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    Balkan Lunch Box > Uncategorized > Favorite Balkan Holiday Dishes (Winter Edition)

    Favorite Balkan Holiday Dishes (Winter Edition)

    Published: Dec 18, 2024 by Aida

    Here's a list of favorite Balkan holiday dishes (winter edition), showcasing holiday classics from ex-Yugoslav countries - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. Shall we?

    Collage of photos from the blog depicting favorite Balkan dishes.
    Jump to:
    • Background
    • Breads and Strudels 
    • Pies
    • Salads and Appetizers
    • Soups and Stews
    • Main Courses
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Thoughts?

    Background

    Each ex-Yugoslav country - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo - has a few favorite holiday specials, while many dishes are enjoyed across the region.

    This list is a winter edition round-up of these recipes. It includes food cooked for Christmas (Catholic and Orthodox), but particularly food for New Year's Eve, (a huge deal in the region!).

    We’ve kept the region’s shared culinary heritage in mind while creating this list. Additionally, we've included your favorites like sarma, veal shank, burek, Shopska salad, and more.

    There’s something here for everyone! From savory, melt-in-your-mouth pies to showstopping meat centerpieces, and succulent sides. (Oh and take a look at that dessert section!!)

    Whether you're hosting a holiday party, or just want to add a touch of Balkan flair to your dining table, this is the list to explore!

    Breads and Strudels 

    Homemade Bread
    Perfectly peasant homemade bread.
    Check out this recipe
    Homemade bread on a cutting board on a blue background.
    Pogača (Pogacha)
    Traditional Balkan no-yeast bread.
    Check out this recipe
    Woman holding halved pogacha.
    Potica: Poppy Seed Roll
    Potica, povitica or štrudla sa makom is a classic poppy seed roll.
    Check out this recipe
    Closeup of a poppy seed slice.

    Pies

    Burek: Meat (or other) Pie
    Flaky fillo pie with a filling (meat in B-H, other fillings elsewhere).
    Check out this recipe
    Quarter of a burek pie on a plate on gray background.
    Sirnica: Cheese Pie
    Cheese and egg flaky pie (cheese burek).
    Check out this recipe
    Three pieces of pie on top of each other.
    Zeljanica: Spinach and Cheese Pie
    Spinach, cheese, and egg flaky pie (spinach burek).
    Check out this recipe
    Three pieces of spinach pie.

    Salads and Appetizers

    Meza: Balkan Charcuterie Board
    Balkan meat, cheese, veggie, and appetizer plate
    Check out this recipe
    Overhead photo of a meat and cheese wooden tray platter on a gray background.
    Šopska Salata: Shopska Salad
    Fresh veggies and plenty of feta.
    Check out this recipe
    Salad and salad ingredients on a white background.
    Ruska Salata: Salad Olivier
    Hearty salad made with veggies, meat and mayo.
    Check out this recipe
    Glass bowl full of Russian salad on black background.
    Roasted Red Pepper Salad
    Roasted red pepper salad with an olive oil and garlic dressing.
    Check out this recipe
    A fork holding red pepper salad above a plate on a marble table.

    Soups and Stews

    Supa s Noklicama: Semolina Dumpling Soup
    Semolina dumpling soup (knedle or noklice) is an all-around favorite.
    Check out this recipe
    A bowl with soup and a spoon on a cutting board on a white background.
    Beef Noodle
    Beef noodle soup is comforting and cozy.
    Check out this recipe
    Red pot with soup, a ladle and a soup bowl with soup on a gray background (spoon and kitchen towel also included).
    Grah (Pasulj): Balkan Bean Stew
    Tasty, buttery bean stew.
    Check out this recipe
    Bowl filled with ham and bean soup on a honeycomb plate.

    Main Courses

    Koljenica: Veal Shank Roast
    Veal shank roast is one of the favorite meat choices for the holidays.
    Check out this recipe
    Klepe: Meat Dumplings
    Balkan ravioli-like dumplings with beef in a rich sauce.
    Check out this recipe
    Bowl of klepe in traditional plating, on a gray background.
    Moussaka
    Mouthwatering potato and meat moussaka.
    Check out this recipe
    Moussaka layers in a pan.
    Sarma: Stuffed Cabbage
    These stuffed sour cabbage rolls are a holiday must!
    Check out this recipe
    Stuffed cabbage on a spoon in a copper pot.
    Dolmas: Stuffed Veggies
    Medley of stuffed veggies: tomatoes, zucchini, onions and more.
    Check out this recipe
    Metal dish with a lid full of stuffed veggies and a spoon ladle.

    Side Dishes

    Tavče Gravče: Baked Beans
    Amazing oven baked beans with onions.
    Check out this recipe
    Closeup of beans on a spoon.
    Podvarak: Baked Sauerkraut
    Sour cabbage baked with meat and spices.
    Check out this recipe
    Spoon holding sauerkraut above pan filled with sauerkraut on a gray background.
    Stuffed Peppers
    Potato stuffed peppers are the perfect side!
    Check out this recipe
    Cast iron pan filled with yellow stuffed peppers and a kitchen towel on a gray background.

    Desserts

    Mama's Chocolate Walnut Cake
    Classically delicious walnut cake with chocolate.
    Check out this recipe
    A piece of cake on a fancy plate and the remaining cake in the background on a marble background.
    Vasina Torta: Vaso's Cake
    Three layers chocolate cake with orange infusion.
    Check out this recipe
    Traditional Serbian cake called Vaso's Cake. Made with dark chocolate, oranges, walnuts and meringue.
    Bajadera: Nougat Pralines
    These nougat praline bars are dreamy!
    Check out this recipe
    Three bajaderas on top of each other.
    Orašnice: Walnut Cookies
    Wonderful walnut cookies.
    Check out this recipe
    A plate with five walnut cookies, a pitcher with milk and a small glass of milk on a marble background.
    Jam Butter Crescents
    Yummy, flaky butter crescents filled with jam.
    Check out this recipe
    Perfect three ingredient crescents (margarine, eggs, and flour) filled with jam and baked. Classic combo for the win!
    Hazelnut Truffles
    Hazelnut truffle balls with chocolate.
    Check out this recipe
    A hand holding a chocolate ball above a glass bowl full of chocolate balls.
    Photo collage on the blog depicting favorite Balkan dishes.

    Thoughts?

    If you make any of today's recipes and like what you made, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5-star) rating. This will help others find the recipes more easily!

    You can also leave a comment, I read EVERY one! Finally, if IG is more your thing, consider tagging us @balkanlunchbox.

    Prijatno, Dobar Tek, and Bon Appetit!

    « Mushroom and Potato Soup from Slovenia (Gobova Juha s Krompirjem)
    Hazelnut Cookies (Lješnjašnice) [Four Ingredients] »


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