Pazarske mantije is a Serbian dish originating from Novi Pazar. This dish resembles the Bosnian burek in flavor, but the shape is quite different – it's shaped into small spheres that are arranged in a baking pan and baked together.
The dough is first stretched, brushed with butter, then stuffed with ground beef, salt, pepper, onions, and a bit of oil. Once stuffed, the dough is shaped into small balls, arranged in a pan, then baked, traditionally in old furnaces which give them their unique flavor and aroma.
Mantije are usually accompanied by yogurt that's poured over them and eaten while still hot.
This delicacy consists of a traditional flatbread (lepinja) that is cut in half, coated in thick cream (kajmak), and topped with an egg. The combination is shortly baked and should be doused with a mixture of warm meat drippings, which is locally known as pretop.
Komplet can be loosely translated as with everything in it, and is traditionally associated with Užice and Zlatibor. It is believed to have originated sometime before WWII, and the name was officially registered by Dragan Lazić, a current owner of the bakery Kod Šuljage in Užice.
Leskovački roštilj refers to a traditional method of grilling meat which is considered the highest form of barbecue art in Serbia and beyond. Hailing from Leskovac, the technique, according to local belief, is thought to have been brought over from the Caucasus via Turkey, Greece, and Macedonia hundreds of years ago.
Although the exact preparation of the meat remains a secret known only to Leskovac barbecue masters, what is generally known is that the ground mixture traditionally consists of beef that is chopped, ground (first coarsely and then finely), seasoned, and allowed to sit for at least 48 hours before cooking.
Originating from Leskovac, Serbia, leskovački voz is a popular barbecued meat dish that can also be considered a feast. Here's why – it consists of a variety of meat dishes and sides, and each meat dish is followed by another one. Typical dishes of leskovački voz include čevapčići, pljeskavica, stuffed pork loin, leskovački uštipci, mućkalica, and sausages.
The name of the dish means Leskovac train, which only stops once you tell the staff that you can't eat any more. On the side, there is usually lepinja flatbread, gravče na tavče, and various fresh salads.
Sremski kulen is a traditional type of kulen sausage originating from the Srem area. This meat product is made from pork, salt, and red hot paprika powder. The mixture is stuffed into natural pork casings and it's then smoked and dried for a few months before consumption.
Once sliced, the cross-section should have a mosaic-like appearance and mustn't fall apart. The aromas are smoky and pleasant, while the flavor is pleasantly spicy and not too salty. It's recommended to serve it sliced with slices of bread and wine on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Kulen
Užička pršuta is a variety of smoked ham that has been traditionally prepared in the mountainous district of Zlatibor, namely in Čajetina, Užice, and Nova Varoš municipalities. This meat specialty came to be known as užička pršuta because it used to be sold in Užice along many other regional products at the time.
Beef, pork, and mutton can be used for the preparation of this meat product, although the most traditional is smoked beef meat, which is known as užička goveđa pršuta in Serbia. The finest beef pieces from parts of the legs, tenderloins, sirloins, and the low end of the back of 4 to 6-year-old oxen are salted, then smoked with dry beech wood, and dried in the cool mountain air.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
One of the staples of traditional Turkish cuisine, sarma consists of a filling that is snugly surrounded by leaves or leafy vegetables. There are numerous versions of this dish but the mixture typically combines ingredients such as minced meat, rice or bulgur, various herbs, seasonings, red pepper, paprika, ground sumac, or tomato sauce, while the typical wrapping usually includes vine, cabbage, or sauerkraut leaves, or a variety of leafy vegetables such as collard greens and swiss chard.
Having its roots in the Ottoman Empire, sarma is also traditionally consumed in the Balkans, the countries of Central Europe, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East. Although it is commonly enjoyed as a filling lunch or dinner (typically during the winter season), sarma is often prepared on special occasions and holidays.
MOST ICONIC Sarma
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Burek sa sirom is a phyllo pastry that is round or coil-shaped and filled with a mixture of cheese and eggs. The dough is made with flour, salt, and water (and perhaps a bit of oil) and stretched into translucent sheets. The sheets of phyllo dough are stacked in a large tray, and each sheet is sprinkled with oil or oil and mineral water and spread with the cheese and egg filling.
Still, you might have heard that burek can only be called burek if it's filled with meat. That is, if you live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but not everyone does, nor is burek really Bosnian – in fact, it has Turkish origins. In Bosnia, burek (with meat) and other types of similar pies such as sirnica (cheese) and krumpiruša (potatoes) are usually rolled into a coil, while Croatians and Serbs have a more relaxed approach – burek can be round and cut into quarters, or rolled into a coil – both shapes are good, and both can be called burek sa sirom (when filled with cheese, of course).
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Pörkölt is Hungary's national stew, its name derived from the word pörkölni, meaning to roast or singe. The stew is made from meat such as beef, lamb, pork, or chicken, simmered in a red sauce with lots of onions, garlic, and paprika powder.
It is traditionally served with dumplings, boiled potatoes, or pasta, and it is recommended to pair it with a Hungarian fruit brandy. Pörkölt's history is closely linked to the traditional Hungarian goulash, as both dishes were originally prepared as peasant meals that made hefty use of powdered paprika.
VARIATIONS OF Perkelt
Bela čorba is a traditional soup that's popular in Serbia. It's made with a combination of chicken breast meat (locally called belo meso), eggs, potatoes, onions, flour, carrots, parsley, and seasonings. Some versions also include a scoop of sour cream that's added to the plate when the dish is served.
This soup is traditionally eaten as a first course, but during the summer it can also be served as the main course for lunch. If it's prepared as the main course, the dish will contain more potatoes and it will usually be served with a fresh cabbage salad on the side.
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