Vad äter man i Kroatien? - 20 kroatiska specialiteter

What to eat in Croatia? We list 20 Croatian specialities and share our experiences with Croatian food. You can find everything from grilled fish and lamb to truffles and local cheeses. Join us for a taste of Croatia!

What do you eat in Croatia?

We've travelled around Croatia on five trips, spending a total of around three months in the country. We travelled by campervan from south to north, campervanning around Istria and joining press trips to ... Split, Opatija, Zadar and Zagreb. We have stayed in campsites and hotels, and we have eaten in restaurants and browsed in supermarkets. We like Croatian cuisine, which is quite rustic while offering exclusive and local delicacies. So, what do you eat in Croatia?

Croatian cuisine

Croatia, like Sweden, is an elongated country and the food culture differs quite a lot between the different parts. Specialities found in one part of the country may be almost unknown in another. Of course, food culture has also been inspired and influenced by neighbouring countries, from other Balkan countries to Italy and Austria. Here we present 20 specialities of Croatian cuisine.

1. grilled lamb

Grilled lamb is a Croatian speciality, often served on festive occasions. Lamb is served in many restaurants so don't miss it. We enjoyed, among other things, really good lamb at Kopacina restaurant on the island of Brac. There were five lamb dishes on the menu and all the lamb served was local to the island. Truly delicious!

2. Peka (dish in wood oven)

Peka is a rustic Croatian dish that originates from the Dalmatia. The dish can include anything from chicken to veal or squid and is cooked in a pot in a wood-fired oven. We tried a veal version at a restaurant in Zagreb. Tasty and filling!

3. pašticada (meat stew)

Pašticada is a Dalmatian speciality that consists of marinated beef, stuffed with carrots, garlic and bacon and then braised in red wine. The dish is served with homemade 'njoki', which is similar to gnocchi.

4. Ćevapčići (mince pies)

Ćevapčići is a minced meat dish common in Croatia, but also in many neighbouring countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and North Macedonia. The dish can be served, for example, with pita bread, vegetables and the peppery ajvar.

5. ajvar (paprika ear)

Ajvar is a spicy sauce/sauce with paprika as the main ingredient. Ajvar is found everywhere in the Balkans and is a very popular flavouring. In supermarkets you can see jars of ajvar in long rows that never seem to run out.

6. Grilled fresh fish

Everywhere along the Croatian coast, you can order fresh grilled fish in restaurants. The fish is often served relatively simply, with vegetables or potatoes with chard. However, the so good! If you want to get fancy, you can order a fish plate with both fish and seafood.

7. squid

If you like squid, you can really get your fill in Croatia. None of us are particularly fond of squid but we have often been served it on fish plates, for example, and we must admit that the squid still tastes unusually good here.

8. Potatoes with chard

When ordering fish in Croatia, it is common for it to be served with potatoes mixed with chard. Not bad!

Vad äter man i Kroatien? Potatis med mangold

9. Oysters from Ston

We have not tasted the oysters from Ston in Dalmatia, but only heard about them. Known for their characteristic flavour, oysters are apparently available not only raw but also breaded, grilled, in soup or risotto.

1o. Crni rižoto (black risotto)

If you are tired of regular risotto, you can order black risotto, especially in Dalmatia. This is risotto coloured black by the ink of squid.

Före maten fick vi en lite friterad boll med svart risfyllning - färgat med bläckfiskbläck

11. Zagorski Strukli (cheese-filled doughnuts)

Zagorski Strukli are small pasta dumplings filled with cheese, possibly also gratinated. We had these as a starter at a restaurant in Zagreb in 2016. Very good, but mighty. For some strange reason we forgot to take photos?

12. kulen (spicy sausage)

In Croatia you will find a lot of specialities in the form of cold cuts and various sausages. One of these is kulen, which is made from meat, paprika and garlic. Kulen is one of the most expensive and luxurious sausage products in Croatia.

13. prsut (air-dried ham)

Croatia has its equivalent of Parma ham and prosciutto. Pršut is an air-dried ham that is very tasty. Perfect as a small appetiser with cheeses and olives.

14. Šokol (dried pork)

Šokol is salted and dried meat from the pig's neck, then marinated with red wine and seasoned with pepper, cloves and nutmeg. This is a local speciality found in and around the town of Nin.

READ MORE: Nin in Croatia - royal city with the world's smallest cathedral

Vad äter man i Kroatien? - lokala specialiteter

15. Cheese from Pag

Paški sir, which simply means 'cheese from Pag', is a sheep cheese that is immensely popular in Croatia. We visited one of the producers on the island of Pag and when we asked about the 'secret' they told us that it's all about the raw materials rather than the production process. The sheep that roam the island are small and hardy, and the grass they eat is full of salt and minerals. As the number of sheep on the island is limited, the price is relatively high, but it's worth it!

READ MORE: Pag Island in Croatia - salt, cheese and sandy beaches

16. truffles

Truffles are an exclusive speciality served mainly in and around Istria. For several years there was a record from 1999 with a truffle weighing 1.31kg, found in the famous truffle forest in Motovun. The truffle is used as a seasoning for pasta and risotto, and there are also products such as truffle oil, truffle cheese and truffle salt.

