Sunday Lunch in Romania: Zacuscă, Jams & Memories...
Mark Robert, May 2025
There’s something timeless and comforting about a Sunday lunch in Romania. It’s more than just a meal it’s a ritual of slowing down,gathering with family, and savoring the flavors and memories that tie generations together. The scent of roasted vegetables, the quiet hum of conversation, and the clink of cutlery on ceramic plates all blend together to create an atmosphere of warmth. For manyRomanians, these Sundays are built around familiar staples like zacuscă a rich, smoky vegetable spread and a selection of homemade or store-bought jams and preserves that remind us of our childhood, our grandparents, and long afternoons with nowhere else to be.
Zacuscă is one of Romania’s culinary treasures a spread made from roasted eggplants, red peppers, tomatoes, onions, and sometimes mushrooms or other seasonal vegetables.Traditionally prepared in large batches at the end of summer, it’s carefully cooked down until the flavors become deeply concentrated and delicious. It’s often enjoyed cold, spread over crustybread, served alongside a boiled egg, cheese, or fresh tomatoes. What makes zacuscă truly special, though, is the story behind it. Most Romanians can recall their families roasting vegetables over open flames, peeling eggplants by hand, and standing over large pots for hours. Whether homemade or store-bought, every jar brings a piece of that tradition to the table.
No Romanian Sunday meal would be complete without a sweet finish. Jams and preserves are a staple in Romanian households, often made from plums, sour cherries, apricots, or strawberries fruits that grow abundantly in the region. They are spooned onto bread, paired with cheese, or simply enjoyed by the spoonful after lunch. These preserves carry a deep nostalgia. Many people remember their grandmothers stirring bubbling pots of fruit and sugar in the summer heat, carefully pouring the results into jars to be stored for the colder months. Today, brands like Râureni continue to craft jams and zacuscă with the same care and quality, keeping that homemade feeling alive even for those far fromhome.
At Euro Food Hub, we believe food should carry a memory, a feeling of comfort, and a taste of home. Whether you’re sitting down for a quiet lunch or recreating a tradition from your childhood, these Romanian classics bring heart and flavor to any table. Add a jar of zacuscă to your pantry or enjoy a spoonful of jam on a lazy afternoon you’ll be surprised how much joy it brings.
