Delicious Croatia, Authentic Croatian cuisine and wine guide
Croatian cuisine can be divided into a few regional cuisines such as Istrian cuisine, Dalmatian, Slavonian, Zagorje's cuisine... each influenced by the neighbouring countries or historically, conquering super powers. Croatia's mainland cuisine is characterised by the earlier Slavic and more recent contacts with Hungarian, Austrian and Turkish culture - a lot of meat, lard and spices (especially paprika) while the coastal region bears the influences of the Mediterranean cuisine - Greek, Italian (especially Venetian) and French - a lot of olive oil and fresh herbs. Although, variations of most of the dishes are found across the whole country.
Traditional Croatian cuisine and the most popular Croatian wines
The most famous meat dish (although it also has a mollusc variation) is the "Peka / Ispod peke" or in rough translation “under the bell”. Mostly lamb or veil (or an octopus) are being cooked under a domed clay or metal bell covered with hot coals so that the meal is cooked slowly in its own juices. It is usually accompanied with a lot of potato (prepared in the same method) and a seasonal salad or/and soup.
Soups are an integral part of a meal in Croatia and there isn't a Sunday or special occasion without it. The soups are usually broth based with added pasta or dumplings and vegetables. The meat from the soup (baby beef) is usually served aside and tastes delicious with a bit of mustard!
Stews are very popular in Slavonia and Central Croatia (with a little meat and some vegetables you could make a meal for the whole family in times of poverty). Some of the most popular stews are fish stew (fiš paprikaš - Slavonia), beef stew Pašticada (Dalmatia).
When it comes to pasta, thanks to the Italian influence, it is very popular especially in on the coast. Istria has many meals with home made pasta such as Fuzi.
Looking for traditional Croatian food ideas for your dinner? Look no further!
Croatian cuisine is influenced by neighbouring countries like Italy, Turkey, and Hungary, resulting in a diverse range of dishes. If you're interested in learning how to cook authentic Croatian food, we've got you covered with our collection of Croatian recipes.
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Read more: Croatian Cuisine: Easy-to-Make Croatian Recipes in English
Croatia's diverse climate and soil allow for the production of highly regarded wine and olive oil. The country has four major wine regions that span from the coastal mountains to the continental inland, providing a wide range of grapes and wine styles.
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Read more: A Guide to Croatian Wines: Everything You Need to Know
The Welschriesling grape variety, known as Graševina in Croatian, also answers to the names of Laško Riesling, Riesling Italico or Italian Riesling, Olasz Riesling or Grašica. It's a global grape type cultivated in Croatia and various Central and Eastern European nations.
Interested in other Croatian wine varieties? Read our Guide to Croatian Wines.
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Read more: Graševina, the predominant white grape variety in Croatia
Plavac Mali, the most enchanting of Croatian viticulture's tongue twisters, is an indigenous black grape variety renowned for producing medium to full-bodied red wines. Its name, when translated, means "Little Blue One" or "Small Blue," a fitting description of its small, blue-hued berries with their thick, tannin-rich skins.
Interested in other Croatian wine varieties? Read our Guide to Croatian Wines.
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Read more: Plavac Mali, most widespread red grape variety indigenous to Croatia
Pošip, an esteemed Croatian white wine, is meticulously crafted from indigenous Pošip grapes cultivated for centuries by local wine making families in the vineyards of Smokvica and Čara on the captivating island of Korčula. This region, known as 'Smokvisko-Carsko Polje' or 'Smokvica-Čara Field', is renowned for yielding a full-bodied wine with an alcohol content ranging from 13.5% to 14.5%, and an acidity of approximately 5.8 g per litre when fully matured and bottled.
Interested in other Croatian wine varieties? Read our Guide to Croatian Wines.
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Read more: Pošip Wine - white grape variety from the island of Korčula