Friday’s Featured Food: Zeama in Butuceni, Moldova🇲🇩
Backpacking in Moldova is pure bliss. You’ll visit places like Butuceni, Orheiul Vechi and Chisinau and realise that there are no other tourists in sight and you’ll love it. When in the remote village of Butuceni, I stumbled upon the only hotel and spa complex in this tiny village, Butuceni Eco Resort. I met the owner Anatolie and for dinner before getting my bus back to Chisinau, I got to try Zeama, with wine and bread. Zeama is one of the most popular soups in Moldova.
Butuceni Eco Resort.
What is in Zeama?
Thanks to the description given by Anatolie, and using the Papabuna website, here’s a good overview into Zeama which is basically a chicken noodle soup, special in Moldova. A traditional recipe, Moldovan “Zeama” is typically made with homemade egg noodles and whole chicken, which gives the recipe a delicious flavour.
Zeama on the menu at Butuceni.
Ingredients of Zeama
1 smaller whole chicken (about 3lb), cut up about 12 cups (3 quarts) water
3 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 medium onion
1 carrot
1/2 big fresh tomato
about 2 cups homemade egg noodles
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped lovage herb leaves, or a medium celery stalk
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill weed
3-4 small branches fresh thyme
Enjoying my Zeama and wine in Butuceni, Moldova.
As I’m wining and dining with Anatolie, I am given (free of charge) one of his finest white wines. Moldovans are famous for their wines and this one doesn’t disappoint. After devouring my zeama and bread, it’s time for us to visit Anatolie’s wine cellar. A privilege not given to every guest, I hasten to add – it was off season and we were chatting away so he let me sample a load of Moldovan wines in the cellar!
With Anatolie, owner of Butuceni Eco Resort.
I later tried Zeama again in Chisinau in Beer House, one of the best bars in Chisinau. Here are some videos of me trying Zeama: