# Mititei
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mititei
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mititei.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mititei
> Source revision: 1355933332
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Romanian meat roll}}
{{Redirect|Mici}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Mititei
| image = Mititei aufm Grill.jpg
| image_size = 260px
| caption = Mititei on a grill
| alternate_name = Mititei or mici
| region = [Romania](/source/Romania)
| creator =
| course = [Main course](/source/Main_course)
| served = Hot
| main_ingredient = [Lamb](/source/Lamb_and_mutton), [pork](/source/pork), [beef](/source/beef), [coriander](/source/coriander), [onion](/source/onion), [garlic](/source/garlic), [black pepper](/source/black_pepper), [thyme](/source/thyme), [sodium bicarbonate](/source/Sodium_bicarbonate)
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
'''Mititei''' ({{IPA|ro|mitiˈtej}}) or '''mici''' ({{IPA|ro|mit͡ʃʲ}}; both [Romanian](/source/Romanian_language) words meaning "little ones", "small ones") is a traditional dish from [Romanian cuisine](/source/Romanian_cuisine), consisting of grilled [ground meat](/source/ground_meat) sausages made from a mixture of [beef](/source/beef), [lamb](/source/Lamb_and_mutton) and [pork](/source/pork), with spices such as [garlic](/source/garlic), [black pepper](/source/black_pepper), [thyme](/source/thyme), [coriander](/source/coriander), [anise](/source/anise), [savory](/source/Savory_(herb)), and sometimes a touch of [paprika](/source/paprika). [Sodium bicarbonate](/source/Sodium_bicarbonate) and [broth](/source/broth) or water are also added to the mixture. It is similar to [ćevapi](/source/%C4%87evapi), [kebapche](/source/kebapche) and other ground meat-based dishes throughout the Balkans and the Middle East.
It is often served with [mustard](/source/Mustard_(condiment)), [french fries](/source/french_fries) and ''[murături](/source/mur%C4%83turi)'' (pickled vegetables).
== History ==
A popular story claims that 'mici' or 'mititei' were invented in the late 14th century and that they originated from southern [Serbia](/source/Serbia), then part of [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire).[{{Cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/lifestyle/reteta-originala-de-mici-725701|title=Reţeta originală de mici – cum se făceau mititeii acum 100 de ani!|date=3 June 2019|work=[Libertatea](/source/Libertatea)|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003011026/https://www.libertatea.ro/lifestyle/reteta-originala-de-mici-725701|url-status=live}}] 'Mici' or 'mititei' are believed to share the same origin as ćevapi and other minced meat that where introduced in the Balkans by the Ottoman Turks.[ {{Cite web
|url=https://adevarul.ro/stil-de-viata/bucatarie/ce-puneau-bucatarii-in-compozitia-micilor-acum-2526641.html |title=Ce puneau bucătarii în compoziția micilor acum 100 de ani |website=Adevărul |publisher=Adevărul Holding |date=2026 |language=ro |access-date=2026-05-01
}}]
Throughout the years, the recipe lost some of the original ingredients, such as [caraway](/source/caraway) seeds and [allspice](/source/allspice), and began being made with pork, rather than beef and lamb.[{{Cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/life-style/bucatarie/mici-1_51bafb4fc7b855ff568ef15f/index.html|title=Povestea micului românesc: cum a ajuns o greşeală culinară dezbatere europeană. Unde se găsesc cei mai buni mici din ţară|last=Corespondenţi „Adevărul”|date=14 June 2013|work=[Adevărul](/source/Adev%C4%83rul)|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518104900/https://adevarul.ro/life-style/bucatarie/mici-1_51bafb4fc7b855ff568ef15f/index.html|url-status=live}}][{{Cite news|url=https://www.dcnews.ro/scandalul-micilor-reteta-e-a-noastra-sau-provine-din-turcia_314920.html|title=Scandalul micilor: Rețeta e a noastră sau provine din Turcia?|last=Minea|first=Sorin|date=14 May 2013|work=DC News|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518104855/https://www.dcnews.ro/scandalul-micilor-reteta-e-a-noastra-sau-provine-din-turcia_314920.html|url-status=live}}][{{Cite web|url=https://gastroart.ro/2017/04/29/mititei-reteta-din-1872-orasanu/|title=Mititei (rețeta din 1872 – varianta "nașului" N.T. Orășanu)|last=Lazăr|first=Simona|date=29 April 2017|website=Gastroart.ro|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802190610/https://gastroart.ro/2017/04/29/mititei-reteta-din-1872-orasanu/|url-status=dead}}] [Sodium bicarbonate](/source/Sodium_bicarbonate), a [raising agent](/source/leavening_agent), is also commonly added to the modern Romanian recipe, which improves both the flavor and the texture.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-14759397-marea-dezbatere-despre-micul-romanesc-bicarbonat-sau-fara-spun-oficialii-europeni-guvernul-producatorii-romani.htm|title=Marea dezbatere despre micul romanesc: cu bicarbonat sau fara. Ce spun oficialii europeni, guvernul si producatorii romani|last=Pantazi|first=Raluca|date=7 May 2013|work=[hotnews.ro](/source/hotnews.ro)|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518104855/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-14759397-marea-dezbatere-despre-micul-romanesc-bicarbonat-sau-fara-spun-oficialii-europeni-guvernul-producatorii-romani.htm|url-status=live}}]
== Cultural and economic significance ==
Mici are very popular all across Romania, with an estimated 440 million mici consumed each year in Romania. They are eaten in homes, restaurants and pubs, but are probably most associated with outdoor grilling. As many Romanians celebrate [International Workers' Day](/source/International_Workers'_Day) (1 May) by going to barbecues and picnics, mici have become strongly associated with the holiday in recent years, with 30 million mititei being eaten in Romania on the first day of May in 2019.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-23113830-minivacanta-1-mai-romanii-vor-pune-gratar-30-milioane-mici-sunt-preferati-micii-din-carne-porc-vita.htm|title=Minivacanța de 1 Mai - românii vor pune pe grătar 30 de milioane de mici / Sunt preferați micii din carne de porc şi vită|date=29 April 2019|work=Hotnews.ro|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802161404/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-23113830-minivacanta-1-mai-romanii-vor-pune-gratar-30-milioane-mici-sunt-preferati-micii-din-carne-porc-vita.htm|url-status=live}}] Mici are sometimes called the "national dish of Romania" in the media, despite lacking any such official designation.
In 2018, between 5% and 10% of all the mici produced in Romania were exported, mainly to countries with large Romanian diasporas, such as [Italy](/source/Italy), [Spain](/source/Spain) and the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).