Winter is coming! The tourist season is shifting towards Croatia’s inland regions.
The area around Zagreb is just beginning to warm up for its winter crescendo! Zagreb and its surroundings capture visitors’ attention to Croatia during the off-peak months when sunbathing and beach trips are no longer the main draws. But regardless of the reason for visiting, one allure consistently tops the list – the food.
Those planning to start a diet this week may skip this article!
PORK CRACKLINGS or ČVARKI
Pork cracklings are a famous dish in different Southern and Eastern European variations. They make an excellent snack, but beware—they are high in calories. ‘Čvarki’ was once a side dish made from fatty belly pork boiled in fat, leaving pork lard where the cracklings floated. Skillful cooks would scoop them out, press, and dry.
Croatian Chips
Pork cracklings are served cold and sprinkled with salt before consumption. They are accompanied by cottage cheese, sour cream, and onions.
Today, cracklings are one of the most expensive delicacies—be sure to taste it in Croatia. You can find them in Western, Northern, and Eastern Croatia.
COOKED SMOKED PORK HOCK (BUNCEK)
Buncek, a beloved dish from Croatia’s continental region, is a smoked and slowly cooked pork hock that melts in the mouth. Typically served with sauerkraut or mashed potatoes, it offers a savory, rich flavor that warms you from the inside. This hearty meal is top-rated during colder months and is a proper comfort food for locals and visitors alike.
PASTA WITH CABBAGE / KRPICE SA ZELJEM
Pasta with cabbage truly brings back the taste of childhood. It’s delicious and easy to prepare.. What more could you want?
BLOOD SAUSAGES WITH SOUR CABBAGE
This simple traditional dish from continental Croatia is among the most delicious winter specialties. Although it may remind you of Alpine cuisine, Croats has slightly adapted it, and it remains equally tasty. So, what are you waiting for? Let us know which one you like best!
AJNPREN SOUP
I’m sure Croatians aren’t the only ones who enjoy ajnpren soup or flour-based soup. Nevertheless, it has become part of traditional Croatian cuisine. This homemade soup is often prepared when you feel unwell, as it helps with stomach issues. But it’s so tasty that it’s also a favorite winter appetizer!
CHICKEN SOUP / AJNGEMAHTEC
As the name suggests (hahaha), ajngemahtec is a thick chicken soup, a famous traditional soup from Zagreb whose name derives from German. This soup is often a favorite Sunday appetizer!
FISH PAPRIKAŠ
This famous dish originates from Eastern Croatia. Due to its rich flavor, Fish-Paprikaš became a culinary classic!
Local chefs have developed unique ways of preparing this traditional dish: spicy fish stew. It’s made with river fish (often catfish or carp), onions, tomatoes, and paprika simmered to create a rich, flavorful broth. It’s served hot directly from the pot with homemade noodles (pasta) and white bread. As an appetizer, pair it with white wine from the Baranja region.
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Although initially a typical dish from continental Croatia, stuffed peppers have become famous throughout Croatia due to their unique taste. Foreigners often ask, “What do you mean by stuffed peppers?” It’s simple—stuffed with minced meat, rice, and tomato sauce. Stuffed peppers are considered one of the most delicious homemade dishes!
COTTAGE CHEESE WITH SOUR CREAM
This quick, easy cottage cheese and sour cream is perfect for unexpectedly hungry guests or when you need a quick appetizer. Serve it with Croatian-style ham and smoked sausages on the side.
BREAD WITH LARD
There’s been much debate about lard, from unhealthy to healthy. But there’s no debate if you ignore all that and savor the taste. Spread homemade lard on bread and sprinkle with salt and minced red pepper. Seasonings, chopped garlic, or red onion, depending on personal taste.
Croatian Sandwich
Bread with lard is Croatia’s oldest sandwich.
ZAGORJE ‘ŠTRUKLI’ WITH CHEESE AND CREAM
The Zagorje region has given Croatian culture some of its best dishes. The famous dish that many grew up with is Zagorje štrukli. This cheese pastry makes a great appetizer or healthy snack.
FAŠIRANCI
This dish is loved and remembered from childhood! Faširanci, or meat patties, aren’t often found in restaurants, especially in summer. But you’ll find them in many Zagreb restaurants as a daily dish in winter. This simple dish made from minced meat, spices, and breadcrumbs is usually served with mashed potatoes, creamy spinach, or cabbage stew. My favorite is faširanci with spinach and mashed potatoes.
TURKEY WITH FLATBREAD
Turkey with flatbread is to central Croatia what Pašticada is to Dalmatia. This traditional dish is often prepared for holidays or special occasions, especially on All Saints’ Day and Christmas. The famous turkeys from Zagorje are large and heavy, and the slow roasting process with flatbread on the side makes this dish truly special. Taste it anywhere in Zagorje or Zagreb.
CROATIAN SARMA
Croatian Sarma Would Make Turks Jealous. We must thank the Ottoman conquerors, who brought sarma to Croatia and adapted it to local tastes. Winter in Croatia is unimaginable without these tasty cabbage rolls, often served at weddings to rejuvenate guests in the early hours. Her Majesty Sarma is a must for New Year’s.
SOUP FROM ZAGORJE
Croatians love eating “with a spoon,“ so every Sunday meal starts with soup. One of my favorite winter soups, thick enough to be a main dish, comes from Zagorje. It’s hearty and satisfying.
CREAMY PENNY BUN SOUP (VRGANJI)
Creamy Penny Bun Soup is a rich, flavorful soup made with mushrooms, commonly known as penny buns or porcini. This type of soup is popular in the continental parts of the country: in Zagreb and its surroundings, in Zagorje, Međimurje, and also in Lika. If you are a mushroom lover, you will surely be delighted with this delicious creamy traditional dish ideal for long autumn days! Croatians love mushrooms. They pick them wherever they can, and mushroom picking is a fantastic recreational and fun activity. In autumn, it’s common to see many mushroom pickers in the forests and groves. In Croatia, mushrooms are considered the “meat of the forest.”
While I may be biased as a Croatian, Croatia’s cuisine ranks among the best in the world! We invite you to a culinary journey across Croatia’s authentic, traditional plates, those homemade, original flavors that showcase the best Croatian inland cooking. Try your luck and discover these dishes on the menus of local restaurants from autumn through spring in continental Croatia.
