If your next destination is Croatia, you must be aware that you’re about to explore a typical Balkan culture! Going on vacation to a new country typically involves trying local cuisine. Yes, trying out new flavors is a divine experience but unfortunately, it’s hard to neglect the downside of potential weight gain. However, if you’re traveling to Croatia, you’re in luck — this country offers some amazing options for low-calorie, healthy meals.
Among all the Balkan countries, Croatia definitely has a somewhat distinctive cuisine that attracts foreigners. To be able to fully enjoy the taste of Croatian cuisine and prevent yourself from extra calories, here are 5 healthy Croatian foods to start your trip with.
1. Buzara
Buzara is one of the simplest dishes from Croatia for seafood lovers. You could say that it is very similar to the French dish named moules mariniere, but Buzara is particularly spread around Croatia’s coastal parts.
In Croatia, Buzara is sometimes considered “brain food,” thanks to the protein and omega-3 content in seafood. As a result, students consider it an especially refreshing choice in times of tough deadlines. While some might turn to professional help and say, ‘I’ll have someone else write my essay paper, so I can focus on exploring Croatia,’ you need to know that just a single plate of Buzara might give you enough energy to manage both at the same time.
Traditional Buzara is made with seafood, mostly mussels, mixed with garlic, olive oil, white wine, and local herbs, which gives the desired Croatian flavor to the food. You might also find clams, shrimp, and other seafood cooked like this and choose depending on which seafood you’re into.
2. Soparnik
While Soparnik might not be the healthiest option for Croatian traditional foods as it is made with dough, this dish still has ingredients that are nutritious and important for health. It comes from the region of Dalmatia but has influences from Greece, Italy, and Switzerland. In fact, it might remind you of a Greek spinach pie called Spanakopita. Considering it does not contain meat, it is a great option for those who follow a vegan diet.
Soparnik is a nice, satisfying pie made with Swiss chard, garlic, onions, and olive oil. Some versions also have parsley. All these are wrapped in dough and fried in an oven until the dough gets crispy and golden-colored. In certain villages, it is even fried over the firewood.
3. Peka
Peka is one of the most traditional foods in Croatia, cooked with either meat or seafood. The name “Peka” means cooking under the lid in Croatian, which makes sense. In the regions that are close to the sea, like Dalmatia, Peka is mostly cooked with seafood.
In cases of using seafood in Peka, the main protein to use is octopus, but other kinds of seafood are added as well. In addition, potatoes are used with some other vegetables, and as the ingredients are covered with a lid, the food is prepared on fire. Cooking peka takes several hours as it requires to be slowly cooked. But the perfection you’ll end up with is absolutely worth all the energy and effort spent during the preparation process.
4. Grilled Fish
Grilled fish or in Croatian, Riba na Gradele, is one of the classic dishes in Croatia and it links Croatian cuisine to Mediterranean tastes and flavors. If you’re searching for protein- and omega-3-packed dishes, along with Buzara, Riba na Gradele is a perfect choice.
To prepare this dish, you can choose any kind of fish to your liking, but mostly Croatians pick sea bass or gilthead bream. The fish is grilled with garlic, parsley, lemon juice, seasonings like salt and pepper, rosemary springs, and of course olive oil. This way of cooking makes the fish super tasty and prevents losing its nutritional value.
5. Black Risotto
When thinking of Risotto, the first country that comes to mind is usually Italy. But it turns out that Croatians have their own way of preparing risotto, specifically the black one. Back risotto, which in Croatian is Crni rizot, is a widely popular dish in Croatia and is mostly done with seafood, as the risotto gets the color black from cuttlefish or squid ink, so they go well together.
As black risotto consists of a high amount of protein and contains less fat than regular risotto, it is perfect for a healthy food option. With the addition of seafood and vegetables, it becomes an extremely tasty and satisfying meal for everyone.
Bottom Line
Although not everyone realizes it, now you can see that Croatia offers some incredible and tasty options for healthy food. Some might worry that by eating only healthy food on vacations they won’t be able to fully check out the local cuisine, but in Croatia, you don’t have to worry about that.
These 5 foods offer a full Croatian taste palette, as well as the nutrients your system needs, which will help you stay in shape. Therefore, you can freely enjoy your delicious Croatian meals.
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