Food, food, food… If you are a true foodie person who enjoys quality meals and appreciates local food as an important experiential part of your travel plans, Bosnia & Herzegovina is a place that might just be your thing.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, other than for stunning nature, rich history and welcoming locals, is known for its delicious cuisine that was shaped under the influence of different cultures throughout the history, with the Turkish leaving the biggest trace on their plates. Here are some of the most iconic dishes you can find here and we think you should not miss;
1. Sarma – Sarma is a kind of wrap of meat mixture snugly rolled in the leaf of sour cabbage or some other greens. Mixture typically consists of minced pork, veal and beef, rice or bulgur, various herbs, seasonings, red pepper and tomato sauce. It is slow cooked until this perfection can be served alongside some mashed potatoes and a seasonal salad.
2. Ćevapi – The most popular Bosnian dish could easily be Ćevapi. These are grilled meat fingers made from a mixture of different minced meats, like pork, beef and veal, with each combination giving different flavours. Cooked to be juicy similar to a traditional burger, Ćevapi are served with traditional bun called ‘somun’ along with some freshly-chopped onions and a topping of traditional chese-cream called ‘kajmak’.
3. Burek or Pita – Side by side with the previous dish when it comes to popularity stands ‘Burek’. This traditional Bosnian pie dish comes in different ways and flavors. The base is always a thin, flagy pastry that is filled with greens, cheese, meat or potatoes to give various end products. You can get them anywhere from a standard bakery or a supermarket, to a fine restaurant or specialized places that make these.
4. Kvrguša – Chicken pie is probably the best way to describe the wierdest dish on our list. In a nutshell, it is a dish with boneless chicken legs baked on a bed of flour, milk and eggs with different seasoning options. Some places also like to add in extra chese before the baking process. This chicken pie slices are then served with traditional chese-cream called ‘kajmak’, same as the one used with meat fingers.
5. Baklava – We thought we could finish this short food guide off with a dessert – a traditional ‘baklava’ cake. Baklava is a cake with multiple layers of streched dough, with walnut or pistacio filling in between them. Depending on the chef, baklava is hydrated with honey, lemon or other bitter-sweet solutions while it is slowly baked on a low temperature. It is best served alongside with traditional Turkish coffee. Bon apetit!
