Food
Food in Croatia straddles two cuisines: the fresh seafood dishes of the Mediterranean and the hearty stews and dumplings of Central Europe. Along the coast you’ll mainly find fresh fish but also look out for Italian-inspired gnocchi and pasta in rich, meaty sauces. Give these local dishes a try…
Pršut Traditional dry-cured ham cut into thin slices that is often served alongside olives and cheese.
Crni rižot A must-try along the Dalmatian Coast, this dark-coloured squid ink risotto has a distinctive flavour that is better than it sounds, and you won’t soon forget.
Tartufi Truffle mushrooms are generally considered a delicacy in most of the world but their abundance in Croatia means that they often grace a pasta dish – or are even put on top of omelettes at breakfast.
Pašticada A stew of beef marinated in red wine, garlic, rosemary and sage for 24 hours before it’s slow-cooked with rich plums, carrots, onions and cloves.
Fuži i pljukanci Homemade pasta often cooked in a rich game (or ox) sauce.
Seafood
More than 400 varieties of fish are found in the Adriatic, and you’ll find sea bass, cod, mullet, lobster, oysters, squid, sole, salmon and hake, just to name a few.
In Dalmatia, the freshest fish and seafood is cooked with an Italian-influenced flair from the use of fresh products such as tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and pasta. Black ink risotto is also common, made from the black ink of squid.
Meat
Croatians love their meat. Nearly every restaurant has its version of the mixed meat grill where you’ll get pork, beef, veal schnitzel and ham on one plate.
Cheese
Fried sheep or goat’s cheese is a common antipasto in Croatia. Many regions produce their own soft cheese such as Pag.
Desserts
Light and tasty pancakes, or palacinka, are filled with jam, chocolate or walnuts and served with cinnamon. Icecream is also in abundance. It is similar to but not quite as good as Italian gelati.
Drink
Croatia is known more for its white wine but is now starting to produce more reds. The most popular, and expensive, is Dingac. The island of Korcula produces some nice, dry white wines such as Grk and Posip.
Water
It is perfectly safe to drink the tap water in Croatia.