

• Dolma (in Kosovo known as Sarma and in South Eastern Montenegro known as Japrak) - a family of stuffed vegetable dishes
• Baked leeks
• Fërgesë of Tirana with peppers
• Peppers stuffed with rice, meat and vegetables
• Stuffed aubergines with cheese

Pies[link]

Bakllasarëm. It is also called Mantia, but it is not the dumpling form of the Turkish Manti.

• Byrek – Albanian vegetable pie, it can also have feta cheese, spinach, cabbage or meat, its layered pie also known as "pite" or "pita".
• Kungullur – Pastry layers filled with mashed pumpkin, butter, salt and sugar
• Bakllasarëm - A traditional food prepared in Kosovo and Albania, its layered pie also known as "pite" or "pita" (Byrek) without anything inside, which is covered with yoghurt and garlic, and then heated again. It is eaten for lunch.

Desserts[link]

Baklava is prepared on large trays and cut into a variety of shapes

The desserts most common in Albania are made throughout the Balkans:

• Halvë
• Turkish Delight
• Kadaif
• Revani
• Tambëloriz/Sultjash
• Baklava
• Kek
• Shëndetlie (me mjaltë)
• Kabuni
• Krem karamel
• Zupa
• Tres leches
• Tollumba - Fried dough pieces in syrup
• Gliko

Drinks[link]

A glass of boza

Mineral water is one of the most preferred non-alcoholic drinks in Albania, along with carbonated beverages. Some of these are produced locally and some are imported from abroad.

• Carbonated and mineral waters
• Milk (Gjizë is a by product)
• Yoghurt (Kos)
• Mountain Tea (Çaj Mali)
• Various fruit juices and soft drinks
• Albanian buttermilk (Dhallë)
• Beer (local Birra Tirana, and Birra Korça)
• Boza
• Raki
• Cognac (local Konjak Skënderbeu)
• Albanian wine

References[link]

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2011)

External links[link]

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Albanian cuisine

• Traditional Dishes by Region in Albania
• 20 Traditional Albanian Recipes
• Albanian Cuisine
• Traditional Albanian Recipes Portal (Albanian)
• Albanian Liver Recipe

v t e Albania topics Index Outline Symbols Flag Coat of arms People Language List of Albanians Albanian diaspora Kosovo refugees Albanian Americans Arbëreshë people Arvanites Writers Enver Hoxha Mother Teresa Ismail Qemali Sali Berisha Skanderbeg Ismail Kadare History Origins Praevalitana Epirus Nova Middle Ages Albania under the Bulgarian Empire Albania under the Serbian Empire Principality of Arbër Kingdom of Albania Albanian Principalities in Middle Ages League of Lezhë Venetian Albania Ottoman Albania Albanian Pashaliks Massacre of the Albanian Beys Albanian National Awakening Revolts of 1833–1839 Revolt of 1843–1844 Revolt of 1847 League of Prizren League of Peja Revolt of 1910 Battle of Deçiq Independence Declaration Independent Albania Provisional Government of Albania Albania during the Balkan Wars Principality of Albania (1914–1925) Italian protectorate over Albania Vlora War Republic of Mirdita Albanian Republic (1925–1928) Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939) Albania under Italy (Invasion Colonization) Albania under Germany Resistance Communist Albania (1946–1992) Post-Communist Albania (since 1992) Timeline Politics Constitution Heads of State Prime Minister Parliament Political parties Elections (2007) Counties Districts Municipalities Foreign relations History of Kosovo Kosovo War Corruption LGBT rights Geography Cities: Tirana Geographical regions: Northern Mountain Range Southern Mountain Range Western Lowlands Central Mountain Range Mountains: Mount Dajti Golem Korab Dinaric Alps Mount Korab Tomorri Mountain Seas: Adriatic Sea Ionian Sea Rivers: Drin River Buna River Vjosë Black Drin Lakes: Lake Skadar Lake Ohrid Lake Prespa Lagoons: Karavasta Narta Plains: Myzeqe Korçë Plain Zadrima Capes: Cape of Gjuhëz Cape of Rodon National Parks: Butrint Lura Llogara Thethi Valbona Valley Shebenik-Jabllanica Fir of Hotova Karaburun-Sazan Economy Agriculture Albanian lek International rankings of Albania Telecommunications Transport Banks Rail Transport Tourism Military Military Air Force Rapid Reaction Brigade Naval Defense Forces Joint Forces Command Support Command Culture Languages Nationalism Literature Art Cinema Costume Cuisine Emigration Music Sports Smoking Holidays Religion Television Radio Mythology Epic Poetry Religion Islam Albanian Orthodox Church Roman Catholicism Protestanism Byzantine Catholicism Categories Archaeological sites Cities Communications Culture Economy Education Geography Government History Military People Politics Politicians Religion Society Sports Transport Albania stubs Buildings and structures Category Portal WikiProject

Rita Ora
Background information
Birth name	Rita Sahatçiu Ora
Born	(1990-11-26) November 26, 1990 (age 21) Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (present day Kosovo[a])
Origin	West London, England, UK.[1]
Genres	R&B, pop, soul , smooth jazz
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress
Instruments	Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Roc Nation
Website	ritaora.com rocnation.com/ritaora

Rita Sahatçiu Ora (born 26 November 1990), better known as Rita Ora, is a British singer-songwriter and actress.^[2][3] In 2009, she appeared on the BBC's Eurovision: Your Country Needs You where she auditioned to be the British contestant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.^[1] Later in 2009, she signed to Roc Nation. Ora is of Kosovar Albanian ethnicity.

