This is the perfect way to kick off the year: publishing my new book, ‘Danube, Recipes from Eastern Europe’.
In Danube, I explore a part of Eastern Europe that is less known in the UK and less travelled: the lands of the River Danube as it flows into the Black Sea along the borders of Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria.
Together, we will discover how people cook at home
Almost a Vegetarian Book
I wanted to challenge the perception that Eastern European cuisine is heavy and meat-based. Therefore, expect plenty of vegetables, legumes, and pulses that people use daily.




I captured three ways of life
The Miller
These lands are from growing wheat and were once dotted with picturesque windmills. Millers were known for producing high-quality flour, which was required to make excellent white bread, noodles, and the very thin filo pastry used for pies.
Some recipes from different chapters:




These lands are trekked by shepherds, and the river waters are teeming with fishermen’s tales, so you will find two chapters with meat and fish dishes to reflect these two ancestral ways of life.
The Fisherman
I couldn’t have written a book about a river without including a chapter on fish. These dishes are easy to make using salmon, trout, bream, and catfish. You will also learn about the Danube Delta and the lives of fishermen in this UNESCO-listed region.




The Shepherd
The oldest profession in our history is still well-remembered in these lands. In this chapter, you will discover meat dishes that I hope will become your favourites. As you read through the book, you will also find that it's not only the meat but also the milk and all dairy products we obtain from shepherding and farming.




For the ones with a sweet tooth, I have a whole chapter on dessert and baking recipes.




And finally, it is a book of people sharing their stories…




Words of praise and support for ‘Danube’
‘This is an utterly magical book.’ – Nigella Lawson
"Utterly transporting – Irina’s wonderful recipes and sparkling writing made me hungry to eat and to travel." –
"Danube is an enticing introduction to the rich culinary traditions of people living in the regions the Danube River traverses on its way to the Black Sea. Photographs and stories about life in Romania opened my eyes to its rich history, from the time of the Romans to the present day. This is a book to read with pleasure as well as to cook from!" – Naomi Duguid
Where to buy it
You can find it in bookshops and online in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia. If you can, support your local bookshop rather than buying online on Amazon.
Seriously, the most gorgeous book cover I’ve ever seen. So brilliant!
For what it's worth, I own all three of your cookbooks. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to Romanian, Serbian, and Bulgarian cuisine. My mother always said to never stop learning. Thanks to you, you help me keep doing just that.