Black Risotto, known locally as crni rižot is a favourite in Croatia and you’ll be hard pressed to NOT find it on a menu. It’s normally made from squid, olive oil, garlic and red wine. The added squid ink is what gives it such an intense, dark colour so while it can look quite scary, it tastes delicious. Be prepared though, it will turn your mouth momentarily black! Pair with a nice glass of red wine and you are good to go.
This Dalmatian food classic is a typical seafood stew which is popular all over Croatia. It’s made in a few different ways depending on the region and the restaurant, but usually consists of a rich broth with fish or other seafood and potatoes and herbs. It’s often served with polenta to soak up the liquid too.
Peka is less of a food, and more a way of cooking said food. The typical Croatian way is to throw any kind of meat, potatoes and vegetables into a tray, put on the lid and place it in the fireplace to cook for around two hours. After an hour spices, herbs or honey is added.
Bell peppers are stuffed full of meat, rice and spices, and then cooked in a tomato sauce. They are normally served with mashed potatoes and some other vegetables. They are very popular all over Croatia and eaten mostly during the winter months.
Popular in summer due to its light and refreshing taste, this salad is found everywhere in Croatia due to the availability of fresh octopus on the coast. The octopus is chopped and tossed in garlic, olive oil, lemon, onion, parsley and chopped tomato.
Burek is popular all over the Balkans due to the Ottoman Empire. This delicious, flaky pastry is filled with anything from cheese, potatoes and onions to meat. You can find them in every bakery in Croatia.
You will usually see a few soup options on menus in Croatia as it’s a popular starter. Beef soup, known as Goveđa Juha or vegetable soup, Maneštra, are two of the most popular. Bean and sausage soup is a hearty one favoured in winter while light seafood soups are popular in summer.
Truffles are everywhere in Istria, but you will be able to find something with truffle on most menus in Croatia. A must try dish from Istria is fuži, a traditional pasta smothered in truffles. It’s also popular to have them grated over pizza or enjoyed in a fresh sauce.
This is a popular platter consisting of sheep cheese from the island of Pag and thinly sliced cured ham, similar to prosciutto. Paired with some bread, olive oil and a sprinkling of black olives, it makes the perfect sharing platter for a meet up with friends.
Shrimps na bazaru is simple yet satisfying. Fresh shrimps are flash fried and tossed with garlic, olive oil and tomatoes, with a dash of wine added near the end. Served with fresh bread to mop up the liquid and you have yourself a delicious meal.
This is a light and refreshing meal, perfect for a quick lunch and also great for vegetarians. Chopped cucumber, tomatoes and onions are smothered with crumbling white cheese and topped with herbs.
Of Turkish origin, sarma is traditionally stuffed cabbage leaves, filled with meat. They are normally served with mashed potato and you can find it mostly in restaurants inland, as it’s not as popular along the coast where they have an abundance of seafood.
This one goes back to basics. You’ll find a great variety of fresh grilled fish on menus all over Croatia, typically pilchard, anchovy, mackerel and tuna. It’s served with fresh vegetables and potatoes.
Known locally as Janjetina na raznju, spit-roasted lamb is especially popular on the islands of Brac, Pag and Cres, but can be found on menus all over the country. It’s normally the main dish at big events such as weddings or other celebrations.
Don’t be put off with all the seafood you see in Croatia, it is not only possible but also enjoyable to travel in Croatia as a vegan or vegetarian. While Croatians very much love their seafood and meat, like everywhere in Europe, the concept of plant based eating is on the rise. The best advice is to try and research a few restaurants before hand and stock up on snacks in local supermarkets. If you are strict with your eating, don’t just show up at a local restaurant in the hopes of finding something vegan on the menu. Research is key! Italian style restaurants are a safe bet, with lots of pasta and tomato sauce based meals, fresh herbs and vegetables. In most restaurants, grilled vegetables and fresh salads come in abundance. A quick look on the website happycow and you’ll see that most of the major cities in Croatia have at least a few vegan or vegetarian restaurants.
When it comes to drinks, Croatia has a great variety to choose from. Local wines, spirits, freshly brewed coffee and your typical soft drinks will all appear on most menus in restaurants and cafes all over the country.
Croatia mainly has a beer and wine drinking culture. You won’t normally see a group of drunk locals singing down the street – that’s probably backpackers!
The beer scene in Croatia is strong and constantly evolving – especially with a growing interest in craft beer all over Europe! There are a few beers to try in Croatia, the most popular being Karlovačko and Ožujsko which date back over 100 years. Zmajska pivovara was the first microbrewery to open in Croatia and they now sell beer all over the country.
Wine is popular in Croatia, even though the country is not widely known to have great wine. This is because until recently they didn’t export that much. There are loads of different local wines to try, we suggest asking the waiter to recommend one local to the area you are in.
You can’t possibly leave Croatia without sampling the national drink, rakija, known locally as grappa or trapa. This fruit brandy is enjoyed all over the country and is often home-made, giving it that extra punch. The drink is very strong and the key is to sip it slowly. Most restaurants will offer a few different flavours such as cherry, peach, plum and apple.
Coffee culture is huge in Croatia, especially during the summer when the sun is shining and locals gather together for a chat over an espresso. Don’t expect all the fancy and sugar loaded varieties you might find at your local Starbucks, Croatians keep it simple. Espressos, a little milk, lattes. That’s about it. Follow your nose and look out for where the locals go.
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