In Dalmatia, we are blessed with good food – fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and herbs. We have some of the best olive oil and wines in the world. A lot of our traditional recipes are prepared with olive oil, white wine, rosemary, garlic, onions and pancetta.
Gradele
Gradele is a certain way to grill fish or meat in Dalmatia. The grilling is done over a metal grate called gradele over an open flame. The fish or meat are drizzled in oil and seasoned with salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic, parsley and lemon juice. Boiled potatoes or chard are usually served as side dish.
Peka
Peka is a cast iron bell-like top, that you put over a tray filled with usually lamb, veil or octopus with various vegetables (potatoes, onions, carrots…) and herbs, put directly over a burning firewood. It is a slow process of stemming from an ancient tradition in these areas, and it is sure to say that every local in Dalmatia has all the equipment to prepare a peka at their village homes.
Pašticada
Pašticada is a characteristic Dalmatian meal. It is made of veal marinated in vinegar and spiced, after which it’s stewed in red wine with bacon, tomatoes, dried figs and root vegetables, which are later made into a thick sauce. It is served with gnocchi, and with grated cheese on top. This is usually served for any occasion that is considered special – like Christmas lunch, weddings, birthdays…
Brujet
Brujet or Brudet has many different iterations all over Dalmatia. Every village, town and island have their own way of making this stew, usually made from fish, frogs or eels, sautéed in olive oil with onions and garlic, and slow cooked in seafood stock, tomato sauce and a pinch of wine. Usually served with another typical Dalmatian dish, pura or polenta.
Pršut and Panceta
There is a long tradition in Croatia of producing high quality pršut (prosciutto) using high quality meat and traditional production methods of salting and a long, minimum 12 month smoking process. This delicacy is usually served as a starter for any important occasion in a Croatian family. The pršut from the town of Drniš was actually served at the crowning celebration of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. The Mayor received a letter of appreciation from Her Majesty, today displayed in the Drniš City Museum.
In Dalmatia, we are blessed with good food – fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and herbs. We have some of the best olive oil and wines in the world. A lot of our traditional recipes are prepared with olive oil, white wine, rosemary, garlic, onions and pancetta.
Soparnik
Also known as zeljanik or uljenak, soparnik is a pie filled with vegetables that originated in the Poljica region. It is made in a very simple way – the dough is made of water, flour and salt, and the filling is made with chard, spring onions and garlic. However, what is interesting about it is the process of baking – in a bed of hot coal covered with ash, pierced a few times to release steam. After baking the ash is swept off and the pie is brushed with olive oil and garlic.
Paški cheese
While Dalmatia has a variety of cheeses to choose from, the cheese of island Pag is one that is hear of by cheese lovers worldwide. The goats on the island of Pag that eat the salty herbs and their milk turns out aromatized, which is the “secret” to this amazing cheese. With a nice glass of Croatian wine, it is a match made in heaven.
Drinks
Coffee is a way of life in Split. As you might notice, the locals like to take it easy and enjoy life. That is why when you go for coffee – you sit and enjoy your coffee for at least half an hour. When the locals visit friends, it is normal to bring a “brick” of the red Franck coffee as a gift.
Rakija is a strong, transparent alcoholic beverage, like schnapps. Our grandparents swear that it is the answer to everything – from a temperature to dirty windows and they like to say that they drink a small glass in the morning – for health. Rakija is used to make traditional liquors together with any fruit, plant or nut that is seasonal, such as cherries, figs, walnuts, honey, rose, pomegranate…
For such a small county, we are world know for our wines. Our climate is ideal for growing vines, the grapes are carefully picked after the summer season and turned into high quality wine. Some of the most popular wine sorts in Croatia are Graševina, Malvazija, Plavac mali, Pošip…
