クマの手クッキー
Home Bear’s paw cookies, known as medvjeđa šapa in Croatian, are a cherished shortbread-like treat shaped in tiny paw prints. Generations of Croatian bakers prepare them during the holidays, filling the air with the aroma of ground walnuts, butter, and warm spices. These dense, crumbly cookies are dusted generously with powdered sugar after baking, which gives them a snowy white coating reminiscent of Christmas. Their name refers to the distinctive mold shape (the Croatian word šapa means “paw”), but even without specialty pans, the cookies can be formed by hand into shell or crescent shapes. In holiday tradition, medvjeđa šapa often appear on festive dessert trays alongside other cookies and […]
シュクリパヴァツ – クロアチアの新鮮な「キーキー」農家のチーズ
Home Škripavac, whose name comes from the Croatian verb škripati (to squeak), is a traditional fresh cheese from the mountainous regions of Lika, Gorski Kotar, and Kordun in Croatia. It earned the nickname “squeaky cheese” because of its distinctive rubbery texture that literally squeaks between the teeth when eaten. Locally made from rich cow’s milk (often from Jersey cows) or sometimes sheep’s milk, Škripavac was once made in nearly every mountain village household that had a cow. Today it is made by small creameries like Sirana Vedrina and protected as a regional specialty (PDO status since the early 2020s). The flavor of Škripavac is mild, milky, and slightly tangy with […]
パシュキ・シル – パグ島の羊のチーズ
Home Paški sir (pronounced “pahsh-kee seer”) is Croatia’s most renowned artisanal cheese, hailing from the windswept island of Pag on the Adriatic. Its fame comes from the island’s unique environment: a cold, saline wind called the bora carries sea spray onto the grazing pastures. Only the hardiest herbs thrive on this salt-dusted soil – sage, immortelle, fennel, and others – and the native Pag sheep feed on these fragrant plants. The result is sheep’s milk that tastes richly of the island itself. When transformed into cheese, these coastal herbs impart a subtle herbal saltiness to Paški sir. This hard, granular cheese typically ages 60 days to 18 months and develops […]
フェイネスの鹿肉グーラッシュとプルーン
Home Feines venison goulash is a luxurious twist on traditional game stew, savoring the balance of savory and sweet that game meats welcome. In this dish, lean venison (typically from deer or antelope) is braised slowly with aromatics, wine, and a handful of sweet dried prunes. The addition of prunes, along with whole spices like juniper and allspice, lends a gentle sweetness that complements the earthiness of the deer meat. A final swirl of tangy sour cream (and often a bit of heavy cream) enriches the sauce into a velvety finish. The name feines (meaning “fine” or “delicate” in German) reflects its refined character – this is not your rustic […]
スラニナ – 豚脂身の塩漬けスラブ（クロアチア産ベーコン）
Home Slanina is the Croatian word for a slab of salt-cured pork fat – essentially old-world bacon. In much of Eastern Europe it’s known as salo, and in Croatia slanina is a beloved staple. This lightly smoked, savory fatback can be sliced thinly and eaten raw, or fried until crisp. It is a foundational flavor in traditional Croatian cooking, adding richness to stews, beans, sauerkraut, and even pastries. Farmers once kept slabs of slanina hanging in their smokehouses year-round as a preserved energy food. For many Croatians, a simple morning meal might be bread smeared with slanina and rubbed with fresh garlic or topped with pickles. What sets slanina apart […]
オンボロ – イストリア産豚ロース肉
Home Ombolo is a classic cured pork loin from Croatia’s Istria peninsula, a region often called the “Tuscan of Croatia.” This lean, tender cut is transformed through a centuries-old process of salting, spicing, and air-drying. Once cured, Ombolo has a rich but refined flavor that combines savory pork with subtle aromatic notes of bay leaf and black pepper. Families in Istria have passed down recipes for Ombolo across generations, making it a beloved tradition at holiday feasts and village gatherings. In winter, slabs of Ombolo would hang in cool stone cellars, infusing the air with a warm, spiced scent that recalls wood smoke and festive banquets. What makes Ombolo special […]
アーモンド入りラビオリ（ダルメシアンラビオリ）
Home In the seaside regions of Dalmatia, rafioli are a beloved symbol of celebration. Despite the Italian-sounding name, they are very Croatian: sweet, almond-filled “ravioli” that are almost always on the table at weddings, baptisms, and Christmas feasts. Legend says the first rafioli were baked by a lady named Rafioli imprisoned in Trogir’s fortress; she passed the time making treats, and after her rescue they became a token of gratitude. Today, every Dalmatian family has its own recipe for rafioli, small delicate pockets of flavor that bring an elegant touch to the dessert spread. Rafioli are made by sandwiching a sweet almond (or hazelnut) filling between two thin circles of […]
司教のパン（クロアチアの祝日のナッツ入りパン）
Home When the winter holidays arrive along the Adriatic coast and inland villages, Croatian families often celebrate with Bishop’s Bread (biskupov kruh), a dense, cake-like loaf studded with fruits and nuts. Despite the name, this bread is more like a fruitcake than ordinary bread. Its origin is unclear—some call it “broken glass bread” or “stained glass bread” because the chunks of cherries, nuts, and sometimes chocolate look like jewels or stained glass when sliced. It’s said the name “Bishop” might hint at the special occasions it marks, although no one knows exactly why it’s called that. Bishop’s Bread is a festive quick bread made without yeast. Instead, a batter of […]
自家製ジャムとコンポート
Home In Croatia, preserving the harvest for winter is a cherished tradition. Generations of homemakers would spend late summer days turning ripe fruits into džem (jam) and kompot (stewed fruit), filling rows of glass jars with vibrant preserves. Common flavors include plum, apricot, cherry, fig, and pear. When winter’s short days arrive, these sweet jars are like little pieces of summer ready to brighten breakfast or dessert. A spoonful of homemade plum jam on buttered bread, or warm apple compote spooned over vanilla pudding, are comforts that evoke grandparents’ kitchens. Fruit jams in Croatia are often thick and glossy. The basic method is simple: cook fruit with sugar (and sometimes […]
ファーマーズチーズケーキ（クロアチアチーズケーキ）
Home A Croatian farmer’s cheese cake is a tender, custard-like dessert baked with rich quark or cottage cheese. Unlike the dense American-style cheesecake, this version is lighter and often crustless. In villages and small towns it is known simply as kolač sa sirom (cake with cheese) or sirnica, reflecting its main ingredient. The cake dates back to the Austro-Hungarian era, sharing roots with Czech and Slovak tvaroh cakes. Home cooks prized its simple ingredients—fresh cheese, eggs, sugar and a bit of flour or semolina—and its warm, comforting flavor. This cake has a delicate texture somewhere between a firm pudding and a sponge. It bakes until golden on top, with a […]