Here is a list of Bosnian foods you can’t miss when visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina. Deciding which food to try in Bosnia is easy with this tasty guide.
Artfully combining ancient flavors inherited from the Ottoman Empire, traditional Mediterranean dishes, and Central European tastes, Bosnian gastronomy boasts some of the most interesting recipes in the Balkans.
Are you ready? Prijatno! … Orbonn appétit! This article includes the most delicious dishes from Bosnian CuisCuisinecluding snacks and a few interesting drinks you should try when you visit.
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Bosnian Snacks & Appetizer Dishes
1. Suho Meso
Suho meso is dry-cured meat that is salted and air-dried, often lightly smoked over wood. It’s a popular dry meat used in meze and special celebrations.
Suho meso is traditionally prepared in winter and cured for several weeks or months.
Bosnian Meat & Fish Dishes
2. Cevapi, National Dish Of Bosnia
Rightfully occupying the first spot on this list, cevapi is the most famous dish in the country. It is popular across the Balkans for any occasion, and, of course, Bosnians have their own way of preparing it.
Cevapi is similar to an open sausage or patty made from minced meat, either mutton, veal, or beef, that has been seasoned and rested before being grilled and served in what is known as Bosnian kebab.
The dish is easy to find everywhere in the country, including in restaurants and fast-food eateries.
A portion of cevapi is served with somun (Bosnian flatbread) and raw onions, often with kajmak another staple ingredient in Eastern European cuisCuisineu_note note_color=”#ffffff” text_color=”#oooooo” radius=”5″]
3. Bosanski Lonac
You’ll see Bosanski Lonac everywhere, and it’s a type of stew made with very tender meat and potatoes. It’s incredibly hearty and hot during the winter months.
It’s simmered (usually for more than 5 hours) at a super-low heat, which makes the meat literally melt in your mouth. It’s usually served with vegetables inside, too, depending on what is in season, along with potatoes and garlic.
4. Ćufte
If you like meatballs, you’ll love this dish. It consists of juicy meatballs served in a thick tomato sauce. It’s an old Ottoman dish that has been embraced in Bosnia over the centuries.
The meatballs are a mix of ground meat, herbs, and onions, but it’s the sauce that really makes this dish stand out. This isn’t your regular, watery tomato sauce but a thick, gravy-like sauce that you’ll probably want to mop up with fresh bread at the end.
5. Klepe
These small dumplings, usually steamed or boiled and filled with a mixture of ground beef (or mutton) and sautéed onions, are a delicious dish in Balkan cuisine. In some places, they can also be found with a cheese filling.
They are very similar to Turkish manti or Italian ravioli, and are simply among the best meals you can have in the country.
On top, you will not find tomato sauce but a delicious and creamy sauce made with yogurt and plenty of garlic.
7. Begova Corba
Slow cooking is a common tradition in Bosnian cuisCuisineke stews and soups. And this is the main secret for a delicious begova corba, perfect comfort food for cold winter nights and during the holidays. This dish combines a bit of everything.
Begova corba is a chicken soup with plenty of vegetables, including celery, potatoes, carrots, and okra. It is often served with sour cream or fresh herbs such as spring onions.
The dish often boils in a clay pot for hours, resulting in a delicious creamy stew. This meal, also known as Bey’s soup or stew, is considered special in Bosnia and is a favorite dish during vital celebrations.
8. Pljeskavica
This typically Serbian dish, considered a national food in that country, has crossed borders and has become a favorite in Bosnia as well.
This type of patty is made with a mixture of ground pork, beef, and lamb, along with plenty of hot spices.
They are often served in flat pita bread, heated before being cut, with onions and relish. A side portion of cheese salad comes with the dish to ease the spiciness of the patty.
9. Bosnian Grill: Rostilj
Usually, lamb, beef, veal, and mutton (in some places, also pork is used), the most delicious meat dish you will find is rostilj, a mixed grill platter featuring sausages (typically beef sausages or sudzuk), cevapi, steak, and, on occasion, chicken.
The grill comes with a vegetable side dish of your choice, such as salad or baked potatoes. French fries and slaw are also alternatives. If you are not interested in the full grill version, Roasted Lamb is a good meat alternative and can even be bought as street food in Bosnian towns.
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Bosnian Dolma And Other Stuffed Vegetable Dishes
10. Dolma & Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed vegetables are also found in the rest of the Balkan countries, Greece, Cyprus, and other Mediterranean countries. Stuffed vegetables are another fantastic dish you should try when traveling to Bosnia.
Dolma, the general term for all varieties of stuffed vegetables, is hugely popular and can vary widely.
You can try stuffed bell peppers (punjena paprika) and sarma, rolls made with pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice. So, as you see, dolma is not just about stuffed vine leaves. Zucchini and eggplants are also used to make stuffed vegetables.
