Croatian Recipes
16 recipesCroatian food follows the map. On the Adriatic coast and the islands, cooks rely on olive oil, garlic, fresh fish, shellfish, air-dried ham and sheep's cheese, and they roast under the peka, an iron or clay bell covered with embers. Dalmatia is known for slow stews such as pašticada and brudet, while Istria adds beans, truffles and hand-rolled pasta. Inland, in Zagorje, Zagreb, Međimurje and Slavonia, the table turns to pork, sour cream, cabbage, paprika and river fish, with dishes like štrukli, sarma and fiš paprikaš. Grilled ćevapi and roast lamb are loved everywhere. Sweets use walnuts, poppy seeds, citrus zest and fried dough. A typical family lunch runs from soup to a main dish and a salad dressed with oil and vinegar, and Christmas brings sarma, fritule and spiced honey cookies.
Staple ingredients
- olive oil
- garlic
- fresh and salted fish
- pork and lamb
- cabbage and sauerkraut
- paprika
- walnuts and poppy seeds
- white wine and vinegar
Appetizers
Soups
Salads
Main Dishes
Ćevapi (Croatian Grilled Minced Meat Fingers)HR35 minEasy
Crni Rižot (Croatian Black Cuttlefish Risotto)HR1 h 5 minMedium
Dalmatinski Brudet (Dalmatian Fish Stew with Polenta)HR1 h 20 minMedium
Janjetina Ispod Peke (Dalmatian Lamb and Potatoes Under the Bell)HR2 h 55 minMedium
Pašticada s Njokima (Dalmatian Beef Pot Roast with Gnocchi)HR4 h 25 minChallenging
Purica s Mlincima (Roast Turkey with Baked Flatbread Noodles)HR3 h 15 minMedium
Sarma (Croatian Sauerkraut Rolls)HR3 h 45 minMedium
Zagorski Štrukli (Baked Cheese Pastry from Zagorje)HR1 h 35 minMedium
Zagrebački Odrezak (Zagreb Ham and Cheese Schnitzel)HR42 minMedium
Fiš Paprikaš (Slavonian Paprika Fish Stew with Noodles)HR1 h 20 minMedium
Side Dishes
Desserts
Fritule (Croatian Citrus and Raisin Fritters)HR40 minEasy
Samoborska Kremšnita (Samobor Custard Cream Slice)HR1 h 20 minMedium
Common questions
What is Croatian food known for?
Grilled ćevapi, black risotto, sarma, štrukli and the lamb-and-potato peka are the dishes most people name, along with fresh Adriatic seafood, air-dried pršut and olive oil. Inland cooking is heartier, while the coast is lighter and more Mediterranean.
What is the national dish of Croatia?
There is no single official one. Sarma and grilled ćevapi are eaten nationwide, while peka and pašticada stand for Dalmatia and štrukli for Zagorje. Most people name the dish of their own region.
How different is coastal and inland Croatian food?
Very different. The coast uses olive oil, fish, shellfish, tomato and herbs, while inland cooking leans on pork, sour cream, cabbage, paprika and baking. Istria, Dalmatia, Slavonia and Zagorje each keep their own specialties.