THE BEST DISHES OF BOSNIAN CUISINE

Today we want to introduce you to a few specialties of Bosnian cuisine that you should definitely try during your visit. Bosnian food is generally hearty, traditional dishes are often boiled or grilled. Lamb and beef are especially popular, but there is certainly something for vegetarians as well. So here goes: An overview of the best Bosnian dishes!

PITA

Every country has its own favourite fast food. And in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it’s pita. Bosnians love this greasy snack. Pita is made of a kind of puff pastry and different fillings. The most common varieties are burek (filled with minced meat) and vegetarian variants: sirnica (filled with cheese), krompiruša (filled with potatoes) and zeljanica (filled with spinach). Pita is a hearty meal and is typically eaten with yogurt.

ĆEVAPČIĆI

Ćevapčići (sometimes abbreviated as cevapi), the national dish of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is prepared differently in each part of the country, so there are Ćevapčići from Travnik, Ćevapčići from Banja Luka, and Ćevapčići from Sarajevo. In Sarajevo, minced sausages are traditionally prepared from veal and served in flat bread called somun and with kajmak, a type of sour cream.

DOLMAS, STEWS AND SOUPS

Aščinice are traditional Bosnian restaurants that serve stews, soups and stuffed vegetables (dolmas). Whatever has been prepared for the day is only available in the Aščinica until it is sold out. Most locals have a quick lunch here. Here you will find boiled and cooked meat dishes, Bosnian bean soup or the famous Begova soup with okra, stews like Bosanski Lonac or Klepe, the Bosnian version of ravioli. One dish you will often see on menus throughout the Balkan region in winter is dolma – stuffed vegetables. The most famous is sarma – cabbage wraps with sauerkraut.

GRILLED DISHES

Barbecuing is something like a national sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a unique tool here for making dishes extra juicy and tender: The Sač, a large metal lid in the shape of a bell, under which various dishes are prepared. Hot coals are placed on top of the bell, ensuring that dishes prepared in the Sač are cooked at an even temperature and retain their juiciness and flavor.

SWEETS

Bosnians live sweetness and the history of the country, strongly influenced by the Ottomans, has left them many Turkish desserts, such as baklava or cuisines soaked in syrup. Another typical Bosnian dessert is tufahija – an apple filled with walnuts, it is doused with syrup and served with whipped cream in a large glass. These sweets are traditionally eaten with Bosnian coffee, which is drunk black and bitter from small cups.

LEARN ABOUT ALL THESE BOSNIAN DISHES AND MUCH MORE ON OUR FOOD TOUR OF SARAJEVO!