Danube Cookbook Review and Giveaway
February 20, 2025 by JennyEnter our US and UK giveaway to win one of two copies of Danube – Recipes and Stories from Eastern Europe by Irina Georgescu.
Irina Georgescu holds a treasured place in my culinary library. Her previous works, Carpathia: Food from the Heart of Romania and Tava: Eastern European Baking and Desserts From Romania & Beyond captivated me completely. As I wrote in my review of Carpathia: “There are cookbook writers that weave their magic so beautifully around our hearts that we are forever changed. Through words, imagery, and food these writers immerse us so effortlessly into their culture that we are there – in a cottage in a small village many miles away from our ordinary life.” Tava gave me goosebumps as I turned each page, and now with Danube, Georgescu enchants us once again with her masterful prose and sublime recipes.
Danube explores the culinary landscape along its namesake river, focusing on Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Romanian cuisine emerges as a fascinating fusion of Central European and Balkan influences, shaped by the country’s bountiful terrain.
At its heart, this book pays homage to the region’s millers, farmers, fishermen, and shepherds. Georgescu opens with a powerful declaration about cornmeal: “If there is no cornmeal, there is no meal.” This humble grain, which thrives in both hills and mountains, proved more dependable than wheat. Its quick cooking time and minimal fuel requirements elevated it to become Romania’s national dish – and she shares its stories with versions of simmered, baked or fried dishes. Throughout the book, Georgescu presents nearly 90 recipes all embodying the Danube’s spirit of simplicity and efficiency.
The book’s stunning photography and illustrations capture the soul of the region – its landscapes, people, and culinary heritage. I tested two recipes: the Eibenthal potato pancakes with horseradish cream and gherkins (Plǎcinte Eibenthal) and Wide noodles with sauerkraut (Tǎiței cu varzǎ muratǎ (my photo is on the EYB site – not a great picture but still delicious). Both dishes proved wonderfully accessible and deeply satisfying. The potato pancakes particularly impressed – their crispy exterior crackling with each bite, the interior bursting with flavor. The golden shards left on the platter became a source of playful competition among my family members.
There are several recipes online that you may try now:
- Cornmeal (Mǎmǎligǎ / Polenta)
- Vlach fried pepper salad (Salatǎ de ardei prǎįiți)
- Lamb soup with pearl barley and mint (Curban)
- Leek stew with olives (Mâncare de praz cu mǎsline)
- Fish paprikash with egg dumplings (Papricaş de peşte)
Katie (our Cookshelf leader) has been enjoying cooking from Danube as well. Here are a few links to her posts on Instagram. Follow Cookshelf.app for more cookbook news: Chifteluțe de peşte (dill fishcakes) and Salatǎ de castraveți (cucumber, lettuce, walnut salad with crème fraiche dressing) and the Vlach fried pepper salad. She also made the Baked cornmeal with sour cream, cheese and eggs (Mǎmǎligǎ la cuptor) which we shared on our Instagram.
Irina’s books are a treasure and should be a part of your cookbook collection. Be sure to enter our giveaway below!
Special thanks to the publisher for providing two copies of this title in our promotion open to US and UK Members. Entry options include answering the following question in the comments section of this blog post.
Which recipe in the index would you like to try first?
Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Once you log in and enter your member name you will be directed to the next entry option – the blog comment. After that, there are additional options that you can complete for more entries. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on April 20th, 2025.
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