Croatian cuisine

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Zagorski strukli Kuhane strukle 0210 1.jpg
Zagorski štrukli

Croatian cuisine (Croatian : Hrvatska kuhinja) is heterogeneous and is known as a cuisine of the regions, since every region of Croatia has its own distinct culinary tradition. Its roots date back to ancient times. The differences in the selection of foodstuffs and forms of cooking are most notable between those in mainland and those in coastal regions. Mainland cuisine is more characterized by Slavic features and influences from the more recent contacts with Turkish, Hungarian and Austrian cuisine, using lard for cooking, and spices such as black pepper, paprika, and garlic. [1] [2] The coastal region bears the influences of Greek and Roman cuisine, as well as of the later Mediterranean cuisine, in particular Italian (especially Venetian). Coastal cuisines use olive oil, herbs and spices such as rosemary, sage, bay leaf, oregano, marjoram, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and lemon and orange rind. Peasant cooking traditions are based on imaginative variations of several basic ingredients (cereals, dairy products, meat, fish, vegetables, nuts) and cooking procedures (stewing, grilling, roasting, baking), while bourgeois cuisine involves more complicated procedures and use of selected herbs and spices. Charcuterie is part of the Croatian culinary tradition in all regions. Food and recipes from other former Yugoslav countries are also popular in Croatia.

Contents

Croatian cuisine can be divided into several distinct cuisines (Dalmatia, Dubrovnik, Gorski Kotar, Istria, Lika, Međimurje, Podravina, Slavonija, Zagorje) each of which has specific cooking traditions, characteristic of the area and not necessarily well known in other parts of Croatia. Most dishes, however, can be found all across the country, with local variants.

Meat and game

Poultry with mlinci is a popular dish in Continental Croatia Mlinci.jpg
Poultry with mlinci is a popular dish in Continental Croatia
Lamb (in front) and suckling pig being roasted on a roasting spit in Novalja, island of Pag Janjetina i odojak na raznju u Novalji.2.jpg
Lamb (in front) and suckling pig being roasted on a roasting spit in Novalja, island of Pag

Croatian meat-based dishes include:

Seafood

Lobster from Dalmatia Homar 3.jpg
Lobster from Dalmatia

Croatian seafood dishes include:

Stews

Stewed vegetables with a small amount of meat or sausages (varivo or čušpajz) is perceived as a healthy, traditional meal. Sour cream (in Northern Croatia) or olive oil (on the coast) can be added to the plate just before serving. Stewed meat dishes are often prepared by men in open spaces, following hunting and shepherding traditions. In Dalmatian urban cuisine, spices such as cinnamon and clove, Swiss chard (known as "blitva"), [7] dried plums, dried figs, apples and other fruit are sometimes added to meat stews.

Pasta

Zganci Ajdovi zganci.JPG
Žganci

Pasta is one of the most popular food items in Croatian cuisine, especially in the region of Dalmatia. Manistra na pome (pasta with tomato sauce) is a staple. The other popular sauces include creamy mushroom sauce, minced meat sauce and many others. Fresh pasta (rezanci, krpice) is added to soups and stews, or prepared with cottage cheese, cabbage, even with walnuts or poppy seed. Potato dough is popular, not only for making njoki (gnocchi), but also for making plum or cheese dumplings which are boiled, and then quickly fried in breadcrumbs and butter.

Soups

Soup is an integral part of a meal in Croatia and no Sunday family meal or any special occasion will go without it. The most popular soups are broth-based, with added pasta or semolina dumplings. They are usually light in order to leave space for the main course and dessert to follow. However, cream or roux-based soups are also popular, and there are many local variations of traditional soups. In Dalmatia, fish soup with fish chunks, carrots and rice is commonly served.

Side dishes

Other

White truffles from Istria Truffles white Croatia.jpg
White truffles from Istria
Croatian-style stuffed peppers Punjena Paprika.JPG
Croatian-style stuffed peppers
Cheese skripavac Skripavac 0808.jpg
Cheese škripavac

Sausages and ham

Cheese (sir)


Savoury pies

Pogaca bread Pogaca bread.jpg
Pogača bread

Pastry

Palacinke Crepes dsc07085.jpg
Palačinke
Kremsnita Bled Cremeschnitte (blejska kremsnita).jpg
Kremšnita
Savijaca or Strudla with apple Strudel.jpg
Savijača or Štrudla with apple
Orehnjaca, a variety of nut roll Orehnjaca.jpg
Orehnjača, a variety of nut roll
Medimurska gibanica Medimurska gibanica (Croatia).jpg
Međimurska gibanica

Sweets and desserts

Cakes (kolači)

Drinks

Wines

Croatia has 3 main wine regions: Continental (Kontinetska), Coastal (Primorska) which includes the islands and Slavonia.Croatia’s northeastern-most region. The old wine cellars in Ilok date back to the 15th and 18th centuries. It is interesting that the famous Ilok Traminac was ordered by the English Court for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Also, one interesting story coming from one of the employees who save a place during the Homeland War, more precisely during the Serbian occupation of Ilok, when he decided to enclose the wall of one part of the Old Cellar and store it as many as 8,000 most valuable archival wines.

Each of the main regions is divided into sub-regions which are divided yet further into smaller vinogorje, (literally "wine hills") and districts. Altogether, there are more than 300 geographically defined wine-producing areas in Croatia.Istria, Konavle and Pelješac were recognised by Vogue as the best ones in Croatia. [8] There are numerous enological events (fairs) throuought the year (for ex. Vinistra [9] ).

In parts of Croatia, wine, either red or white, is sometimes consumed mixed with mineral water or juices. For example, in Hrvatsko zagorje [10] and Međimurje, [11] popular combination is white wine and mineral water (mostly Jamnica), called gemišt (German: gemischt, ”mixed”, "mixture"). [12] On the other hand, in Dalmatia is popular bevanda (Italian: bevanda, "drink"), mix of vine and natural water. [13] Bevanda is common gastronomical motif in cultural representations of Dalmatia and its people in popular culture. [14]

Dessert wines

White wines

Red wines

Beers (pivo)

Velebitsko pivo, beer from Croatia Velebitsko pivo Zg 0508.jpg
Velebitsko pivo, beer from Croatia

Apart from imported beers (Heineken, Tuborg, Gösser, Stella Artois, etc.), there are home-brewed and locally brewed beers in Croatia. A brewery based in Split produces Bavarian Kaltenberg beer by licence of the original brewery in Germany.

Recent craft beer breweries are:

Liqueurs and spirits

A bottle of Maraschino liqueur. Maraschino Maraska Bottle.jpg
A bottle of Maraschino liqueur.

Coffee

Croatia is a country of coffee drinkers (on average 5kg per person annually), not only because it was formerly part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, but also because it bordered the former Ottoman Empire. Traditional coffee houses similar to those in Vienna are located throughout Croatia.

Mineral water

Regarding its water resources, Croatia has a leading position in Europe. Concerning water quality, Croatian water is greatly appreciated all over the world. Due to a lack of established industries there have also been no major incidents of water pollution.

Juices and syrups

Protected products

There are 46 Croatian agricultural and food products registered in the European Union as a protected designation of origin. or a protected designation of geographical origin. [19]

They include cheese, honey, meat, fruits and vegetables, olive and other oils, pastry and sea products.

See also

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References

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Further reading