Slovenian cuisine

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Slovenian cuisine

It is very hard to say that Slovenia has a uniform, distinct cuisine. Due to its historical and regional diversity, the culinary dishes vary from region to region. There are seven regions in Slovenia; Koroska (southeastern Carinthia), Primorska (coastal province), Dolenjska (Lower Carniola), Notranjska (Inner Carniola), Gorenjska (Upper Carniola), Prekmurje (The Pannonia east of the Mura river) and Stajerska (Lower Styria).

Slovenian cuisine is simple and plain but at the same time it can be "heavy" and caloric. Some dishes could be hard to digest, since they are based on pork, animal fat (zaseka, ocvirki, bacon), beans, butter, potatoes, eggs and cream. It is important to know, that traditional Slovenian cuisine exclusively used products produced in the country, the use of imported products was very rare.

Koroska
Some famous dishes from this region are Mavzlji (meatballs) served with sauerkraut and pickled grated turnip, Zganci with honey and Fruit Zlinkrofi (adapted from Italian ravioli - stuffed pasta) served with fruit compote.

Primorska and Notranjska
Meat based soups used to be served only on Sundays or holidays. Jota is a popular soup, made of sauerkraut (kislo zelje), cooked beans, potatoes, smoked pork, ribs or sausage. It is usually served with home made bread. Pasta Fizol, pasta with beans, Primorska Minestrone and Bakalca, which is served with Idrija Zlinkrofi are also very loved dishes. The most famous dish, even now days is the Prsut, Primorski Prosciutto, which is served with olives bread and red wine, Teran. Since Primorska is the seaside region, there are also traditional seafood dishes, like the Brodet (fish soup) served with polenta and the Black Cuttlefish Risotto. Pinca, Gubanica Cake and Kobarid Struklji are all deliciously baked deserts.

Dolenjska and Bela Krajina
This region of Slovenia is famous for its Potato Polenta, which is served with gravies, grilled or roated meat and vegetables (this sometimes took the place of bread), Bela Krajina Spehovka (Savoury Rolled Cake with Bacon Filling), Matevz (Cured Pork with Mashed Beans), Fizolov Strukelj (Dolenjska Bean Roll) and Dumplings in Cabbage Leaves.

Gorenjska
Prezganka (Browned Soup with Eggs and Chervill) and Sara (Vegetable Hot-Pot), which is served with Cvicek, a light rose or new red wine, are both popular soups of the region. Kranjske Klobase (Carniolan Sausages), Zaseka (minced Bakon), Krvavice (Blood Sausages) and Baked Sauerkraut can all be served with Zganci (Corn Mush), Cmoki (Steamed Leavened Dumplings), Gorenjska Dumplings with Cottage Cheese. Vodnik Flat Cake, Shrovetide Doughnuts and Brittle Flancati or Drobjanci are traditional pastries that are sprinkled with icing sugar whilst still hot.

Bled, which is part of the Gorenjska region, is known for its "krem snite", also called Blejske krem rezine and for its Blejske Grmade, which can be found in almost every restaurant, hotel or pastry shop in town.

Stajerska and Prekmurje
Traditional meals na zlico ("on the spoon") are Stajerska Sour Soup, Potato Soup with Milk, Bograc, Stajerska Brzole (Styrian Prime Rib), Stajerska Bean Goulash, Bujta Repa (Pork with Pickled Grated Turnips) and Kulinji. On Sundays, a traditional family meal is Turkey with Mlinci or Baked Smoked Ham in Pastry with Horseradish Jelly, which are served with both red and white wines from this region, e.g. Modri Pinot or Laski rizling, Sipon, Chardonnay. This region has many popular deserts, Stajerski Baked Struklji, Prekmurska Gibanica Pie, Prekmurski Krapci and the Potica, the Walnut Potica, the Bizeljsko Buckwheat Potica, the Poppy Seed Povitica and the Farmer's Bread Potica.


Some foods just cannot be classified into one region, like Ricet, Jespren (barley soup), Obara and Ajmoht, wich are all "na zlico" meals. Jabolcni Zavitek (Apple strudel), Sirov Zavitek (strudel with cottage cheese filling and raisins), Palacinke (pancakes) and Carski prazenec, which is served with Cezana (mashed apples), are deserts that can be found all over the country.

For recipes and additional information, you can visit the http://www.kulinarika.net web site.

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