Ballokume Explained

Ballokume
Alternate Name:Ballakume, Kulaç me finj
Place Of Origin:Albania
Region:Elbasan
Main Ingredient:Corn flour, butter, sugar, eggs
Type:Cookie
Variations:Milk, ashes

Ballokume is an Albanian cookie originating in the city of Elbasan,[1] [2] which is popular throughout Albania and Albanian communities.[3] [4] It is traditionally eaten on Dita e Verës, an Albanian pagan holiday celebrated on 14 March.[5] It is sometimes called kulaç me finj, as it may optionally contain finj, a mixture of ashes from a wood stove boiled in water.[6] It consists of butter, sugar, eggs, and cornflour. It is traditionally kneaded in a copper bowl, which is supposed to improve the texture of the dough. The dough must be kneaded vigorously, which is why the men of the house are often involved in the ballokume preparation.[7]

Etymology

Tradition holds that the name comes from a 16-century Ottoman ruler of Elbasan who, after having tasted a small cake made from corn flour cooked in a wood fire, exclaimed: “Është ba si llokume!” (“It’s as good as a lokum!“), the word ballokume resulting by contracting this sentence.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wilson, Thomas M. . Europe: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society . November 30, 2023 . Bloomsbury Publishing . 9798216171409.
  2. Web site: 2021-06-15 . Albanian Ballokume Recipe Travel Food Atlas . 2024-05-03 . en-US.
  3. Book: Jacob, Jeanne . The World Cookbook: The Greatest Recipes from Around the Globe . Ashkenazi . Michael . January 15, 2014 . Bloomsbury Publishing . 9798216168324.
  4. Web site: Dita e Verës: Cooking ballokume with Mirela of Papare The Beauty of Small Things for welcoming Spring . 2024-05-03 . The Albania Insider . en-US.
  5. http://www.monarch.al/index.php/sq/component/k2/item/16-elbasani-ballokume-traditional-sweet Elbasani Ballokume - traditional sweet
  6. Web site: Ballokume Elbasani Authentic Recipe. 1 September 2019. Taste Atlas. 24 January 2020.
  7. Web site: Albania: Ballokume. Abitbol. Vera. 2 November 2019. 196 flavors. en-US. 24 January 2020.