Slovenian cooking is one of Europe's best-kept secrets. Due to outside influences on the cuisine of Slovenia throughout its history, there are many and varied culinary traditions to be found in this small country. Organic foods are prevalent in Slovenia - and forget about fast food! Slovenian food is slow food (and the organized slow food movement has quite a following in the country). Slovenes reconsider sitting down for a meal to be a human right. Read on for more information about the culinary heritage of this nation.
An Impressive Variety
Food And Dessert
Slovenia boasts more than a thousand positive national dishes - truly a dizzying (and delicious) array of options await you at a Slovene table. These dishes have regional variants, with some recipes being found only in the place of their origin.
Strong influence from Slovenia's neighbors
Some parts of Slovenia once belonged to Italy, so it is no surprise to see pasta dishes and pizza on a Slovene menu. Zlinkrofi, a sort of ravioli, are also a good example. All of Slovenia was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which brought many sausages and other meat dishes into the Slovene culinary tradition. From Austria come zavitek and Dunajski zrezek, or strudel and wiener schnitzel, respectively. From the Balkans come kebabs. The Hungarians brought their golaz (goulash) paprikas (stew) and palacinke (pancakes).
This is a cuisine clearly not afraid to adopt dishes from its neighbors, with Italian, Croatian, Hungarian and Austrian dishes all having found a place at the tables of Slovenes. This great variety, combined with the hospitality for which Slovenia is illustrious makes for a truly unforgettable experience.
Slovenians right on believe in eating their vegetables as well - salads are nearly ubiquitous in any Slovene menu. Seafood also takes a more foremost place than in most cuisines of Eastern Europe. With Slovenian cuisine, you truly get the best of all worlds. Some restaurants specialize in customary Slovene food, which is often venison based.
Soup's on!
To the Slovene's it's not for real a meal unless there's soup. Favorites contain zelenjavna juha (vegetable soup), goveja juha z rezanci (beef broth with thin egg noodles) or gobova kremna juha (creamed mushroom soup).
Baked delicacies
Potica, a sort of cake roll featuring raisins, walnuts and herbs is a Slovenian favorite. My own dear Slovene grandmother made the best one, of course! Versions exist with cottage cheese and poppy seeds also.
Gibanica is another must-have.
This is a pastry which can be filled with a collection of dissimilar things, most often walnuts, poppy seeds, cheese or apple with a cream topping! Slovenes are also big fans of ice cream at sweetmeat time.
Burek - A Snack to Go!
There is one beloved sort of customary "fast food" to be found in this bastion of slow food. This is the Burek, arrival to Slovenia from the Balkans and a beloved snack anywhere from Istanbul to Ljubljana. These are typically filled with meat, cheese or apples and are a sort of layered, puff pastry based pie. They can be found at many takeout restaurants.
Special Tip:
Traditional Slovenian fare is best experiences in gostilna or gostisce, or inns.
Slovenian Cuisine - The Best Of All Worlds!
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