READ MORE: What are truffles? 15 interesting facts about truffles

17. Croatian olives

Croatia produces a lot of olives, and they are very tasty. Many times you can get olives as a little pick-me-up before the meal, maybe together with air-dried ham and local cheeses.

READ MORE: Olive harvest - 10 things you didn't know about olives

18. Labinski krafi (dessert from Labin)

The dessert 'labinski krafi' is a local speciality of the town of Labin in Istria. These are small dough dumplings filled with cheese. When we ate them, they were served with a cola sauce. Very tasty!

READ MORE: Labin in Croatia - on a motorhome trip around Istria

19. fritule

Fritule is a popular little pastry, which you can see especially during Advent and at Christmas markets in Croatia. The recipe differs from place to place, but the common factor is generous frying.

20. Licitar heart

Licitar hearts are a traditional heart-shaped pastry from Zagreb and northern Croatia. These hearts are often given as gifts on holidays such as weddings, Valentine's Day and birthdays. The process of making the hearts is included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Croatian restaurants

In Croatia you will find plenty of both restaurants and so called "konobas".". A konoba is a traditional Croatian restaurant serving regional dishes. A total of 69 Croatian restaurants are currently listed in the Michelin Guide. Here are also personal tips on restaurants we have visited:

Restaurants in Zagreb

Restaurant Agava has both good location and good food. Here we had a perfect grilled tuna. Address: Ul. Ivana Tkalčića 39.
Restaurant Vinodol serves traditional Croatian food. Here you can try, for example, Zagreb-štrukli and peka. Address: Ul. Nikole Tesle 10.

Vad äter man i Kroatien och på Tkalčić-gatan

Restaurants in Istria

Yacht Club Opatija in Opatija has a beautiful view of the Adriatic Sea and serves fish and seafood. Address: Zert ul. 4, Opatija.
Restaurant Sveti Nikola in Poreč has a lovely atmosphere. Here we had a fantastic mushroom and truffle soup. Address: Obala Maršala Tita 23, Poreč.
Restaurant Trost in Vrsar is a good restaurant that serves fish and seafood, among other things. Address: Obala Maršala Tita 1, Vrsar.
Velo Kafe in Labin serves very good food. Here we enjoyed truffle cheese, pasta with crayfish in wine sauce and the local dessert Labinski krafi. Address: Ul. Paola Sfecija 1, Labin.
Konoba Feral Fažana serves, among other things, grilled fish. Here we had a lovely fish plate and a semifreddo. Address: Boraca 11, Fažana.

Vad äter man i Kroatien? Fiskplatta på Konoba Feral

Restaurants in Dalmatia

Tavern Batela, Blue Sun Hotels is located near Paklenica National Park and has a nice restaurant. Here we had a fantastic fish plate. Address: Bluesun Camp Paklenica.
Restoran Sokol Nin is a nice restaurant. Here we ate, among other things, the salted and dried pork "sokol". Address: Ul. Hrvatskog Sabora 2, Nin.
Restaurant Groppo in Zadar serves good food, including lamb, fish and delicious desserts. Address: Široka ul. 22, Zadar.
Restaurant 2Ribara in Zadar is a good restaurant. We each tried a good fish dish here. Address: Ul. Blaža Jurjeva 1, Zadar.
Pizzeria Antula in Omiš is cosy among the alleys. Here we had a really good fish plate. Address: Knezova Kačića bb, Omiš.
Konoba Kopacina on Brac specialises in lamb. Amazingly good! Address: Donji Humac 7, Donji Humac, Brac.

Wine, beer and other Croatian drinks

Croatian wine

Croatia produces a lot of wine, both white and red. Production is dominated by dry white wines made from graševina, riesling, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and furmint. Mostly imported grapes are grown, but there are also several domestic ones.

A few years ago, a lot of attention was attracted when DNA tests showed that the zinfandel grape is identical to the Croatian grape crljenak kaštelanski, and thus originally comes from Croatia. Here are some more indigenous grapes:

Graševina (which is also called Welschriesling even though it is not a Riesling) is widely grown in Eastern Europe, including Croatia.
Malvazija istarkska is another grape that can produce fine wines.
Plavac Mali is the most widely grown grape in Croatia and thrives in Dalmatia's calcareous soils.

Vad äter man i Kroatien och vad dricker man?

Croatian beer

Ožujsko is a light lager produced by the Croatian brewery Zagrebačka pivovara. The brewery is located in Zagreb and has been producing Ožujsko since 1893. Ožujsko Amber is a lager and Ožujsko Rezano is a brown lager.
Karlovačko is a light lager produced by the Karlovačka pivovara brewery in the town of Karlovac. The brewery has been part of the Heineken Group since 2003. Karlovacko Crno is a dark lager.
Zmajska Pivovara Pale Ale is a craft beer that has received good reviews.
Osječko is produced in Croatia's first brewery, which dates back to 1697.
Tomislav Crno Pivo is a dark porter, with an alcohol content of 7.3 per cent.

