Foodie Guide to Croatia

Exploring Cuisines of Croatia

Have you ever wanted to try a cuisine that you never tried before, a meal that is not available in your country, or a dish you would have to travel overseas for? If you consider yourself a foodie, then you’ll agree that food curiosity has boundaries only in the form of personal dietary preferences. Yes, you can always look for some recipes of cuisine you’re interested in, but sometimes food exploring is more real when traveling to its birthplace, where you can eat it locally.

Starting from Croatia, a small European country, and its different cuisine, we have prepared a foodie guide for whenever your backpack or suitcase takes you to Croatia. Here is the list of dishes to taste:

Sarma

This dish is found in the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire from the Middle East to South East and Central Europe. Croatian version of this nationally famous dish cooked using pickled cabbage leaves, ground meat, rice, and seasonings. Minced beef, rice, and various spices are rolled into small Sarma rolls and boiled in broth for several hours. Sarma is usually served as a soup dish, with either bread, or over mashed potatoes, and eaten traditionally during winter. Sarma is also very popular as one of the leading dishes during formal events like weddings and family dinners.

Roasted Lamb with Mediterranean Herbs

You’ll be able to see the popularity of this dish the very first day of arriving in Croatia. You’ll hear about it, you’ll see signs saying "Janjetina" in front of bistros and restaurants across the country, especially on the roads outside of larger cities, and if you’re attending a wedding, no matter what region the couple is from, you’ll be served roasted lamb at some point during the reception dinner. Croatians love their roasted lamb, but due to its price and a special slow roasting process, this dish is considered festive, and people enjoy it for special celebrations. "Janjetina" is traditionally served warm with salads, roasted potatoes, or just bread.

Fuzi Pasta with Truffles

The Croatian region of Istria, a diamond-shaped peninsula located on the North of the Adriatic Sea, is the golden ground for premium truffles. Considering truffles are pretty rare and an expensive delicacy, a lot of Croatians from other parts of the country may have never even tried this pasta dish, but you definitely should. Fuzi (a type of pasta similar to penne) is served with white truffle sauce, where truffles are prepared by grating and adding them to melted butter, garlic, and cream. This dish has been an Istrian specialty for years, and it is getting world recognition among food lovers.

Brodet

The Brodet is a must-try dish when desiring to enjoy some coastal cuisine, Brodet is a fish dish mostly prepared like a stew. The Croatian coast and its fishermen still enjoy a large of amount fresh fish, especially over the summer months, and the best fish for this dish is considered to be monkfish and redfish. The fish is cooked with olive oil, herbs, and spices, and then covered with water to simmer for a few hours. Usually served with polenta, this fish stew is very popular among tourists wanting to try some traditional seafood while visiting the coast.

Paski Cheese

This cheese is from the Croatian island of Pag, and is the pride and glory of not just people of Pag, but the entire Croatian community. Produced from a unique breed of small sheep, and known for intensely salty and limited milk production, this cheese stands out with its distinctive savory flavor and aromatically herbal smell. Paski cheese is a hard cheese, usually aged for at least four months, and its texture can range anywhere between dry and flaky. This cheese is best served with fresh fruit, honey, or olive oil.

Bean Stew

Croatian bean soup is considered to be more of a stew because of its thick structure. Traditionally, Croatians like to add any type of smoked meat or sausage for the best flavor, but other popular add-ons are pickled cabbage and turnip strings. Don’t miss a bean stew wherever you see it served while in Croatia, especially during winter months.

Turkey with Mlinci

Turkey with "mlinci" is a Croatian dish that is always paired together. Mlinci is a thin, dried flatbread that is prepared by pouring boiled salted water on top and drained, and then poured over with roasted turkey juices for a better taste. Turkey with mlinci is a go-to lunch for Christmas or just a Sunday family lunch. Mlinci are always served as a side dish that compliments the roast.

Known as the cuisine of the regions, where each region of Croatia has its own specific culinary characteristics and differences, was influenced by neighbors and their cultures. This foodie list of the best of Croatian cuisine confirms the versatility and richness in flavors whether your choice be fish, meat, soup, or cheese. When you get the opportunity to go to Croatia, find enough time to indulge in some of the dishes introduced here.