Croatian recipes for all seasons and tastes

Why everyone is crazy about Croatian recipes and why you should learn from me

In recent years people have discovered traditional Croatian recipes. They can’t put their finger on why the local food is so tasty. Something is different from the mass-produced dishes, from trendy flavours, even from the posh stuff served by high-end chefs.

Let me tell you the secrets. First off, Croatian recipes are wholesome. They are simple, down-to-earth and commonly passed down from mothers to daughters. This face-to-face transfer of culinary knowledge is why the majority of Croatian households still enjoy home cooked food on a daily basis. Knowing how to cook is a default in Croatia.

Unfortunately, even life in Croatia has sped up. Younger generations often skip the important in-person culinary mentoring. Croatians living abroad are especially craving easy-to-follow recipes.

But because our Mums and Grandmas take being able to cook for granted, their recipes are very short and incomplete. This is the reason why I decided to write my Croatian Desserts cookbook. And the reason why I continue publishing recipes on this blog.

I decode traditional Croatian recipes into manageable steps. I explain why some ingredients are used and in which way. I give you guidance on how to substitute typical Croatian ingredients with the international ones. Most of all, I am precise and to the point, unlike your Gran who followed her intuition, experience and sense of touch.

What you need to know about food seasons and eating rituals

Our small Western world is the world of constant abundance. But this is not how nature works. She is in flux, she changes through seasons and these seasons bring riches as well as restrictions.

The way our parents and grandparents ate reflected the change of seasons. They knew what fruit was in season. When it was available fresh and how it was preserved, dried or fermented.

There is wisdom in embracing nature’s scarcity. In the winter, it is wise to eat more grains and meat. With the dwindling supplies of vitamin C from fresh fruits and vegetables, we cook sauerkraut with a touch of smoked meat. This is a well-balanced meal, as nature intended.

All of my recipes follow these ancient culinary principles. I will always tell you when to prepare and eat certain dishes.

Many eating rituals in Croatia follow the Christian customs of fasting. We eat light food before Christmas and Easter. But other seasonal occasions are also filled with interesting rules and reasonings.

Why is this important? Your health, first of all. But great looks is no small reason either. Ever wondered why Croatians are naturally slim and strong? Believe me, it has to do with seasonal eating and the cycles of fasting and feasting.

How you can save the planet by eating like a Croat

If you decided to eat like a Croatian elder, you’d be helping the planet in a big way. Our grandparent never knew the word sustainable but the way they treated their food produced a negligible carbon footprint.

Our grandparents did eat meat, but they did that rarely and at special occasions. Dishes such as lamb or veal peka style were prepared 2 or 3 times a year. Today, we serve them by thousands and think they are authentically Croatian.

This is both true and false. To appreciate Croatian recipes to the fullest, we need to embrace both what we eat and how we eat.

My recipes will always give you a background story. As a passionate food historian, I’ll teach you which culinary methods are green and planet friendly. We are rediscovering what our ancestors practiced decades ago. Think food foraging, fermenting, drying, curing, smoking...

All these methods are at the heart of many Croatian recipes. I am beyond excited to teach you how to cook them. Stick around and I’ll show you how to eat like a Croat. Eat smart, look great and feel strong.