What to Eat in Croatia

Eating your way through any country is one of the best ways to get to know the culture, and Croatia is no different.

Croatian food is delicious.

Traditional Croatian food is varied since the country was under the influence of many different empires. Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Turkey have all influenced Croatia’s cuisine. For this reason, it can sometimes be hard to distinguish dishes that are exclusive to Croatia.

Over the years, Croatia has adopted many foods from various cultures and made them its own. While you may notice some similarities to other neighboring countries, Croatian dishes have their own distinct taste.

Croatia can be divided into several different regions, each famous for its own particular dishes. While there are officially seven different regions, we’ll be focusing on four in this post: Slavonia, Central Croatia, Istria, and Dalmatia.

Now that you know a little bit about Croatia’s history, let’s get into what to eat in Croatia!

Central Croatia

Central Croatia is home to the country’s capital of Zagreb, a cool city that boasts a fusion of foods from all over the country.

Traditional Central Croatian food has many similarities to dishes that you would find in Austria, Germany, and other central European countries. Typical food from this region consists of meat served with a side of potatoes, cabbage, or other root vegetables.

1. Zagrebacki Odrezak

Zagrebacki Odrezak stuffed with ham and cheese placed on a white dish. — Zagrebacki

Zagrebacki Odrezak served with braised potatoes and salad. — Zagrebacki Odrezak

Similar to a Cordon Bleu and Austrian Schnitzel, Zagrebacki Odrezak is veal stuffed with ham and cheese, which is then breaded and deep-fried. This is a classic comfort food for many Croatians from this area and is a must-try dish when you are in Zagreb! Zagrebacki Odrezak is typically served with a side of traditionally prepared braised potatoes and homemade bread.

2. Štrukli

Famous from the Zagorje region, štrukli is a lasagna-like dish that is made from dough, fresh cheese, and heavy cream. They can be baked or boiled and can be served savory or sweet.

My favorite way to order them is baked with sugar on top – it is an amazing melt-in-your-mouth combination.

3. Purica s mlincima

A typical dish hailing from the Zagorje region is Purica s mlincima, which is oven-roasted turkey served with a type of pasta known as mlinci. Mlinci looks like a dry, thin, flatbread that is then broken up and quickly doused in hot water to cook.

After the turkey and the mlinci are done, the sauce from the turkey pan is poured over the mlinci and mixed.

This dish is one of those homemade meals that just warms your soul.

4. Kremšnita

A portion of Kremšnita served on a white plate. — Kremšnita

Kremšnita is the Croatian version of a mille-feuille, made with vanilla custard sandwiched between strips of flaky, puff pastry dough. They are best eaten chilled, and you can find them in many Croatian dessert shops. However, if you want to sample the real deal, then take a day trip to Samobor, a small town located just thirty minutes away from Zagreb.

This city is so famous for its kremšnite, that there are almost always lines of people waiting to get a slice of these delicious custard cakes.

Slavonia

Slavonia is Croatia’s most eastern region, bordering the countries of Hungary and Serbia. This particular area is still relatively underdeveloped when it comes to tourism, as most visitors to Croatia head straight to the country’s coast.

However, Slavonia boasts some of the most incredibly flavorful dishes made with love. People from Slavonia are very proud of where they come from, and this is evident through the way that they prepare their food. In Slavonia, two main ingredients you’ll find in most dishes include pork and red paprika.

5. Cobanac

Cobanac is Slavonia’s most famous dish. It is a traditional meat stew that is cooked in a copper pot strung over an open fire for several hours. This dish is particularly popular among meat-lovers as it typically features a combination of different meats including beef, lamb, and pork. Cobanac would not be complete without a mix of sweet and hot ground paprika, which gives the dish its infamous vivid color.

6. Sataraš

This vegetable stew is a dish that can be eaten on its own, or as a side dish served alongside meat or fish. Sataraš is most often made with peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and parsley which are first fried together and then gently stewed. It is very similar to the Hungarian dish, lecsó, which is quite popular in southeastern Europe.

7. Fiš paprikaš

Fiš paprikaš is a traditional stew that is cooked in a cauldron over an open fire. Inspired by neighboring Hungary, this spicy fish stew is made with loads of paprika and a combination of freshwater fish such as carp and catfish.

Istria

Istria is the westernmost region of Croatia that makes up the entire western peninsula. This area of Croatia is strikingly similar to Italy in both its looks and cuisine. However, Istria has its own typical dishes and cooking techniques.

Two common ingredients you’ll come across in Istria are truffles and hand-rolled pasta known as Istarski fuzi.

8. Truffle

Pasta served with truffles on a plate. — Pasta with Truffles

Istria is the truffle capital of Croatia. This prized ingredient was discovered in the dense forests of Motovun 80 years ago and has since transformed the region into a mecca for culinary enthusiasts.

When in Istria, you’ll find truffles on everything – eggs, sandwiches, pastas, you name it – you can have truffles on it. In addition to a wide array of truffle dishes, Istria boasts a large number of truffle products like cheeses, oils, spreads, and even sweets, which make the perfect souvenirs.

9. Steak

Istrian beef is of superior quality, and can even be compared to world-famous meats like Argentinian steak. For the ultimate experience, give boskarin steak a try. Boskarin is a type of Istrian ox and a symbol of the region that produces incredibly mouthwatering steaks.

10. Fuži

Fuži is a type of handmade pasta often served with different stews and sauces that include mushrooms, truffles, beef, or shrimp. The pasta dough is rolled out into a thin sheet and cut into strips which are then cut diagonally, creating a diamond shape. Fuži can be found in restaurants throughout the region and in stores so that you can try your hand at preparing it at home.

Southern Dalmatia

Southern Dalmatian food can be found along the Dalmatian coast and on the islands. This type of food relies heavily on fish and green vegetables often seasoned with rosemary and plenty of olive oil. The cuisine in Southern Dalmatia is what you would picture when you think of a typical Mediterranean diet.

11. Grilled Fish

“Riba na gradele” or grilled fish is something that you will find on almost every Croatian menu. This is a staple meal of Dalmatian cuisine and a dish that many Croatian families eat at home on the regular. The most popular fish are sea bream or sea bass, but other types of fish are grilled as well. This classic Dalmatian dish is always served with a side of boiled potatoes and Swiss chard.

12. Black Risotto

While traveling down the Croatian coast, you will notice that almost every single restaurant will have Black Risotto on its menu. This seafood risotto is made from squid and cuttlefish, whose ink gives the risotto its famous black color. In addition to squid and cuttlefish, this risotto often contains other types of seafood like mussels and shellfish.

13. Peka

“Peka” is actually a traditional way of preparing different meats and vegetables under a bell-like lid that is cooked slowly over embers. A peka is often made with lamb, chicken, and octopus. In addition to the meat, vegetables like potatoes and carrots are added along with oil and other spices. Because of the slow cooking time, the meat comes out juicy and tender, while the potatoes and other vegetables absorb the sauce.

14. Gregada

Gregada is a traditional Dalmatian fish stew. The fish is cooked in white wine with potatoes, onions, parsley, and garlic, and is a very typical dish found on the islands. The island of Hvar is an excellent place to taste this savory meal.