Croatian Traditional Recipes

Food prepared in the way which has been passed down for generations (..and then it reached me..and you :)

By Marco Dörfliger and Nina.

Mussels (Dagnje) (Dalmatian style)

Requires mussels, onions, garlic, parsley fresh, white wine and breadcrumbs.

Takes 20 mins.

Makes 1 kg.

As Nina makes it.

Pinca (Easter sweet bread)

Traditional Dalmatian recipe for sweet easter bread (fine tuned and perfected by my non-dalmatian dad). This amount will make 2 people very happy.

Requires flour, dry yeast, sugar, butter, vanilla essence, egg yolks, milk, eggs, lemon zest, orange zest, salt and rum.

Makes 2 pieces.

As Nina makes it.

Cheese Strudel

A baked desert, with rows of sweet, cream-cheese filled pastry.

Requires filo pastry sheets, cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs, sugar and milk.

Takes 60 mins.

Makes 5 rolls.

As Marco Dörfliger makes it.

Goulash

A very delicious traditional (veel) goulash. For an interesting twist, replace the veal with venison and potatoes with kumara (like in the photo) or pumpkin (add nutmeg)

Requires veal, onions, salt, pepper, paprika, tomato paste, garlic and parsley fresh.

Makes 1 kg.

As Nina makes it.

Tingulet

Traditional Dalmatian meal -- the recipe has passed down generations via my mother's side of the family. This is how my none (nonna) made it. Rumour has it that it was originally made with pigeons - hence prošek (a really sweet and aromatic wine -- NOT the Italian prosecco). I wouldn't make it with a pigeon though, even if I had a lot of prošek that I am cooking with (instead of drinking).

Requires chicken leg, onions, garlic, prošek, salt, nutmeg, pepper, cloves and tomato paste.

Takes 45 mins.

Makes 4 servings.

As Nina makes it.

Ivan's sister's Varivo

Requires garlic, onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, kale, leeks, parsley root, oil, bacon, bayleaves, cumin, pepper and salt.

Takes 30 mins.

Makes 4 servings.

As Marco Dörfliger makes it.

Salsa (Šalša)

Salsa (pronounced as [shaal-shaa] ) as my grandmother and mother make it. Dalmatian goodness in a pot, served with pasta, or as a base for meat dishes, or simply as a side.

Requires tomatoes, onions, parsley, garlic, sugar, salt, pepper and mint.

Makes 1 kg.

As Nina makes it.

Komiža (Vis) pie (Komiška pogača)

Traditional savory pie (pita/pogača) from the town of Komiža on the island of Vis (Croatia). Pack it as a snack when you go hike around the island, or enjoy at home with a glass of wine. Viška pogača is the same with a bit less fish and more onion.

Requires flour, milk, sugar, yeast, salt, sardine, salted, caper and Šalša.

Makes 12 servings.

As Nina makes it.

Shnitzels in sauce (Šnicli u saftu)

Delicious meat slices (šnicli) covered in thick sauce, how my grandma made it (I would always sneak into the kitchen to steal some toč (sauce) before it was done). Best served with some gnocchi (or something gluten free, if needed).

Requires veal, onions, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, nutmeg, salt, pepper, parsley, cloves and mixed herbs.

Takes 120 mins.

Makes 4 servings.

As Nina makes it.

Fish Soup and Boiled fish (Riba na lešo)

Dalmatian style -- Recipe handed down from my mother and grandmother

Requires Hake, onions, potatoes, carrots, parsley, thyme, pepper corn, garlic, olive oil, rice, tomato paste and olive oil.

Takes 45 mins.

Makes 1 kg.

As Nina makes it.