Bosnia-Herzegovina National Foods and Drinks

BOSNIA-HERZ.

It’s always fun to eat national foods of the country or region you’re visiting. You can really begin to understand the culture from the inside out. The cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina is influenced by its Balkan neighbors. Certain foods are emblematic of Bosnia and symbolic of Bosnian identity.

Bosanski lonac (Bosnian Pot)

Bosanski lonac [Photo]

Lonac is an authentic Bosnian culinary specialty, appreciated for its rich taste and flexibility. Bosanski lonac is one of most famous native fare and is well simmered in the pot. It is a slow-roasted pot of meat and vegetables, or japrak, made up of cabbage rolls stuffed with a savory filling. The Bosanski lonac is prepared by layering meat and vegetables (alternating layers of meat and vegetables until the pot is full) into a deep pot, then adding 1 - 2 dl water or white wine. The ingredients should be cut into large pieces rather than finely chopped or minced. Since the pieces of meat and vegetables are rather large, it takes about 4 hours till the meal is cooked.

Cevapcici or Cevapi
 

Bosnia Cevapi [Photo]

Bosnian ćevapi (small sausage) is similar patty that is known as kebab in the Southeastern parts of Europe. It is made with spiced minced meat (consisting of two types of beef) that are pressed into funnel shaped patties, which are then grilled. They are usually served of 5-10 pieces on a plate or in a flat-bread (lepinje or somun), often with chopped onions, sour cream, kajmak, ajvar, cottage cheese, minced red pepper and salt.

Pljeskavica

Pljeskavica [Photo]

Pljeskavica, original from Serbia, is a patty dish popular in the Balkan region of Southeastern Europe. Traditional pljeskavica is made from mixture of ground meats (like a hamburger). Typically two or more out of lamb, pork, beef or veal grilled with onions and served hot on plate with side dishes. It is a bit salty and spicy. This is often together with lepinom (round bread) which has vertical notch. It is often served with kajmak milk cream, ajvar sauce of peppers and urnebes mixed spicy sauce.

Burek

Burek

This is must-to-eat in Bosnia-Herzegovina because it is very very popular food in and around this country. Burek is a meat-filled flaky pastry, traditionally rolled in a spiral and cut into sections for serving. Heat and bake from upper and lower heater (or traditional coal fire). The same dish filled with cottage cheese is called sirnica, one with spinach and cheese zeljanica, and one with potatoes krompiruša. The 4 kind of stuff  is sauteed grained meat, potato with black pepper taste, white cheese, spinach sautee. All these varieties are generically referred to as pita (Bosnian for "pie").

Bosanska kahva (Bosnian coffee)

Bosanska kahva [Photo]

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where coffee is the national drink, Bosnian coffee is made slightly different than its Turkish counterpart. It is usually made with Bosnian coffee brands (such as Zlatna Džezva, Minas, and Saraj Kafa). When the water reaches its boiling point, a small amount is saved aside for later, usually in a coffee cup. Then, the coffee is added to the copper handled pot (džezva), and the remaining water in the cup is added to the pot. Everything is put back on the heat source to reach its boiling point again, which only takes a couple of seconds since the coffee is already very hot. Some consumers say that this method of preparing gives the coffee a more distinct flavor. Coffee drinking in Bosnia is a traditional daily custom and plays an important role in society, especially during social gatherings.

Rakija

Rakija (brandy) is prevalently accepted and considered to be а national drink of Bosnia. Locally produced rakija comes in numerous flavors, such as grape and plum.

Text source: [1]