Flight Booking Tour Package
Food Of Serbia

Last Updated At: 21-May-2024

Serbian Food: Top 12 Must-Try Serbian Dishes

Blessed with its rich history and culture, Serbia is a country falling at the crossroads of East and West. Due to its unique location, architecture, bustling city life, and food, it is heavily influenced by both Middle Eastern and European cultures.

The people of Serbia love to cook and enjoy their food. The most striking feature of their food is the exotic aroma that will surely make you love the food of Serbia. From yummy spreads like Ajvar to Burek, Kajmak, and Djuvec, the Republic of Serbia has discovered several delicacies that will definitely make you say WOW while filling your tummy.

So, if you plan to visit the birthplace of Roman Emperors, check out their gastronomy.

List Of 12 Best Food Of Serbia

Each region of Serbia carries a prime delicacy. You can try several dishes on a trip thanks to the Byzantine, Central European, Mediterranean, and Balkan influences. However, some dishes are considered national treasures available throughout Serbia.

  • Ajvar | The Delicious Spread
  • Serbian Ćevapčići | The Best Street Food
  • Sarma | The Serbian Spring Rolls
  • Burek | The Lovely Breakfast
  • Gibanica | The Variation Dish
  • Prebranac | The Bean Stew
  • Cvarci | The Perfect Side
  • Muckalica | The Left Over Dish
  • Podvarak | The Perfect Winter Dish
  • Punjene Paprike | Another Savory Side
  • Srpska Salata | The Healthy Choice
  • Pljeskavica | Serbian Hamburger

1. Ajvar | The Delicious Spread

The top item on the list of Serbia's famous food is Ajvar. It is nothing but a scrumptious spread made from a combination of red bell peppers, eggplant, and some major spices. Popular across other countries in the Balkans, Ajvar is perfect for spreading on your bread, eating with meat and fish, and even as a side dish with salad.

It is pretty easy to make at home as you only need garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, red bell peppers, and eggplant. Bake the eggplant and bell peppers; then add the remaining ingredients and paste. To add more flavours, you can add chilli flakes or tomato paste.

  • Best Place to try: Zavicaj Restaurant
  • Price: 500 Serbian Dinar

2. Serbian Ćevapčići | The Best Street Food

If you like wandering the streets in a new city, you will surely find this dish on several street food carts. Serbian Ćevapčići are delicious small sausages, the best Serbian street food you can relish. The small sausages are made from minced beef, pork, or mutton. If you like, you can get a combination of all of these, too.

Seasoned with garlic, paprika, black pepper, and salt and grilled over open flame, these yummy sausages taste the best when served with sour cream, cottage cheese, Ajvar, red peppers, green onions, etc. These are popular all over the Balkans.

  • Best Place to try: Walter Sarajevski Cevap
  • Price: 250 Serbian Dinar

3. Sarma | The Serbian Spring Rolls

If you like spring rolls, you will surely love Sarma. Counted among the most popular dishes in Serbia, Sarma is a cabbage roll enclosing seasoned minced meat, rice, and sweet onions.

Ground meat is seasoned with different spices, mixed with rice and sweet onions, and then wrapped in pickled cabbage. Further, this is steamed and served with sides like sour cream or tomato sauce.

Most of the households add some extra spices to amplify its taste. It is best served in winter or on special occasions.

  • Best Place to try: Zlatno Burence, Bistro Grad Hometown Food
  • Price: NA

4. Burek | The Lovely Breakfast

If you crave a super yummy dish in the breakfast, Burek is the perfect choice. Popular among the Balkans and Turkish people, this dish will be your perfect start to the day. Though there is a dilemma if the perfect Burek is made of cheese or meat, it is made from both cheese and meat today.

An ideal burek is made of layers of phyllo pastry and meat, which can be beef, lamb, pork, or any combination of all. If you prefer, you can use a mixture of cheese as a savory and creamy filling. It can either be shaped as coils, cylinders, or round pies.

  • Best Place to try: Pekara Trpković, Kircanski Bakery
  • Price: 100 Serbian Dinar

5. Gibanica | The Variation Dish

The reason Gibanica is called a variation dish is because it can be sweet, savory, simple, or a bit elaborate. Many people like to call it the national dish of Serbia. It can be made in several ways. The simplest way is to bake the well-beaten phyllo dough, white cheese, and eggs.

Another way to make this toothsome dish is by dipping the crumpled flour pastry in the mixture of cheese, milk, eggs, lard, salt, and kajmak. This well-soaked mixture is laid like sheets and then baked in the oven. The resultant dish is served voluntarily and can be consumed at any time of the day.

  • Best Place to try: Dva Jelena
  • Price: NA

6. Prebranac | The Bean Stew

If you want an affordable dish while it is also filling, you can go for Prebranac. It is a juicy Serbian stew that goes excellently with a prime dish. You can also have it as an appetizer or a main dish with crusty bread as a side. Primarily, the soup is made by cooking baked beans with onions, garlic, sunflower oil, Hungarian paprika, and bay leaves.

Served primarily in the winter, the dish is super light and is ideal for vegetarians. So if you want something light, you can go for Prebranac. It is primarily served during the family feast “posna slava.”