In 2012, Ora provided the vocals for DJ Fresh’s "Hot Right Now", which has been the fastest selling single in the UK of 2012.^[4] Ora's debut single, "R.I.P", topped the UK Singles Chart in May 2012.^[5] Ora will spend the summer 2012 opening concerts for Coldplay.^[6]

Biography[link]

Early life and career beginnings[link]

Rita Ora was born in Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo^[a]) and moved to the United Kingdom the same year of her birth. She grew up in West London and attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE Primary School in Earls Court, following which she graduated from Sylvia Young Theatre School and then St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College. She began singing from a young age.^[7][8] In 2004, she appeared in the British film Spivs.^[9] She auditioned for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You on BBC One to be the British contestant for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest^[1][10] but later withdrew from the competition after a few episodes as she did not feel ready.^[1]

In 2007, Ora had her first music release when she appeared on Craig David's track entitled "Awkward"^[11] and then again in 2008 on "Where's Your Love" featuring Tinchy Stryder, for which she also appears in the music video.^[12] Ora began singing in bars in and around London, and in 2009 a A&R told Roc Nation about Ora, a few days after Ora flew out to New York and met Jay Z.^[13] In 2009, Ora made a cameo on Jay-Z's video for "Young Forever" and "Over" by Drake. Ora caught the attention of Jay-Z and he signed her to Roc Nation, for which she was featured in a commercial for Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones.^[14][15]

2011–present: debut album[link]

Throughout 2011, Ora released viral videos of herself working on her debut album.^[16] On 14 December 2011, DJ Fresh and Ora released the music video for "Hot Right Now" on YouTube.^[17] The single was released on 12 February 2012 and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

On 24 February 2012, Ora visited New York's Z100 radio station alongside her Roc Nation label boss Jay-Z, to premiere "How We Do (Party)", her debut single and the lead single from her upcoming studio album. "How We Do (Party)" borrows its familiar refrain from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Party and Bullshit".^[18]

She has been recording her first studio album for two years. will.i.am, Ester Dean, Drake, The-Dream, Kanye West and Stargate are all working with Ora on her debut album.^[19][20]

When speaking about the sound of the album and its concept, Ora said it "definitely has pop in it, but (...) you can hear influences of jazz in there, you can hear influences of Monica and Aaliyah, and then you can hear Gwen Stefani.”^[21] She has also stated the album will be influenced by her father's record colllection which, in addition to reggae, also includes such artists as Eric Clapton and B.B. King.^[22] She confirmed the tracks "Roc the Life", "Love at War", "Facemelt" and "Shine Ya Light" to be featured on her debut album.^{[23] [24]}

Her first solo record, "R.I.P." featuring Tinie Tempah, was released as her first UK single on 6 May 2012.^[25] The video directed by Emil Nava was recorded in Hackney, East London, and released on 4 April 2012.^[26] Produced by Chase & Status, the song debuted at the top of the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first solo UK number 1, and second overall.^[5] In May, Ora became a guest judge on the ninth series of the X Factor in the UK, with the auditions filmed at the O2 Arena, London.^[27] In summer 2012, Ora will be opening stadiums for Coldplay.^[6]

Artistry[link]

Influences[link]

Ora credits Gwen Stefani as her idol and biggest influence, saying in an interview “Do you know how much I love that woman? I love everything about her."^[13] Ora has also named Beyoncé as a major influence and a mentor, in addition to talking about her admiration at being able to have one of her idols, Beyoncé, give her feedback on her debut album.^[20] Her other musical influences include Aaliyah, India Arie, Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Monica, Madonna, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Vybz Kartel and Sade.^[13][28] Ora has mentioned her admiration for Rita Hayworth as an early inspiration for wanting to pursue an acting career.^[29]

For fashion inspirations, Ora also cites Gwen Stefani^[30] as her most influential style icon. In addition to Stefani, Ora has drawn great inspiration stylistically from Marilyn Monroe and Daphne Guinness through fashionable trends in both vintage clothing and retro wear.^[31][32]

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

As featured artist[link]

Guest appearances[link]

She has appeared in 2 songs of James Morrison's album Songs for You, Truths for Me as backing vocal

Music videos[link]

Cameo appearances[link]

Filmography[link]

Notes and references[link]

Notes:

References:

External links[link]

• Official website
• Information