Food is a language that unites people around the world. And often the best thing about visiting a new country is trying the new delicacies that are native to where you are going to stay!
But if you’ve never stayed in this country before, such as Croatia for example, it can be hard knowing what to expect.
Will you enjoy the food that you find in restaurants? What kind of things can you expect to find on the menu?
And most importantly, does Croatia have good food?
This is the question that we are going to answer for you today!
We’re going to cover everything that you need to know about Croatian cuisine so that you can have a better idea of what to expect when you pay this fascinating country a visit.
You’ll have a much better idea of which dishes to opt for if you see them on the menu, and which ones are likely not to your taste.
So let’s take a look at everything there is to know about Croatian cuisine!
Is The Food Good In Croatia?
Trying to quantify whether the food is good in Croatia can be a hard thing to achieve, because individual tastes differ so much.
However, you can rest assured that you will be able to find something for everyone in Croatian food.
Croatian cuisine tends to be very varied and complex, and you can easily see the different cultures and cuisines that have influenced its development.
Some of the cuisines from around the world that have influenced Croatian cuisine include Middle Eastern cuisine, Italian cuisine, and the Ottoman Empire cuisine.
It tends to feature lots of tasty seafood, as well as stuffed foods that appear similar to strudel and schnitzel.
For keen foodies, you can rest assured that trying Croatian cuisine will be a real treat.
You will be able to find something for everyone on the menu, so it’s an excellent idea to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something a little different.
So in short, yes, the food is good in Croatia! It just might feature dishes that you aren’t all that familiar with, but are sure to love once you try them.
What Is Croatia’s Main Dish?
The main dish that has come out of Croatian cuisine is brudet.
This is a classic stew made using fish, and is often considered by most Croatians as their national dish.
This fish stew dish originates from the region of Dalmatia, and tends to make use of lots of different types of fish.
These fish are then stewed alongside a range of vegetables, spices, and will make use of either white wine or red wine.
What really makes brudet a favorite for Croatians is how easy it is to prepare and make.
This tends to be a one pot dish where you can chuck all the ingredients inside, and cook in one go.
Brudet tends to be served alongside toasted bread or polenta, which typically soaks up that tasty broth from the stew. You can also serve it alongside potatoes.
No one brudet is like another, as each dish can vary in taste depending on the ingredients that have been used.
You can easily mix up which fish you use, or which spices, or which type of wine.
This all influences the flavor of the dish to create a truly heartwarming meal.
So if you do ever visit Croatia, you should make sure to try some classic Croatian brudet during your stay!
There are lots of different ones to choose from, and it’s fairly easy to spot the influence of other cuisines on the development of the dishes.
Some of the most popular traditional Croatian dishes include: black risotto, peka, strukli, and many, many more.
The flavors will differ from dish to dish, but these are some of the very best traditional dishes that Croatia has to offer.
Black risotto features the addition of squid ink, and is typically on offer in the vast majority of seafood restaurants.
Peka is a versatile dish that features baking the meat and vegetables of your choice in a tray that features a bell like lid.
Strukli is a pastry that is typically filled with sour cream and cottage cheese.
What Do Croatians Eat For Dinner?
Croatians are spoilt for choice as to what to eat for dinner (Check out What Time Is Dinner In Croatia?)! They will of course opt for more traditional dishes such as brudet and peka.
These are hearty meals that feature lots of tasty flavors.
Brudet is of course considered to be the national dish of Croatia, so it’s hardly a surprise that many Croatians would opt for this.
Peka is just as yummy as brudet. The best thing about peka is that it is a versatile dish, and you can basically include whatever you want to make it.
Choose the meat of your choice, as well as the vegetables that you would like to include.
Popular meats include chicken, octopus, veal, or lamb, and it is often served alongside potatoes.
In Summary
So there you have it! Croatian food is considered to be good, and tends to be influenced by several different cultures.
You will notice the influence of cuisines such as the Middle East and Italy on Croatian cuisine.
Croatia has also developed plenty of classic dishes throughout the years, with brudet being the main dish of choice.
Brudet is considered to be the national dish of Croatia, and is basically a hearty fish stew.
This tends to use a variety of fish, spices, and is typically completed with the addition of either white wine or red wine.
You can serve your brudet alongside toasted bread, polenta, or potatoes.
There are lots and lots of different traditional Croatian dishes for you to choose from. So which one will you be trying first?
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