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Learning to Cook Croatian Style

No matter where you travel to, food is always an important part of the culture. Learning about the types of food, how it’s made, and the meals eaten throughout the day adds an even deeper appreciation of the culinary customs in the country. From chatting with locals to learning from experience to taking an actual Croatian cooking class, I discovered a lot about Croatian culinary traditions. Bookmark this page so you can brush up before your next trip to Croatia!

Croatian Cooking Class

Restaurant where we took the cooking class

To start the day, most Croatians will have bread or a pastry warm from the local bakery (pekara) along with a cup of coffee and maybe a glass of rakija. This strong “cure-all potion” is produced from grapes or sometimes other fruits like plum or pear and comes in a variety of flavors. Aside from drinking for pleasure, it is also used to cure an upset stomach, disinfect wounds, and destroy viruses.

There are so many delicious options when you enter the bakery, with everything from the classic croissant to one of my favorites, Burek, which can be made in a variety of different ways. Those who are fans of the larger Western-style breakfasts may not be keen on starting off the day with this small meal, but I am not one for big breakfasts so Croatian style is perfect for me!

Croatian Bakery

Lunch is typically the larger and more important meal in Croatia, and dinner usually involves a thin pizza or shared starters eaten later at night. Especially along the coast, you’ll find all kinds of fish dishes being served, most commonly grilled. During the cooking class my family and I attended, we got to see the process from start to finish before the meal was brought to the table.

Croatian Cooking Fish and Squid Preparation

Cooking Fish in Croatia

Preparing the fish

Croatian Fish Stew and Grilled Fish

Fish stew on the left and Grilled fish on the right

Croatians also love their bread. The dough is placed right onto the hot stones and is covered to bake. The end result was a steaming, glorious loaf.

Baking Bread Peka Style

Baking bread in the outdoor fire-burning oven

Fresh Baked Bread Croatia

Freshly baked bread

Risottos are another very popular dish, due largely to the country’s close proximity to Italy. If you want some risotto with a Croatian twist you can try the black cuttlefish risotto, the black part being squid ink. Pašticada is also common, which is a beef stew traditionally served with homemade potato gnocchi.

You must try the pršut at some point if you spend any time in Croatia. It is commonly served as a snack in between meals or on a platter with cheese and olives. It is a type of dry-cured ham, and I am not a big fan of it at home in the US but I loved it in Croatia! I guess it must have something to do with bura, a cold wind from the Adriatic that passes by when the meat is hanging out to dry and helps create its distinct flavor.

One of the most distinct methods of Croatian cooking is peka, an “under the dome” cooking style. Peka is a traditional way of preparing food that involves cooking a blend of vegetables and potatoes with meat or fish in a pot or tray and covering it with a dome shaped lid that is then heated with the embers from the fire.

Cooking Peka in Croatia

From left to right: Cooking the peka, fish, and stew

Drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with just the right amount of herbs, this juicy and flavorful dish will leave you happy and satisfied. Many Croatian families, especially those that live in the countryside, will have a similar wood-burning oven outdoors used for cooking mouthwatering meals like these. If you are heading to a restaurant that serves peka, be sure to call at least a few hours in advance so they have time to prepare the meal.

Lamb Peka Croatia

Lamb Peka

I hope you saved room for dessert, because you’re not done eating yet! Croatians definitely have a sweet tooth. Desserts offered in restaurants typically involve ice cream, cakes, and pancakes. However, I’d suggest heading to the nearest cafe or ice cream shop for your choice of dessert.

Ice Cream in Croatia

Ice cream shop

Also be sure to keep an eye out for fritule. These bite sized balls of fried dough resemble mini doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, and are sometimes with other toppings. Nutella anyone?! Fritule is a classic, but beware – they are highly addictive!

Fritule in Croatia

Fritule

Finally, don’t think I forgot about the alcohol! The two most popular local beers (pivos) are Karlovacko or Ozujsko, your standard light lager.

Croatian Beer

If you’re looking for a light, refreshing drink on a hot day, opt for a Radler instead. This is basically a beer mixed with other sorts of citrus flavored sparkling drinks that is typically only around 2% alcohol. Radlers have become increasingly popular in Croatia lately, especially during those hot summer beach days!

Pan Radler Croatia

Pan Radler

Of course, there are also the Croatian wines. Winemaking has been a part of Croatia for centuries, and as of recently the quality of these wines has steadily been on the rise. If you are traveling through Zagreb, stop by Vinoteka Bornstien to enjoy a glass of your choice!

Fear of running out of wine

Keep in mind that traditional dishes vary by region and I spent most of my time in the Dalmatian region, so you may see more variety when visiting other parts of Croatia. No matter where you are, always take the time to dive into the food culture and most importantly, try the local cuisine. Živjeli!

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Cooking Croatian Style

14 Comments

  • 9 Handpicked Things To Do In Split, Croatia
    February 17, 2016 at 7:34 am

    […] to know a different culture. I discovered a lot about Croatian culinary traditions by taking a Croatian cooking class. An easy drive or bus ride, Trogir is only 27 km (about 17 miles) west of Split. Learn about the […]

    Reply
  • […] Croatian countryside, dinner was made in the wood-burning outdoor oven. Among the food we ate was home cooked peka with potatoes, tomato and cucumber salad, and more bread of course. Despite already being full […]

    Reply
  • Anna
    September 14, 2015 at 4:01 am

    Croatian bakeries are similar to Greek ones so I’m sure I’d love them!I’ve never taken a cooking class abroad, but it’s a lovely way to experience local cuisine!

    Reply
    • Marissa Sutera
      September 17, 2015 at 7:26 am

      I miss the smell of the bakeries in the morning! The cooking class was the perfect experience to learn more about the culture 🙂

      Reply
  • Amanda & Brian - Eat_Work_Travel
    September 12, 2015 at 9:16 am

    We love learning the traditional ways of cooking when we visit a country! Looks like there are quite a few things to learn in Croatia! I must try one of those Radlars when we make it there, they look very refreshing!

    Reply
    • Marissa Sutera
      September 12, 2015 at 9:37 am

      Definitely! Hope you have a chance to visit soon!

      Reply
  • Melody Pittman
    September 12, 2015 at 7:00 am

    Those are some adventurous foods. I love dried hams so when I go there in May, I will definitely have some! Your class looked very fun! I love how they made the whole bowl full of bread. LOl nice photos, too!

    Reply
    • Marissa Sutera
      September 12, 2015 at 9:36 am

      Thanks Melody! I definitely stepped outside of my culinary comfort zone during my trip in Croatia, but I am sure glad I did! Have a wonderful trip to Croatia!

      Reply
  • Karen
    September 11, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    That looks like a nice class you took. I am so hungry now from looking at it all. Great photos!

    Reply
  • Alouise
    September 11, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    I’ve always wanted to visit Croatia, but I don’t know much about the cuisine there. The food sure looks delicious though.

    Reply
    • Marissa Sutera
      September 12, 2015 at 9:30 am

      The food sure was very tasty! Hope to have the chance to make it to Croatia soon!

      Reply
  • Alana
    September 8, 2015 at 11:42 am

    Love that you did a cooking class in Croatia! It’s become one of our favorite things to do while traveling. We’re headed to Croatia next month, I’ll be sure to look one up!

    Reply
    • Marissa Sutera
      September 12, 2015 at 9:28 am

      Cooking classes are such a great way to get to know a new place and culture. We did a custom class because there was such a big group of us, but we worked with Tureta Travel who also offers a cooking class for smaller groups. Hope you have a blast in Croatia!

      Reply

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