Traditional Bosnian Food – The 10 Best Bosnian Dishes

Bosnian food like Burek is one of the most famous dishes you absolutely have to try. Bosnian cuisine is not only rich in flavours, but also in history. Bosnia and Herzegovina share dishes from the former Yugoslav kingdom. Traditional Bosnian food is popular worldwide as it is hearty and flavourful. We also have a list if you are looking for a healthy alternative.

Bosnia and Herzegovina shares recipes with its neighbours, which makes the flavours unique and familiar at the same time. As a starter, Bosnian dishes are always served with sour cream, yoghurt or garlic sauce to prevent the meat from becoming too greasy.

Are you curious about what Bosnian cuisine looks like and what the usual dishes are that you can order in a typical Bosnian restaurant? We’ll even tell you a few words and phrases that you can use during your visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina or to impress your Bosnian friends.

Facts about Bosnian cuisine and its traditions

A priceless way to enjoy travelling is to discover the perspectives of other countries, especially when their traditions are far from what you’re used to. By opening up and respecting how other people eat, drink and enjoy their meals, you can even get to know a new world. The locals in Bosnia and Herzegovina can look back on a long line of traditions and customs that have a complex historical background. And yet there is something that connects you to them: the food.

Before you delve into the subject, here are a few facts about Bosnian food that you should know!

• Many traditional dishes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are similar to those in Croatia, Serbia, the Mediterranean countries and Turkey
• Bosnian cuisine is characterised by Western and Eastern influences
• Usually, family dinner visits are unannounced. So don’t be surprised if there are more guests at the table
• Although vegetarianism is not widespread in Bosnia, there are many Bosnian vegetarian dishes to discover!
• Coffee is served three times during the visits. There is the welcome coffee (dočekuša), the conversation coffee (razgovoruša or brbljavuša) and the farewell coffee (kandžija‘ or ’sikteruša‘)
• Meals usually last a long time, as most Bosnians like to sit together and chat after the meal.

What do Bosnians eat?

Do Bosnians like rice, bread or salads? The Ottoman Empire influenced the Balkan countries in many ways, for example in terms of culture, traditions, customs and way of life. One is the traditional Bosnian cuisine, a mixture of western and eastern flavours. Influences from the USA, Asia and Africa can also be found in modern cities. In cities such as Sarajevo and Mostar, there are also many international restaurants with Japanese, Italian or French cuisine.

Although Bosnians eat meat, there is a large proportion of Muslims in the country. They must therefore adhere to halal practices and are therefore not allowed to eat pork. Salads are always on the menu, but vegetable stews are also available as an alternative.

Types of traditional Bosnian food

Meat lovers can rejoice! Bosnian national dishes are not complete without meat. On the other hand, Bosnia originally only had simple foods, as many of the poorer villages only had wheat, beans, cabbage and onions. You will also notice that many of the Balkan dishes contain bread made from cornflour or similar ingredients.

If you are planning to discover a new recipe from the Balkan Peninsula, you should start with Bosnian food! You can choose from a typical vegetable stew to a complex traditional Bosnian dish. Here are my favorite 10 Bosnian foods you should definitely try!

Cevapi

We start with the Bosnian national dish cevapi, which consists of a mixture of beef, mutton or lamb. It is seasoned with salt, pepper and a little baking powder. It looks like sausages strung together and served on somun (flatbread) with raw onions. Most Bosnians often prepare cevapi in a slow-cooked broth made from beef, mutton and veal bones before they are grilled.

Bosnian cevapi are the most popular fast food dish in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as these small, oblong-shaped skewers can be found in most restaurants.

There are also two varieties of cevapi, namely Sarajevski and Banjalucki. Sarajevski cevapi are usually individual sausages, while banjalucki are four slabs of sausage joined together in a flatbread.

Begova čorba

Begova čorba or „Bey’s soup“ or „Bey’s stew“ is a slow-cooked Bosnian-style chicken soup containing okra, eggs and a roux. It is similar to chorba, an Arabic stew of vegetables and meat. Although the soup is rich and thick, it is relatively light for many Bosnians and is even served for breakfast. Bey’s stew is usually served in a metal bowl or clay pot in winter and at festivals. You can add sour cream or dried herbs to enhance the flavour.

