Dalmatian culinary treasures

We’ve already written about Croatia’s culinary treasures on this blog. The following paragraphs will focus on a cuisine which, through its ingredients, unites man with nature, and tradition, and that is the Dalmatian cuisine.

PAŠTICADA
Although the Dalmatian cuisine is generally associated with seafood, pašticada is a traditional Dalmatian dish which is based on beef. This dish is certainly one of the most challenging of the Dalmatian cuisine – its preparation can take up to three days! It all begins with the beef which should be marinated in wine and spices for at least a few hours and then simmered for another few hours. Still, this delicacy is most certainly worth the time and the effort which are put into it. This steaming fragrant meat served with gnocchi could whet anybody’s appetite.

CUTTLEFISH RISOTTO
If you’ve ever been to a restaurant in Dalmatia, you’ve probably seen this dish on the menu. It has over time become the cornerstone of every self-respecting restaurant in Dalmatia, and righly so. It’s unique black color serves as a testament to the creativity of Dalmatian cuisine. Served with freshly grated parmesan cheese and a glass of chilled white wine, this dish is truly a unique gastronomical experience.

OCTOPUS BAKED UNDER THE PEKA
This is also one of the delicacies of the Dalmatian cuisine. The so-called “peka” is a metal lid which is used to cover food like lamb or octopus while baking them inside a hearth. The preparation of this dish is also no joke, although it may seem like it because of its simple ingredients. Seasonings like olive oil and white wine which are used to prepare it are the foundation of the Dalmatian cuisine, and if peka isn’t something that you have at arm’s reach every day, fortunately you can enjoy this delicacy in almost every restaurant.

CHEESE FROM THE PAG ISLAND
Known in Croatian as “Paški sir” (literally, “cheese from the island of Pag”), this cheese, besides its excellent taste, has a long tradition. The fact that this is the third product that originated on the island and that was protected with the EU’s protected designation of origin has to be mentioned. Served with organic honey, virgin olive oil or the so-called “bubice” (a type of bread rolls) and a glass of quality wine, it’s really not that hard to see why this cheese has won numerous awards at international competitions for its excellent taste.

DALMATIAN ROŽATA
We saved the best for last. This could be the most famous Dalmatian recipe, and it could really be said that it is a part of Dalmatia’s culinary heritage. Its creamy texture somewhat resembles pudding, and the vanilla flavor goes perfectly with the caramel topping. Since it has been a part of the tradition for so long, there are many variations of its recipe. Some include a dash of lemon, and in Dubrovnik it is prepared with the addidion of rose liqueur. Its unique shape and excellent taste can round off any Dalmatian feast.