And in Mostar, there is a special type of dolma, sogan dolma, described next as an entirely different flavor and a fantastic dish of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
You can find peppers, zucchini, cabbage, and eggplants among the veggies often used to make Bosnian dolma. Seasoning is abundant, giving the dish a unique flavor. The filling can be a mix of rice and meat, although the most traditional one includes only white rice with herbs and spices.
On most occasions, meat-filled dolma is served warm with a sauce. Traditional rice dolma often comes with a yogurt-based sauce and plenty of garlic.
11. Mostar’s Sogan Dolma
This unique dolma variety is a typical dish from the Mostar area. It uses onions as the main ingredient. In the original recipe, onions are stuffed with either meat, rice, or a mixture of both, and it is far from being a dry or tasteless dish.
It can be served as a snack or starter, and it is easy to find in any restaurant or eatery in the region. In contrast with warm regular dolma, sogan dolma is usually served hot
Bread From Bosnia and Herzegovina
12. Lepinja
Lepinja is a type of bread that you’ll find everywhere across the Balkans, especially in Bosnia. It’s a flatbread usually served with most meals, and you will see it when you have cevapi.
When you first look at it, you might think it’s the same as pita, but it’s a bit thicker and more akin to a light focaccia. It has a soft, airy texture created during baking.
13. Somun, Traditional Bosnian Flatbread
Available with any meal, commonly used to prepare snacks and sandwiches, and ideal to accompany several meat dishes in Bosnian cuisine. Cuisinemun is a type of flatbread, very similar to Arabic or Greek pita bread.
The most common way to find somun is with cevapi and other ingredients such as chopped white onions, a red pepper paste (ajvar), and soft cream cheese known as kaymak—a very traditional Bosnian food combo.
The bread is soft, chewy, and fragrant, with Turkish roots. The Ottoman Empire ruled the country for five centuries, infusing Bosnian cuisine with hundreds of Middle Eastern flavors.
14. Proha
Proha is cornbread, but this time it is a cornbread with a long history. Proha can be eaten on its own, particularly the newer recipe, which is spongier than the old-fashioned version, but it’s usually served with salad, Bosnian soups, and stew-type dishes. You might also see it stuffed with various things, such as cheese or spinach.
Traditional Bosnian Pie & Casserole Dishes
15. Burek
Also known as borek, this unique snack was introduced to the Balkans during Ottoman rule
Burek is also found in places such as Cyprus and Greece (with a different name; Bureki from Crete is an entirely different dish, although the name is really similar); in Bosnia, burek is made with flaky filo pastry and other fillings. The long roll with the filling is coiled into a spiral on the pan and baked until it’s crispy, a bit greasy, and absolutely delicious.
In Bosnia, the term burek refers strictly to meat-filled pastry; cheese, potato, and spinach versions have different names.
Bosnian bureks can be found in every bakery, either in portions or in slices, and in the shape of a large pie. It can also be bought by weight or in small individual pies. It is pretty affordable and easy to eat on the go.
In some Bosnian bakeries specializing in different types of burek (known as buregdzinica), you can find a sweet version, often filled with cherries.
It is a good idea to buy your burek at a buregdzinica that sells by weight; that way, you can purchase different pieces with different fillings and decide which one you like best.
This dish is commonly served warm or at room temperature. Bosnians love to have it with a drizzle of sour cream on top; others would instead pair it with ayran (burek and ayran), the famous Turkish fermented yogurt drink they love in the Balkans, too.
16. Musaka
Yes, you recognize the name because it’s the Bosnian version of the Greek Moussaka. Here, we have potato and minced beef cooked in a casserole, but there is no creamy sauce inside. Instead, the potato is arranged in layers, almost like a lasagne, with the beef in between. The top layer is usually sour cream or egg.
As you can probably tell by now, many of the dishes in this Bosnian food guide are popular throughout the Balkans. Musaka is no exception. It’s a ground beef and potato casserole popular in the cuisines of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and North Macedonia. You can think of it as the Balkan equivalent of moussaka.
Bosnian Vegetarian Dishes
17. Tarhana
Tarhana corbasi is a soup of Turkish origin, found in various forms across the rest of the Balkans, Greece, and Cyprus.
Regarding tarhana, ingredients vary from country to country; however, its base usually includes flour and wheat, yogurt, and sour milk.
In Bosnia, the soup is made with a mixture of fermented milk (which gives it a characteristic sour flavor), yogurt, wheat, and vegetables; sometimes it also includes meat.
Tarhana is perfect for winter and ican beserved any time of day, even as a snack or for breakfast.
18. Bosnian Bean Soup: Grah
One more soup from Bosnian gastronomy is this tasty, thick soup made with vegetables, including onions, peppers, and carrots, some slow-cooked beef, and, of course, the main ingredient: white beans.
The dish, which is a very traditional Bosnian cuisCuisine highly consumed, especially in winter, and is often served with rice or bread. It is an excellent weapon against frigid temperatures.
19. Buranija
This is a type of bean often added to many dishes, but can also be eaten alone. It’s used in goulash and is frequently served with meat, such as veal, but it can also be vegetarian, with potatoes, garlic, and other vegetables. You’ll usually see it seasoned with bay leaves and paprika, and any meat is cooked for many hours, so it melts in your mouth.
