The Republic of Moldova and Romania have notable positions in the Top 100 Pastries in the World rankings compiled by TasteAtlas. Romania ranks 64th with the delicious papanasi, and Moldova ranks 98th with traditional Moldovan pies, IPN reports.
Moldovan pies are fried pastry or thin cakes consisting of flour, water, eggs, milk, yeast, and a pinch of salt. This fried or deep-fried pastry is enjoyed warm, and it is usually stuffed with a sweet or savory filling. A great variety of fillings can be used for the stuffing, including cheese, sweet cheese, mashed potatoes, shredded cabbage, apples, jams, and sour cherries, to name a few. “Plăcinta” gained the 98th position in the top 100.
Romanian papanasi is a traditional Romanian donut-shaped pastry with a small sphere on top. It can be fried or boiled, and it's made by adding unsalted cheese such as cow's milk cheese or “urdă” to a regular flour and egg dough. The fried papanași are usually donut-shaped and can be served with fruit jams, a dollop of sour cream, or powdered sugar. The boiled ones are smaller, nugget-shaped, and typically coated with a mix of breadcrumbs and sugar. This dessert can be found in most Romanian traditional restaurants or it can be prepared at home.
The first place is taken by Pastel de Belém, which is a traditional Portuguese egg custard tart made with a pastry shell that's filled with a combination of milk, eggs, sugar, lemon, and cinnamon. The first recipe for pastel de Belém dates back to 1837 when it was produced by the monks of the Jerónimos monastery in Lisbon. Only the custard tarts produced at the Fábrica Pastéis de Belém can be called pastel de Belém, while all the others, produced by other patisseries in Lisbon are called pastel de nata.
The second place is occupied by Pastel de nata, a traditional Portuguese egg custard tart that is popular throughout the world. The tarts are usually sprinkled with cinnamon and, ideally, paired with a cup of coffee. Originally, this treat was made before the 18th century by Catholic monks and nuns in Santa Maria de Belém in Lisbon. The tart was made from leftover egg yolks.
Karipap is on third place. Karipap or curry puff is a small, deep-fried or baked pastry shell filled with thick chicken and potatoes curry. It is believed that the flavorful snack was invented by the Malays from the Malay Peninsula. Because of its simplicity and flavor, karipap quickly became popular outside Malaysia, especially in Thailand and Singapore.
These global rankings are not only a list of the best dishes, but also a way to promote traditional dishes and stimulate the curiosity of those who have not yet tasted them. According to TasteAtlas, the grades are given by genuine users, and the results reflect the appreciation of those who have solid knowledge in the field of gastronomy.
The rankings are based on 367,847 reviews for 11,258 dishes from all over the world. Users evaluated various dishes on traditional menus in different corners of the globe.
