Croatia can roughly be divided into two major regions: Continental and Coastal. This division affects culture, customs but also gastronomy. In this article, we will focus on the latter, discussing the two main branches of Croatian cuisine: Continental and Mediterranean. We will also highlight regional dishes that are an absolute must-try when visiting Croatia.
Continental cuisine
The country’s continental region is characterized by long, cold winters. While they may not be quite as long or cold today, in the past, they definitely shaped how people lived and what they ate.
These colder winters led the population of northern Croatia to turn to hearty, rich dishes based on meat, dairy products, spicy seasonings, and pickled vegetables. Ideal scenarios involved growing all of the ingredients organically on the families’ farms. Next, we will present some of the most famous dishes of Continental Croatia by region.
Popular dishes of Continental Croatia
Central and Mountainous Croatia
Štrukli. These savory and sweet dumplings can be boiled or baked and are characteristic of northwestern Croatia. The base is a thin, pulled dough, and the filling can be customized with ingredients like cottage cheese, apples, or squash. The most popular and arguably the original are savory baked štrukli filled with cottage cheese and topped with sour cream. They are baked in a clay pot, which is also used for serving.
Turkey with mlinci. This is another dish characteristic of northwestern Croatia, specifically the Croatian Zagorje region. It is usually prepared for Christmas. Mlinci is a type of dough made from flour, water, and salt. The turkey is roasted in the oven and the mlinci are poured with hot water and warmed in the turkey fat rendered during roasting.
Buncek with sauerkraut. A traditional winter dish characteristic of northwestern Croatia. The smoked pork shank, buncek, is cooked for up to two hours to make the meat tender and fall off the bone. It is served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut.
Game stew. In Gorski Kotar, it’s also known as hunter’s stew. It is traditionally prepared in lard, and the game meat is marinated overnight. The authentic version is cooked in a cauldron over an open fire. The stew has the aroma of onions, bay leaves, and spices, and is served with homemade gnocchi or polenta.
Eastern Croatia
Čobanac. A spicy meat stew characteristic of the Slavonia region. It is made with two to three types of meat that are browned in lard and then simmered with vegetables, wine, and stock for several hours. Essential spices include sweet and hot ground paprika, as well as dried hot peppers. Authentic čobanac is prepared in a cauldron over an open fire.
Fiš paprikaš. The most famous dish of the Baranya region. Paprikash is a Hungarian dish that the people of Baranya adapted by adding fish. It is a spicy fish soup that, like chobanac, is prepared in a cauldron over an open fire. It contains a mix of river fish, plenty of hot red paprika, and spices. It is considered one of the hottest dishes on the continent.
As for desserts, the continental part of Croatia is known for its pastries filled with fruit or nuts, such as strudel, gibanica (yeast dough), and dumplings.
Mediterranean cuisine
In contrast to the traditionally heavy, spicy cuisine of Continental Croatia, the cuisine of Coastal Croatia is synonymous with health. Light and based on fish, olive oil, and lots of vegetables, it has also been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Desserts are rarely eaten here, and when they are, they are usually simple, dry cakes and candied or dried fruit. Ideally, all ingredients are locally sourced, as on the continent. Below, we present the most famous dishes of Coastal Croatia by region.
Popular dishes of Coastal Croatia
Northern Croatia
Fuži with truffles. Fuži is a traditional Istrian diamond-shaped pasta. It is hollow, making it ideal for pasta dishes. They are most often served with beef sauce, while the 100% Istrian version includes a truffle sauce. To make the sauce as creamy as possible, it is prepared with butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.
Maneštra. Another native Istrian dish. It’s a stew prepared year-round. The main ingredients are beans, potatoes, dried meat (dried ham bone is best), and seasonal vegetables. The winter version of maneštra includes sauerkraut or turnips and is called jota.
Ombolo with sauerkraut. You can try this dish at any good Istrian konoba. Ombolo, also called žlomprt, is seasoned pork loin that is dried (sometimes lightly smoked) and quickly pan-fried. The classic side dish for ombolo is sauerkraut.
Southern Croatia
Pašticada. A Dalmatian classic. It is a meat dish typically served with homemade gnocchi. Beef is the traditional meat used, which is first marinated in a mixture of wine, vinegar, garlic, and spices, and then slow-cooked in a rich sauce. Thanks to the addition of prunes, prosecco, and wine, the sauce usually has a sweet and sour taste. It is typically served during holidays and special occasions.
Gregada. It is a traditional dish from central Dalmatia that originates from the island of Hvar. It is most often made with white fish and potatoes layered in a teća (pot) and gently cooked with olive oil, onions, garlic, parsley, and a little white wine. Unlike a stew, gregada is not stirred with a spoon, but rather, the teća (pot) is occasionally shaken so the fish doesn’t fall apart and the sauce remains silky.
Lamb under the peka. Typical of coastal towns, islands, and the Dalmatian hinterland. Lamb (often with potatoes and vegetables) is roasted under a heavy lid covered with embers. It is seasoned with light, classic spices and simmers in its own juices for about two hours. The key is to uncover the lid once halfway through cooking and again at the very end.
Traditional coastal desserts include kroštule, fritule, and fig and almond cakes.
Shopping list
So that you can remember the flavors of Croatia even after your trip, we’ve prepared a shopping list of foods worth buying and taking home as souvenirs. We recommend buying these items from smaller shops, ideally from family farms, then you’ll know you’ve bought the real thing.
☑️ Slavonian kulen / kulenova seka
☑️ Dalmatian prosciutto
☑️ Olive oil
☑️ Truffles
☑️ Honey
☑️ Figs
☑️ Pag cheese
☑️ Wine
☑️ Rakija
That’s it! We hope you enjoyed this culinary journey and that you’ll try some of these dishes while vacationing in Croatia. Let us know which ones you liked the most. 😉
