Ajdovi Žganci (Slovenian Buckwheat Mush with Bacon)
Local name: Ajdovi žganci
In short: Crumbly buckwheat mush steamed under a mound of flour in boiling water, then broken up and topped with crisp bacon and its fat. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Ajdovi žganci is one of Slovenia's oldest dishes: buckwheat flour poured in a mound into boiling water, left to steam, then broken into crumbly clumps and topped with crackling bits of bacon and fat. It is peasant food with a toasty, nutty taste, eaten for lunch with sour milk, with sauerkraut or alongside soups and stews. The trick is not to stir the flour too early and to break it up gently.
Instructions
- Bring the water and salt to a boil in a heavy pot. Pour the buckwheat flour into the center in one mound, without stirring.
- Poke 3 or 4 holes in the mound with the handle of a wooden spoon so steam can pass through. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until the flour at the base is cooked and most of the water is absorbed.
- Drain off the water that remains, keeping 120 ml (1/2 cup) of it.
- With a wooden spoon and a fork, break the mound into coarse crumbs and clumps. Fold gently over low heat for 5 minutes, adding the reserved water by the spoonful if it seems dry.
- Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a dry pan for 8 minutes, until crisp and the fat has rendered.
- Spoon the žganci into bowls and top with the bacon and its fat. Serve with sour milk or sauerkraut.
Tips
- Do not stir at the start. The flour at the base cooks while the top steams, and that gives the crumbly texture.
- Use dark, stone-ground buckwheat flour for the best flavor. Cooked bacon cracklings or fried onions are good alternatives to the bacon.
Questions and answers
Are ajdovi žganci gluten-free?
Buckwheat contains no gluten, but flour can be contaminated during milling. Check the label if you need a strictly gluten-free diet.
What do you serve with žganci?
Sour milk, sauerkraut, cracklings or a hearty soup. They also work as a side with stews and roast meat.
Why are my žganci gluey?
Usually the flour was stirred too early or there was too much water left. Let it steam undisturbed, drain the extra water and break it up gently.
How long does it take to make Ajdovi Žganci (Slovenian Buckwheat Mush with Bacon)?
About 40 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ajdovi Žganci (Slovenian Buckwheat Mush with Bacon)?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 13 g of protein, 53 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
