Transylvanian Saxon cuisine

The Transylvanian Saxon cuisine is the traditional cuisine of the Transylvanian Saxons, a German ethnic group and minority (mostly of Luxembourgish descent - although many Transylvanian Landlers, who are of Austrian descent, had assimilated in this ethnic minority - and part of the broader community of the Germans of Romania) which has been living in Transylvania as well as in other historical regions on the territory of present-day Romania since the mid 12th century onwards.^[1][2]

The historical coat of arms of the Transylvanian Saxons depicting the seven historical medieval fortified towns/cities in Transylvania (Romanian: Transilvania, German: Siebenbürgen or Transsilvanien).

It is a type of cuisine which, most notably, shares many similarities with Romanian cuisine and German cuisine, given the centuries-long mutual/reciprocal influence and cohabitation between the Saxons and Romanians in Transylvania, a Romanian historical region situated at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe respectively. The Transylvanian Saxon cuisine has evolved since the High Middle Ages to the present day.

Background

The interior of a Transylvanian Saxon household, as depicted by German painter Albert Reich (1916 or 1917).

The traditional cuisine of the Transylvanian Saxons had evolved in Transylvania, contemporary Romania, through many centuries, being in contact with the Romanian cuisine but also with the Hungarian cuisine (with influences stemming mostly from the neighbouring Székelys).

At core, the Transylvanian Saxon cuisine is a type of German cuisine (therefore having Central European and Western Europe culinary features) which managed to incorporate external culinary/gastronomical influences stemming from both the Romanian cuisine and the Hungarian cuisine as well along the passing of time.^[3]

Usage of aromatic herbs

The aromatic herb of tarragon (Romanian: Tarhon, German: Estragon) was brought to Transylvania by the Transylvanian Saxons during the Middle Ages.^[4] Marjoram is another important herb in the traditional cuisine of the Transylvanian Saxons.^[5]

List of dishes

Cornulețe or kipferl as they are known in German in the traditional cuisine of the Transylvanian Saxons.

Some of the dishes which are part of the Transylvanian Saxon cuisine include:^[6]

• Palukes (similar to the Romanian mămăligă or the Italian polenta);
• Hanklich (also known as 'Burgberger hanklich'; Romanian: hencleș săsesc);^[7][8]
• Baumstriezel (similar to the Kürtőskalács of the Szeklers or a regional and traditional variant of it);
• Apfelsuppe;
• Brodelawend;
• Kartoffelknodel;
• Lebkuchen (i.e. gingerbread);
• Apple pie;
• Strudel;
• Stollen (especially served during Christmas and similar to the Romanian cozonac).

Palukes is similar to the Romanian mămăligă from which it was influenced.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

The Transylvanian Landlers (another smaller German minority in Transylvania and a sub-group of the Germans in Romania who has been living mostly in Sibiu County and historically in southern Transylvania along with the Transylvanian Saxons) call 'Palukes' 'Paluks' in their native dialect.^[9]

In addition, there are many traditional Transylvanian Saxon pastries (German: Siebenbürgisches Kleingebäck, Transylvanian Saxon: Siweberjesch Kliegebäk) as well, most notably vanillekipferl or kipferl in general, the former being vanilla-flavoured/powdered while the latter can be filled with meat as well.^[10] They are similar or identical to the Romanian cornulețe.

Therefore, the Romanian cuisine has influenced the Transylvanian Saxon cuisine over the passing of time with respect to some traditional dishes as had the German cuisine and Austrian cuisine influenced the Romanian one at the same time, most notably when it comes to some desserts, but not only. The regional culture of the Transylvanian Saxons is also savoured and served by Romanians and other ethnic groups in Transylvania as well as tourists from abroad.

Gallery

• 
  Palukes, similar to the Italian polenta or Romanian mămăligă, but with cheese (here also served with a tomato slice, powdered black pepper, and a herb for decorative purpose)
• 
  Hanklich from a local restaurant in Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt)
• 
  Hanklich from a local bakery in Brașov (German: Kronstadt)
• 
  Baumstriezel from Burzenland/Țara Bârsei, south-eastern Transylvania
• 
  Baumstriezel, alternative view
• 
  Baumstriezel cut in slices

See also

• Romanian cuisine
• Cuisine of Luxembourg
• German cuisine
• Austrian cuisine
• Swiss cuisine
• Saxon cuisine
• Medieval cuisine

External links

• Kochbücher (i.e. Recipe books) in German
• Essen und Trinken (i.e. Food and beverages) in German

Further reading

• Saxon Cookbook by the Alliance of Transylvanian Saxons (first edition published in 1980) via Google Books

Notes

1. Here pictured with cheese and sour cream or smântână.

References

1. "Saxon heritage in Romania". Romania Tourism. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
2. "Transylvanian Saxons". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
3. Andreea Ghinea (16 May 2015). "Sașii și obiceiurile lor străvechi: Ce tradiții se mai păstrează în Ardeal Interviu". Ziare.com (in Romanian). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
4. Radio România Internațional (18 November 2018). "Transylvanian Cuisine". Radio România Internațional. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
5. Saveur team (29 February 2012). "Transylvanian Recipes". Saveur. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
6. Mihaela Kloos-Ilea (8 March 2013). "Bucătăria sașilor". Povești săsești (in Romanian). Retrieved 20 February 2023.
7. Johann Schuster. "Rezept für Burgberger Hanklich". Siebenbürgische Rezepte (in German). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
8. Irmgard Sedler (17 August 2023). "Hanklich". Copernico.eu (in Romanian). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
9. Verband der Siebenbürger Sachsen in Deutschland e.V. (i.e. Association of Transylvanian Saxons in Germany) (19 December 2005). "Willi Zeidners "Palukes-Geschichten" - vielseitiges Siebenbürgenbild". Siebenbürger Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
10. Verband der Siebenbürger Sachsen in Deutschland e.V. (i.e. Association of Transylvanian Saxons in Germany). "Siebenbürgisches Kleingebäck" (in German). Retrieved 21 February 2023.