Serbian Recipes

Serbian food is hearty, meat-centered and generous, shaped by Central European, Balkan and Ottoman influences. Grilled meat is the national passion: ćevapi and pljeskavica come off the coals at roadside stands and family barbecues alike, served with raw onion and soft flatbread. Pies of paper-thin pastry, such as burek and gibanica, are breakfast staples, while cabbage rolls (sarma), stuffed peppers and bean dishes feed families through the cold months. Peppers are everywhere, roasted into ajvar every autumn or chopped into summer salads. Dairy is important, especially kajmak (a salty clotted cream), white cheese and yogurt, and sunflower oil and pork fat are the usual cooking fats. Paprika gives color and sweetness, and heat usually arrives as a fresh hot pepper on the side. The Orthodox fasting days have produced a meatless cuisine of beans, vegetables and fish. Celebrations call for roast meat, sarma, cakes and cookies such as vanilice, and plum brandy often closes the meal.

Staple ingredients

• pork and beef
• peppers, fresh and roasted
• white brined cheese
• kajmak (clotted cream)
• cabbage, fresh and soured
• white beans
• sunflower oil
• sweet paprika

• Breakfast 1
• Soups 2
• Salads 2
• Main Dishes 6
• Breads 1
• Desserts 3
• Sauces, Dips and Condiments 1

Breakfast

• Gibanica (Serbian Cheese and Egg Filo Pie)RS1 h 15 minEasy

Soups

• Pasulj (Serbian Bean Soup with Smoked Ribs)RS2 h 20 minEasy
• Riblja Čorba (Serbian Paprika Fish Soup)RS1 h 25 minMedium

Salads

• Srpska Salata (Serbian Tomato and Pepper Salad)RS15 minEasy
• Urnebes Salata (Serbian Spicy Cheese and Pepper Salad)RS40 minEasy

Main Dishes

• Burek (Serbian Coiled Meat Pie)RS1 h 40 minMedium
• Pljeskavica (Serbian Grilled Meat Patty)RS32 minEasy
• Ćevapi (Serbian Grilled Minced Meat Sausages)RS35 minEasy
• Prebranac (Serbian Baked Beans with Onions)RS2 h 15 minEasy
• Punjene Paprike (Serbian Stuffed Peppers)RS1 h 50 minEasy
• Sarma (Serbian Cabbage Rolls)RS3 h 40 minMedium

Breads

• Proja (Serbian Cornbread with White Cheese)RS45 minEasy

Desserts

• Krempita (Serbian Custard Cream Slice)RS1 h 10 minMedium
• Palačinke (Serbian Thin Pancakes)RS40 minEasy
• Vanilice (Serbian Vanilla Jam Sandwich Cookies)RS1 h 5 minMedium

Sauces, Dips and Condiments

• Ajvar (Serbian Roasted Red Pepper Spread)RS3 hMedium