Croatia is a small country situated in Central and Southeast Europe, as well as in the Mediterranean region. The country is known for its beautiful nature, amazing coast with over 1000 islands, interesting culture and history, as well as for its unique combination of flavors, aromas, and nuances.
When it comes to Croatian cuisine, the best way to describe it is to say it is heterogeneous and it is known as a cuisine of the regions. Croatia has a couple of main regions and each of them has its own interesting (and delicious!) culinary tradition.
The gastronomy scene in Croatia has been influenced by many different countries and civilizations throughout the years. Therefore, the cuisine of the mainland combines Slavic, Hungarian, and Turkish cuisines, while the coastal regions have the basis influenced by the Greek, Roman, and classic Mediterranean cuisines.
Due to that, and in the glory of tasty Croatian cuisine, we are bringing you the top 10 traditional dishes from that small country which are a must-try on your next visit!
Skradin Risotto
(see photo above)
We are starting this list with the most famous Croatian recipe! This dish is a true icon of Dalmatia, as well as of the entire Croatian gastronomy scene. Skradin risotto is prepared in the town of Skradin. Traditionally, it is prepared by men, and it takes 8 to 10 hours to make it! Risotto is made with rice, vegetables, veal neck, veal shank, and chicken. All the ingredients and their flavors are beautifully combined, and they create an outstanding ecstasy of the aromas! Yes, this dish will definitely seduce your palate!
Čobanac
In Slavonia, čobanac is an indispensable dish of all the celebrations and festivities. This stew delicacy is made with a lot of onions, a couple of types of meat, tomatoes, pepper, pepperoni, and wine. These are the basic ingredients of the recipe and then, each region adds some unique ingredient or seasoning, suitable and specific for that region. Due to that, you’ll probably never try the same recipe for čobanac twice, but hey, why not make a road trip and try all of them? Now, that is a challenge I would love!
Komiška Pogača
Far, far away on the sea, there is an island of Vis. Besides the fact that it has breathtaking sights, it also has a beautiful cuisine enriched with outstanding flavors and aromas. Komiška pogača is one of the island’s trademark dishes! It combines homemade dough with a filling made of tomatoes, anchovies, olives, parsley, and oregano. The ingredients are nicely combined during the baking process and in the end, komiška pogača offers delicious Mediterranean flavors and nuances!
Pasta Fuži
We can’t talk about Croatian cuisine without mentioning Istria and its famous pasta fuži! This traditional homemade pasta is made of flour and eggs, and it comes in the shape of small flutes. Fuži are great in the combination with a classic tomato sauce and rosemary, truffles, seafood, meat, or some other ingredients. The restaurants in Istria are really creative when it comes to the preparation and serving of this pasta. And in whichever combination fuži come, they are a must-try!
Dalmatian Prosciutto
This prestigious dried meat product is a true Dalmatian delicacy. It offers really unique and specific flavors enriched with sea salt and it seduces your palate with an intense combination of sweet and salty nuances. Dalmatian prosciutto is cut into thin slices and then served with homemade bread and cheese. This delicacy is an indispensable appetizer that will be a beautiful opening act to the gastronomy experience that follows!
Oysters
Okay, this dish is not for everyone, but it certainly presents one of the most exotic Croatian dishes! In the southern parts of Croatia, probably every tavern and restaurant offers fresh oysters. They are served fresh with just a couple of drops of olive oil and lemon. In some taverns, the chef will take out oysters right from the sea at that exact moment you order them and then serve them to you with a bit of olive oil. Yes, they are served that fresh! Even though oysters are probably not for everyone, they will certainly seduce the palate of the brave ones who dare to try them!
Pašticada
Pašticada is a Dalmatian proud and glory. Why? Because of its amazingly combined aromas and unique flavors. It is made with beef fricando filled with bacon and marinated in vinegar, wine, paper, salt, water, and bay leaf, and then baked with vegetables. Pašticada beautifully offers the connection between Dalmatia and its Mediterranean roots which can be tasted in the combination of sweet, sour, and salty flavors. What more could we ask for? Simply delicious!
Kotlovina
Can a party, celebration, or festivity even be called a party, celebration, or festivity if there isn’t kotlovina? I don’t think so! The main ingredients of this dish are pork chops, chicken, sausages, and beans. All the ingredients are cooked together so they offer a nice combination of all the flavors. They also create a beautiful sauce which is great for dipping the bread! Of course, each chef adds something unique to this dish, but in order to make it perfect, all it needs (besides the already mentioned ingredients) is pepperoni for that spicy aroma!
Cake Hrapačuša
Croatian cuisine has a lot of traditional sweet recipes, but this cake certainly stands out. Cake hrapačuša (also known as hropoćuša and hrapoćuša) presents a traditional cake of the island of Brač and it is a protected intangible cultural asset of the country. On the island, this cake is prepared as a gift for the wedding or birthday. It is simple to make it and its main ingredients are walnuts. The cake actually got its name thanks to the walnuts – they resemble a specific stone that formed the caves and rocks on that island.
Rožata
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the queen of all the desserts! Rožata is a traditional Dalmatian pudding with a caramel dressing. It is delicious and elegant, and it perfectly combines lemon, vanilla, rose liqueur, and caramel. The recipe for rožata dates from 1300 and today, it presents a beautiful heritage of Croatian gastronomy and Dalmatian cuisine. Perfect desserts for those hot summer days!
From east to the west, from north to the south – this is a roundup of the traditional and delicious Croatian dishes which are a must-try! The recipes for these specialties are the basis of the Croatian cuisine, tradition, and gastronomy scene. They present a beautiful combination of the past and the present, as well as the unique culture and gastronomy heritage of the country.
Even though there were many influences from other countries and civilizations in the past of Croatia, its inhabitants took those influences, turned them into the basis, and then made extraordinary cuisine out of them. Due to that, these traditional dishes are presenting the true beauty and versatility of the flavors, aromas, and nuances.
Oh, and in case you want to know more about Croatian cuisine, here is the list of 76 Croatian traditional dishes!
Fantastic article and photos!!