Burek

Similar to the Turkish dish börek, burek is an ideal snack made from puff pastry and a wide range of fillings. A burek is a pastry dish consisting of meat and cheese (sirnica), spinach and cheese (zeljanica) or butter (maslanica). They are sold everywhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are usually baked fresh for breakfast. Bureks are filled dumplings in a square or snail-like spiral shape.

There is also a sweet Bosnian version of burek with cherries or other sweet fruits. You can also ask for sour cream or a glass of yoghurt and water (ayran) to drink with your meal.

Dolma

Many dolma recipes contain seafood or even omit the minced meat. The original recipe for dolma consists of stuffed vine leaves filled with either vegetables or meat and cooked in tomato sauce. Sogan dolma, on the other hand, which is predominant in Mostar, is a stuffed onion with peppers or rice. Another variant is punjena peppers (stuffed peppers) with aubergines and courgettes. They are smaller and sweeter and are perfect as a vegetarian alternative.

Communities where dolma is prepared use a wood-fired oven or a garden oven made of yellow clay. Meat dolma is served warm with an egg and lemon sauce, while plain rice dolma is eaten at room temperature with yoghurt and garlic.

Pljeskavica

Pljeskavica is also known as a Balkan burger, as it is popular in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Montenegro. It is typically served with raw onions, milk cream (called kajmak), ajvar (pickled vegetables) and various cheeses as well as meat and lepinja (a flatbread similar to somun). You can have it with or without flatbread, but in many restaurants there is usually a spicier version with more paprika on top.

Ustipci

Ustipci, which is considered the national dish, resembles savoury doughnuts but is deep-fried and made with yoghurt. It is offered as a starter on most menus and can be an alternative to morning bread. Ustipci go well with kajmak, avjar or any kind of fruit jam. Many restaurants have different preparation methods for ustipci, e.g. which flour they use or which combinations go well. You can also eat these dough balls at home with your coffee.

Rostilj

Rostilj literally means „grilled meat“, the English equivalent is „barbecue“. It is another popular dish in the Balkans that has a high protein content. It consists of cevapi, steak, grilled chicken and beef, served with roast potatoes, salads or coleslaw.

As it is a favourite part of Bosnian cuisine, there are many modern ways to prepare a rostilj. In some restaurants, the slices of meat are roasted in marble, or they are prepared in a conventional grill or on the cooker.

Klepe

Bosnian minced meat dumplings or klepe (also known as kulaci) are served with a large amount of pavlaka (sour cream) in many Bosnian households. However, the cooking process does not include baking powder and, unlike its Asian counterparts, usually looks gooey. It is cooked quickly and topped with additional butter, paprika and garlic. As a vegetarian option, the beef can be replaced with spinach or other vegetables.

Bosanski Lonac

Bosanski Lonac, the Bosnian stew, is served in a clay pot with many types of meat and a healthy selection of vegetables. It can be cooked over a low heat with lamb and veal, carrots, onions, romano beans, tomatoes, potatoes and vegetables. You can smell the intense flavour of the food for hours and it is often served for lunch and dinner.

Today, there are also modern types of Bosanski Lonac to suit your own taste. You can even prepare it as a vegetarian version! It is one of the most famous national dishes of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a saying that no two Bosanski Lonac recipes are the same, as many families have their own recipes that have been passed down from their grandmothers as a kind of keepsake.

Grah

Grah is a traditional Bosnian soup made from white beans in the Balkans. Every Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian family has its own recipe. However, the main ingredients of grah are white beans, tomato paste, vegetables and meat. Suho meso (or dried meat) is another important ingredient that makes this hot and comforting soup your favourite winter dish.

It resembles the French cassoulet by its ingredients, except for the confit (duck meat) in the stew. Grah also features sauerkraut, smoked meat or sausages made from beef ribs with paprika paste, parsley, bay leaves, garlic, onions, parsnips and other herbs.

