As the weather gets warmer, I’ve been craving fresh spring produce and lighter meals. And when I think of light and fresh I think of Pohovane Tikvice or Zucchini Fritters. It brings back so many wonderful memories of my childhood and that very first bite has them all rushing back. […]
Entrees
Entrees and Main Dishes
Pecena Riba sa Prelivom / Baked Cod with Lemon-Garlic Sauce
While the Balkans may be known for their never-ending meat specialties, if you happen to be dining close to a body of water, I highly doubt the “specijalitet kuće” is anything but fish. On a trip to Vodopadi Lisine 2 years ago, our tour group stopped for lunch at “Restoran […]
Podvarak/ Baked Sauerkraut
During the winter months, sauerkraut or pickled cabbage is consumed regularly in Balkan households. It’s used to make many different traditional dishes such as Sarma, Kiseli Kupus sa Mesom, and Podvarak, a simple sauerkraut baked dish that is accompanied by delicious smoked meats that are also widely available in the […]
Sarma sa Orasima / Vegan Cabbage Rolls with Walnuts
A few years ago, I had Sarma sa Orasima for the first time. I really enjoyed it but never got around to asking the host for the recipe. Since then, I’ve made regular sarma with meat, but with the winter chill definitely settling in and with Christmas just around the […]
Pečene Slane Palačinke / Savory Baked Crepes
Ever wish you could have palačinke/crepes for every meal? I do! They’re the perfect vessel for delicious fillings and toppings, not to mention the dough itself is neutral in flavor so you can enjoy them both sweet and savory. Today I’ll be sharing one of my husband’s favorite recipes, pečene […]
Kiseli Kupus sa Suvim Mesom/Pickled Cabbage with Smoked Meat
When I think of winter, I think of traditional comfort food. For me, that’s sarma, various stews, thick kačamak and popara, and kiseli kupus, or pickled cabbage. In the fall, when families are canning and preparing for the winter months, they usually fill a very large barrel with whole heads […]
Ćufte u Paradajz Sosu / Balkan-Style Meatballs
This is one of those recipes that stick with you over the years. Sure, I’ve had many different styles of ćufte/meatballs over the years, but this is the one I keep coming back to. It’s something about the flavor that is so familiar, so comforting, that other meatball recipes just […]
Paprike u Kajmaku / Peppers in Kajmak
It’s hard to find real Kajmak in the USA. Often restaurants and Balkan stores will try to recreate it by whipping together butter and cream cheese but it’s definitely not the same. Kajmak, a type of clotted cream found in the Balkans, is made by cooking raw milk to a […]
Punjene Paprike / Balkan-Style Stuffed Peppers
We like to stuff our vegetables in the Balkans. Not only do we stuff cabbage and grape leaves, but we stuff a variety of peppers as well. There are a variety of stuffed pepper dishes in the Balkans. My favorite is the sweet bell pepper variety and also the pickled […]
Pohovane Paprike / Breaded Peppers
If you asked me what my favorite food is, I’d probably take a while to answer. You see, it all depends on the season. During the Summer I can pretty much live on watermelon and cantaloupe alone and don’t like heavier, richer foods. During the Winter, anything creamy, comforting, and […]