Restaurants in Serbia
Serbia food and cuisine has been largely influenced by the Mediterranean (Greece and the Byzantine Empire), the Oriental Turkish and the Austro-Hungarian cuisines. It is a unique fusion of a variety of traditions; the sacher torte and nut roll sit harmoniously with baklava and koljivo, on the shelves of the Serbian confectionaries. Lately, the dispersion of Serbians has taken Serbian cuisine to different parts of the world.
[read more]Serbians love their beer and their traditional Serbian drink is a fruit brandy called rakija.
Discover what's on the menu when eating out in Serbia by taking a look at our food and cuisine in Serbia guide below. A more specific guide on food and cuisine in Belgrade its capital is also available. As well as dining at a Serbia restaurant you may also want to see what the shops in Serbia are like.
Food & Cuisine in Serbia
Most Serbians eat three main meals through the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch is the largest meal and comprises mostly of Mediterranean dishes. Interestingly, breakfast is a recent addition to food and cuisine in Serbia as it was introduced only in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Serbian food and cuisine makes liberal use of herbs and spices. Some of the commonly used herbs and spices are coriandrum sativum (korijander), allspice (najgvirc), parsley (peršun), Laurel( lorber, lavor), ground paprika, clove (karanfilić), celery (celer) and white and black pepper.
Foods like jam, slatko, fruit brandy (rakija), pickled food like sauerkraut (pickled cabbage or kiseli kupus), jelly, sausages and ajvar, which are normally picked off the shelves in the West are made at home in Serbia. This is not only because making them at home is a more economic alternative, but also because according to Serbian culture, cooking and preparing food is an integral part of the family tradition.
Barbecue is very popular and is served as the main course in many Serbia restaurants. It is also served as fast food. Salads in Serbia are eaten with the main course and not as starters.
Breakfast
Breakfast, a substantial and hearty meal, is eaten early. Most Serbians usually have a cup of coffee or an espresso before breakfast. The breakfast consists of bread or pastries served with jam, butter, cheese, sour cream, yoghurt, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, salami and kajmak. All this is washed down with milk, cocoa, tea or coffee.
Soup
An important component of the Serbian menu is soup. There are mainly two types of soups. Supa is the normal soup and the čorba which is made with browned flour (roux). The most commonly made soups are made with poultry and beef with a handful of noodles tossed in. Riblja čorba (fish soup) and jagnjeca čorba (lamb soup) are two delicacies.
Bread
Bread is the staple food of the Serbians. It has religious, ritualistic and cultural connotations. Bread features prominently in many religious rituals. Serbians never throw away bread no matter how old it is as they believe that throwing away bread is sinful. A visitor to a Serbian home is given a traditional welcome with salt and bread. Although rice, potato, pasta and other dishes are served, bread occupies the pride of place.
Most rural households bake their own bread in ovens. The loaves are larger than their urban counterparts. The standard bread sold in urban shops and bakeries is a 600 gram white wheat loaf. Gram bread and black bread are also sold in order to satisfy the requirements of the diet conscious.
Drinks
Serbia produces a variety of fine fruit juices and mineral waters owing to the abundance of high quality fruit and water. They are the major exports of Serbia. Serbia also produces a few carbonated soft drinks. Boza, a fermented soft drink made from corn and Kvas are two other typically Serbian drinks.
Tea is not very popular and most Serbians prefer Turkish coffee (Crma kafa,Turska kafa). Tea is mostly drunk as herbal infusions or as a medicine.
Kefir (a drink made by fermenting cow's milk) and yoghurt are favourites with the Serbians. Mineral water made by the famous company, Knjaz Milos is served with various meals.
Serbians love their beer and Serbia has 14 breweries. The traditional Serbian drink is a fruit brandy called rakija. Many Serbian households brew their own rakija which is highly valued by friends and family. Wine is also popular in Serbia.
