Ballokume

Ballokume is an Albanian cookie originating in the city of Elbasan, which is popular throughout Albania and Albanian communities. It is traditionally eaten on Dita e Verës, an Albanian pagan holiday celebrated on 14 March.[1] It is sometimes called kulaç me finj, as it may optionally contain finj, a mixture of ashes from a wood stove boiled in water.[2]

Ballokume also known as Ballokume Elbasani.

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.[2] The dough must be kneaded vigorously, which is why the men of the house are often involved in the ballokume preparation.[3]

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.[3]

See also

References
  1. Elbasani Ballokume - traditional sweet Monarch
  2. "Ballokume Elbasani Authentic Recipe". Taste Atlas. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  3. Abitbol, Vera (2 November 2019). "Albania: Ballokume". 196 flavors. Retrieved 24 January 2020.


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