Croatian spirits

Sljivovica (slivovits) is a type of fruit brandy made from plums.
Rakia (rakija or raki) is an alcoholic beverage produced by distilling fermented fruits. The drink comes in many flavours such as Orahovača (made from walnuts), Višnjevac and Travarica.
maraschino cherries is a liqueur made from the fruits and leaves of maraschino cherries. The drink comes from Croatia but is also produced in Italy.

What do you eat in Croatia? What are your experiences with Croatian cuisine?

What are your experiences with food in Croatia? Please tell us!

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15 Comments

Add yours →

Lena - good for the soul says:

Croatian food feels genuine and well cooked somehow. I have a former sister-in-law from Croatia, and I've been there a few times, so I've had some of the dishes you mention. Good! And tried Sljivovica (pretty okay).

Didn't realise they have their own air-dried ham. Always learn something from your posts!

Hug Lena

20 February 2021 - 8:42

- Helena says:
  
  Genuine and well cooked was a good description! Sometimes rustic but mostly good!
  
  20 February 2021 - 20:15
  
LittleSister says:

Mmm so many good things you show!
When we were in Croatia we had some wonderfully good cakes shaped like little pies with an almond filling - I've looked for recipes but never found any - but they were good.

20 February 2021 - 17:05

- Helena says:
  
  Oh it sounds very exciting and delicious! Nothing we have encountered yet but are happy to try! 😀👍
  
  20 February 2021 - 20:16
  
BP says:

All the dishes except the sausages and the pastries make me drool. The octopus and fish and oysters - YUMS:-)

20 February 2021 - 20:07

- Helena says:
  
  For me it's the same except for the octopus, which is not really my thing 😝.
  
  20 February 2021 - 20:17
  
  - Maria's memoirs says:
    
    I ate cevapcici and burek in Croatia, among other places. And ordinary squid rings on a tourist beach, which was perhaps not the most exciting experience. I ate air-dried ham and other cold cuts and fish in neighbouring Montenegro.
    
    21 February 2021 - 14:39
    
    - Helena says:
      
      Maria, yes, many of the dishes, or variations on them, are of course available in neighbouring countries too! We have also eaten Burek, but maybe in Albania I think or North Macedonia.
      
      21 February 2021 - 17:09
      
Monica&Thomas says:

Woops, this came up...read an article by you a couple of years ago.
So nice to 'run' into you again..such an interesting read..well articulated / enticing in formation 👏👌.
Went to the country with a caravan ..stayed for two months as we were newly retired in spring -17 ..have tried some of the food you write about ..I really appreciate the research you have done/documented 😋😉😍.

21 February 2021 - 8:38

- Helena says:
  
  Hello and thank you very much for your nice comment, which made us very happy! 🙂 Great that you have been in Croatia with the caravan! And hope that you will soon have the opportunity to travel south again. Have a nice time!
  
  21 February 2021 - 17:11
  
TravelAnna says:

What a great and comprehensive list of tempting dishes! I love Croatian food, especially grilled fish and seafood. I have had some of the best meals of my life in the village of Plat just south of Dubrovnik: https://www.newyorkmybite.com/konoba-king-den-basta-restaurangen-pa-dubrovniks-riviera/

However, I haven't eaten truffles in Croatia, nor dishes made with wheat flour (as I don't eat gluten). But I can imagine that everything is delicious! 🙂

21 February 2021 - 12:59

- Helena says:
  
  The food in your post looked really fresh and tasty! We also like fish and seafood, and in Croatia you can really get it fresh!
  
  21 February 2021 - 17:12
  
Hasse says:

There are many nice little restaurants, but we prefer to visit fish markets, like the one in Trogir. There are many more, but it is very nice. Mali Misto in Zadar is a restaurant that we won't forget.

21 February 2021 - 22:13

Marchal London says:

Croatia is amazing holiday country must be experienced in reality 👍🍴🙌

12 February 2022 - 6:23

Marchal London says:

Croatia is fantastic holiday 👍🙌

12 February 2022 - 6:26

What to eat in Croatia? - 20 Croatian specialities

What do you eat in Croatia?

Croatian cuisine

1. grilled lamb

2. Peka (dish in wood oven)

3. pašticada (meat stew)

4. Ćevapčići (mince pies)

5. ajvar (paprika ear)

6. Grilled fresh fish

7. squid

8. Potatoes with chard

9. Oysters from Ston

1o. Crni rižoto (black risotto)

11. Zagorski Strukli (cheese-filled doughnuts)

12. kulen (spicy sausage)

13. prsut (air-dried ham)

14. Šokol (dried pork)

15. Cheese from Pag

16. truffles

17. Croatian olives

18. Labinski krafi (dessert from Labin)

19. fritule

20. Licitar heart

Croatian restaurants

Restaurants in Zagreb

Restaurants in Istria

Restaurants in Dalmatia

Wine, beer and other Croatian drinks

Croatian wine

Croatian beer

Croatian spirits

What do you eat in Croatia? What are your experiences with Croatian cuisine?

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15 Comments

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

LittleSister says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Maria's memoirs says:

Helena says:

Monica&Thomas says:

Helena says:

TravelAnna says:

Helena says:

Hasse says:

Marchal London says:

Marchal London says:

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