  • Best Place to try: Tri Šešira, Zavičaj
  • Price: NA

7. Cvarci | The Perfect Side

Among several exotic side dishes of Serbian cuisine, this one stands on top. Cvarci, also known as pork rinds, is an excellent side dish to relish with vegetables, salads, and dips. The best thing is that it is super easy to make. All you have to do is cut the bacon into thick chunks and fry them in its fat and juices.

Most of the people like to eat these pork pieces in pastries. Primarily eaten during the winter, it is popular across several countries of Europe, such as Czechia, Ukraine, and Hungary.

  • Best Place to try: Brvnara
  • Price: NA

8. Muckalica | The Left Over Dish

The name of the dish is an exact representation of its taste. Usually, the dish is made from the leftover meat of the previous day. No need to worry here because it will still taste the best. Muckalica is made with a combination of fatty cuts of grilled pork accompanied by other ingredients, such as tomatoes, roasted peppers, chili peppers, onions, and paprika.

If you like it a bit steamy, add chili flakes for amplified spiciness. This Serbia traditional food perfectly syncs with ajvar and salad or with fresh bread.

  • Best Place to try: Restaurant Mikan
  • Price: NA

9. Podvarak | The Perfect Winter Dish

The next dish on the list is also for the winter. So, if you are feeling cold and want to try something hearty and warm, you can go for Podvarak. It is prepared by baking multiple ingredients in an oven that includes the distinctive sour sauerkraut, coupled with garlic, chopped onions, and meat. The meat choices can either be pork or chicken. If you are a vegetarian, the meat can be replaced with cheese.

It is made in bulk for the entire family and is part of the main course. The meatless version of the dish is served as a side dish.

  • Best Place to try: Kalenić
  • Price: NA

10. Punjene Paprike | Another Savory Side

Another side dish that will make you drool when it comes in front of you. Punjene Paprike is a dish with sweet peppers and stuffing in them. In Serbia, Punjene means stuffed, and the dish name says stuffed sweet bell peppers. Considered the best vegetarian dish in Serbia, it is made by hollowing out sweet bell peppers.

The stuffing is made of rice, meat, and other ingredients. To make it even more savory, the dish is served with a sauce containing the flavors of tomato paste, onions, olive oil, and seasonings. The yumminess of this dish is increased with boiled potatoes on the side.

  • Best Place to try: Kafana Meze
  • Price: 210 Serbian Dinar

11. Srpska Salata | The Healthy Choice

If you are a health-conscious person, then the Srpska Salata is the perfect health partner for you. Inspired by the Bulgarian salad, Srpska Salata is a Serbian salad fit for those who like to keep those extra calories away. Unlike Bulgarian salad, the best thing about the salad is that there is no cheese.

This salad can be made from several nutritious ingredients, such as tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and peppers. On top of that, you can add salt and pepper along with white wine vinegar or sunflower oil. This is the only dish that is ideal to be consumed in the summer. So, are you going to try it or not?

  • Best Place to try: Srpska Kafana
  • Price: 290 Serbian Dinar

12. Pljeskavica | Serbian Hamburger

Pljeskavica will be a dream come true for those who love hamburgers. Pljeskavica is a hamburger patty made out of ground beef, pork, or lamb. You can eat it alone or along with the Lepinja flatbread. If you want more and something different, you can try various side dishes, such as ajvar, kajmak, and chopped onions.

Though there are several ways to enjoy it, we recommend you eat it with flatbread, just like a burger. Often considered one of the national dishes of Serbia, it is popular across several regions, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, etc.

  • Best Place to try: Srpska Kafana
  • Price: 700 Serbian Dinar

Read More : Culture Of Serbia

The people of Serbia love to cook, eat, and serve. So, why not visit them and taste the exotic blend of their spices? Go, visit Serbia, and leave the travel arrangements to us.

At Adotrip, we provide information, Flights, Hotels, Tour Packages, VISA assistance, and travel insurance under one roof. So, no more messing around on the web.

With Adotrip, nothing is far!

Book Serbia Tour Packages

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Of Serbia

Q1. What are some popular Serbian dishes?
A1.
Some of the most popular Serbian dishes are And many others!

  • Ajvar
  • Gibanica
  • Pljeskavica
  • Burek

Q2. What is the significance of "ćevapi" in Serbian cuisine?
A2.
Ćevapi is a national dish of Serbia made from minced meat, which can be of several types. It can be served with several sides. It is also a great street food in Serbia.

Q3. Are there any traditional Serbian desserts worth trying?
A3.
There are several traditional Serbian desserts worth trying, such as

  • Krofne
  • Makovnjača
  • Vanilice
  • Reforma Torta
  • Gibanica

Q4. Can you tell me about the role of meat in Serbian food?
A4.
Meat is an important source of protein for the human body. Therefore, Serbians include it in almost every dish. Moreover, they eat meat at least once during the day.

Q5. What are the key ingredients in a typical Serbian salad?
A5.
The key ingredients in a typical Serbian salad are tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, minced meat, etc.

+

--- Published By  Adotrip

Flight Booking Tour Package
chatbot
icon

Subscribe Our Newsletter To Get Exclusive Discounts & Offers In Your Inbox

Download Adotrip App Or Simply Subscribe To Get Exclusive Offers On Flights, Hotels, Buses And More

whatsapp

May I Help you