Zeama

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Zeama is a traditional soup that is also known as the ultimate hangover cure. It typically consists of homemade chicken broth that’s prepared with a smaller whole chicken, water, thin homemade egg noodles (tăiței de casă), and a variety of finely chopped vegetables and herbs. The soup usually contains carrots, onions, sweet peppers, leeks, tomatoes, and potatoes, and it is typically flavored with pepper, salt, and a handful of aromatic herbs such as parsley, dill, thyme, lovage, or celery leaves. Traditionally, the broth is made sour with the addition of borș acru (fermented wheat bran juice), lemon juice, or zeamă de varză acră (sauerkraut juice). Zeama is enjoyed throughout the whole year, typically for lunch. It is often served with traditional Moldovan cornbread on the side, while other typical accompaniments include sour cream, hot peppers, and lemons.