This study examines the role of strudli, a traditional Swabian dish, in the ethnic
revitalisation of Szatmár's Swabian community in Romania and Hungary after the political
transition of these countries from communism to multi-party democracies in 1989. Once
suppressed from 1947 to 1989 during the communist era in both of the countries, German
heritage became a key element of cultural revival for the Swabian community in the
post transition period. This community, once nearly invisible, transformed itself
into a national minority asserting its identity, while also forming a strong internal
network. And in this process, strudli took on a prominent role.
