Before I arrived in the Balkans, I didn’t know what to expect about the variety and types of food available. Needless to say that in my first stop, Croatia, I was more than pleasantly surprised.
A mixture of Italian and Middle Eastern influences make for a very tasty melting pot of different foods, mainly based around bread, vegetables, olive oil and dairy products. Here are some of the best foods we tasted in Croatia (in no particular order).
Pizza
This was one of my favourite things about Croatia – the availability of good, fresh pizza on every corner. Whether sold by the slice or a full pizza served at a sit down restaurant, the quality is consistently high. I also love the diversity of toppings here compared to the UK and US – especially the option of tuna and seafood ( I absolutely adore tuna and onions together on a pizza) and they are also not afraid to use eggs on pizza too; something which can be extremely delicious if done right.
Gelato
Another Italian favourite, the Croats just love their gelato. And I’m not complaining either. Made with milk, cream, sugar, flavourings and mixed with fruits, biscuits, nuts or chocolate, gelato is often considered to be creamier than normal ice cream and is the perfect antidote to the hot temperatures you’ll find in summer. There is no rhyme or reason as to where sells the best gelato in the country (although I’m sure the locals would argue otherwise) – vendors can be found on almost every street corner, so just go with whichever looks best, and most of all, fresh.
Salads
Much like the abundant fresh seafood dishes available on the coast, the salads available in Croatia just scream “flavour” and are packed full of fresh, Mediterranean ingredients and would put any boring Garden Salad to shame. Fresh cheeses, air dried meats, tomatoes, peppers, toasted breads, fish, capers, olives and leafy greens are just some of the ingredients you will find packed into these plates of goodness. As someone who would never normally order a salad at home (for the simple fact that they are usually just filled with lettuce and not much else of any worth), I was a convert in Croatia for these tasty and healthy dishes.
Burek
I had never tried (or, I’m ashamed to say, heard of) burek before I reached Croatia. Now that I have been travelling a while throughout the Balkans it has almost become a staple of my diet and one which I can’t help but crave. Essentially made from filling layers of dough with meat, cheese (although not typical cheese – more like cottage cheese) and spinach, burek isn’t exactly a healthy dish but one which is filling, cheap and definitely tasty. Burek can be eaten at any time of the day or night (although it is often eaten for breakfast by locals) and is usually sold either in slices or by weight.
Iced Coffee
I love coffee, but am not a huge fan of Starbucks’ offering of frappucinos containing too many sugary flavourings for my liking (probably since an old acquaintance who once worked there told me that they contain your daily allowance of calories in one plastic cup! Eek!) But when you want a refreshing pick-me-up in the heat, the Croatian versions of iced coffee are the way to go. Usually made from espresso or filter coffee, mixed with milk, ice cubes and topped with whipped cream and sometimes a blob of vanilla ice cream, these concoctions are probably almost as unhealthy as Starbucks, but at least contain fresh coffee and are a snip at half the price of a typical chain coffee shop.
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