20. Đuveč
As in many other countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and even in Greece, rice is much more widely consumed than you might expect. In general, dishes have a strong vegetarian component, and many are meat-free. Djuvec is one of them.
Traditionally cooked in a deep pot or casserole, Djuvec is a vegetarian dish made with various seasonal vegetables and rice. Everything is slow-cooked for at least 2 hours in this pot and well-seasoned. When the dish is ready, it can be served alone as a main dish or tas he perfect side dish for a succulent piece of grilled or stewed beef.
21. Prebranac
Prebranac is another stew-type dish made with white beans, paprika, garlic, and caramelized onions. Every restaurant and family makes it very slightly differently, but the base ingredients are basically the same.
It can be made with or without meat, but usually without. It’s then allowed to cool to room temperature, and you grab some bread and scoop it up.
22. Sataras
Following the tradition of seasonal veggies, sataras is another must-try Bosnian food. This genuinely beloved dish is popular in the Balkans, especially in Sarajevo; it’s a healthy, delicious vegetarian dish.
The vegetables can be tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, potatoes, and even aubergines. As is the norm with Bosnian dishes, they are slow-cooked and suitable for vegetarians to eat alone or with plain white rice. They also make a fantastic side dish for a meat dish.
Bosnian Pastry & Desserts
We’ve mentioned several dishes in the savory list, so now we present you with some unique desserts you can try in Bosnia.
23. Ustipci
These small dough pieces are filled with a sweet or savory filling and then deep-fried. And, of course, they are among the most favorite snacks in the country.
Sweet ustipci are filled with various jams or even honey (modern versions can even have Nutella) and sprinkled with icing sugar on top. The savory ones can have cheese, onions, or meat inside.
In its sweet or savory form, ustipci is a Bosnian snack with ancient origins, a traditional recipe passed down from one generation to the next. It is common to have them with your coffee or salep tea.
24. Baklava
Baklava is a sweet dessert popular in the Middle East, Greece, parts of Northern Africa, and Turkey. Bosnian desserts are lovely, and this one is no exception.
Baklava features dozens of thin phyllo pastry sheets stuck together with olive oil or melted butter, filled with crushed nuts (sometimes even pistachio), and drizzled with syrup made with honey.
It is sweet and perfect when served with coffee, tea, or even a scoop of whipped cream.
25. Tufahija
Another lovely dessert with Ottoman origins is tufahija; this recipe takes a simple ingredient like apples and turns them into an authentic delicacy.
To cook this dish, apples are cored and boiled in water with sugar and then served topped with walnuts and whipped cream; it is also common to drizzle it with warm cooking juice (which has turned into a thick, savory syrup). Perfect to have it with a cup of Bosnian coffee.
26. Hurmasice
Hurmasice is a fantastic (yet straightforward) Bosnian food – it is a baked shortbread cookie made with butter, flour, eggs, sugar, and yogurt.
They have an oblong shape and are drenched in a lemon-scented, lovely syrup aCoffee as they come out of the oven. It is incredibly delicious, perfect for a cup of Bosnian coffee.
27. Krofne
This is another type of doughnut that is very popular all over the Balkans. They look a bit like beignets and are often filled with cinnamon, jam, Nutella, or marmalade.
28. Knedle
Knedle is a Coffee Cake made from potatoes, of all things. The outside is boiled potato, but it’s then filled with fruits, usually apricots or plums, a little like a dumpling. It is then sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon, breadcrumbed, and fried.
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Bosnian Drinks
29. Bosnian Coffee
Bosnian coffee is an integral part of the local cuisine. It is often strong and is drunk black. It is usually served in tiny cups with a traditional sugar cube on the side or a small sweet, especially in a cafeteria.
Although it might look similar to Turkish coffee, it’s actually Bosnian coffee.
30. Beer
You won’t only drink coffee in Bosnia, that is for sure!
It is also a good idea to try the local beers, known as pivo, which is one of the many meats discussed earlier in the article. The most popular ones include Republika Srpska’s Nektar and Hercegovacka PivovCoffee1. Rakija
Another drink you will undoubtedly come across is Rakija, a popular type of grappa or liquor made from various fruits, drunk not just in Bosnia but in many other countries across the Balkans. It has a high alcohol volume and should be served ice-cold.
32. Salep
Finally, do not miss a drink that is undoubtedly lesser-known but has a unique flavor that you won’t easily forget. Salep, with its Ottoman origins, is a very popular winter drink in Turkey and Bosnia, where it is often described as a salep drink.
Salep is, in fact, not just the name of the drink but also made of the particular kind of flour used to prepare this comforting hot drink. The flour is made from the tuber of certain orchid flowers. It is often served with sweet spices, such as cinnamon, a little sugar, and usually hot, foamy milk.
So, tell us which of these Bosnian foods you want to try first.
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nice
Great insights!