The Grah is known from Albania to Kosovo and runs through Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

Bosnian drinks that you should definitely try

Drinks complement food, and with the fatty and savoury Bosnian cuisine, it is easy for many locals to opt for a drink. However, due to tradition and personal preference, not all Bosnians are keen on alcoholic drinks. Many older and Bosnian citizens still enjoy natural juices made from fruits and even add some amounts of vegetables.

Try some of the famous Bosnian drinks, with or without alcohol, which are sure to quench your thirst!

Bosnian coffee

Starting with a non-alcoholic drink, Bosnian coffee is also a staple drink that complements meals at any time of the day. However, one should be careful not to compare Bosnian coffee with Turkish coffee! The latter is similar to traditional Bosnian coffee, but is processed differently. The flavour resembles a mixture of coffee beans, chocolate and a sugary taste. Authentic Bosnian coffee is served in an Ibrik or Dezva (Bosnian coffee cup). You can drink Bosnian coffee at any time of day. But as is Bosnian custom, coffee is simply part of breakfast. Unlike Turkish coffee, guests always decide for themselves how much sugar syrup or sugar cubes they want to add.

Rakija

Rakija is the Bosnian version of fruit brandy, which is produced in many south-east European countries. It is distilled and can be used as a base for many liqueurs. Rakija can be distilled from fruits such as plums (Ljivovica), Williams pears (Viljamovka), quinces (Dunjevaa), apricots (Kajsijevaa), apples (Jabukovaa), grapes (Lozovaa/Komovica) and a variety of other fruits. Although fruit brandies are also produced in other European countries and regions, rakija is a household name in the Balkans and has a wide following across all generations.

Pelinkovac

Even though many drinkers among you like a smooth, vodka-flavoured alcoholic drink, there is nothing wrong with strong alcohol. Pelinkovac is a bitter liqueur made from vermouth that is popular in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Slovenia. It is a strong drink with an alcohol content of 28-35%. Many alcohol lovers compare it to Jägermeister, but Pelinkovac has a more bitter flavour with a herbaceous aroma. Pelinkovac is traditionally served as an aperitif or digestif, neat or on ice, with a slice of lemon. It also tastes excellent when mixed with lemon juice or tonic water.

Bosnian desserts

Who wouldn’t resist the sound of dessert after filling their stomach? Bosnian desserts were introduced by the Ottoman Empire and have undergone many changes over the years. In addition to the Bosnian version of Croatian, Montenegrin, Serbian, Arabic and even Czech desserts, there are only original desserts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dig into these delicious treats and enjoy them with your favourite drink of choice:

Kadaif

You might think that kadaif is noodles, but it’s actually a dessert! Kadaif has a string-like texture made of crushed filo dough (phyllo) with melted butter and chopped walnuts and baked for an hour. If this is your first time eating kadaif, you may think the flavour is strange, but it is one of the country’s most popular desserts. As is customary for many Bosnians, it is drizzled with agda and lemon juice.

Šampita

We don’t let ourselves stray from the path of sweet treats, do we? Šampita is also a fluffy and light pastry that leaves you wanting more. It consists of a puff pastry base with whipped meringue. Maybe your friend will offer you a Šampita with lemon syrup on top. It has an airy texture that you can always combine with a nice cup of coffee to round off this great afternoon.

Bosnian baklava

I’ve had the opportunity to eat baklava myself, and it’s fair to say that it’s one of the best things in life. However, Bosnian baklava does not contain pistachios, which is a must for its Mediterranean counterpart. The rich flavour of the puff pastry is enough to make you feel the sweetness in just one bite.

Halva

Halva is a sweet from Persia that is widespread throughout the Middle East and has also found its way to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ingredients such as flour, semolina or finely ground seeds or nuts (e.g. sesame or sunflower seeds), which are sweetened with sugar or honey, are found in halva sweets. They are usually prepared during pilgrimages to Mecca during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

What is traditional Bosnian Food?

#1 Cevapi #2 Begova čorba #3 Burek #4 Dolma #5 Pljeskavica #6 Ustipci #7 Rostilj #8 Klepe #9 Bosanski Lonac #10 Grah

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