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What to eat in Serbia? Top 7 Serbian Meat Products

Last update: Wed Feb 26 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Serbian Meat Product Types

01

Sausage/Salami

SREM DISTRICT, Serbia
4.5
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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.

02

Sausage/Salami

BAČKI PETROVAC, Serbia
4.5
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Petrovački kulen is a traditional sausage originating from Bački Petrovac, hence the name. The sausage is made from pork, and the only additions include hot paprika and salt. However, some producers still use garlic and cumin in the production process.


A whole pig is commonly used to produce Petrovački kulen, usually with a ratio of 80% meat to 20% back fat. This meat product has a strong Slovakian culinary influence because they moved to Petrovac in the late 18th century. It's recommended to serve this spicy sausage sliced and paired with homemade bread and local cheese.

03

Dry-cured Ham

UŽICE, Serbia and  one more region
4.5
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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. 
04
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Pirotska peglana kobasica or Pirot ironed sausage is made with the meat of older animals such as sheep, goats, and donkeys. Beef is also commonly used, and while the ratio of different types of meat has never been strictly defined, pork is never used.


The sausage is flavored with a combination of different spices, and even though they are a secret of every individual producer, it is known that garlic and crushed pepper are frequently used, because this sausage should be hot, or at least slightly spicy. 
05

Dry-cured Ham

ZLATIBOR DISTRICT, Serbia
4.3
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Zlatiborska pršuta is a traditional smoked ham hailing from the mountainous region of Zlatibor, and it is usually associated with the village of Mačkat. Following a century-old method of preparation, this meat specialty is typically made with the highest-quality beef or pork that is salted, then cold-smoked and air-dried.


The whole process usually lasts for about a month, and during this time, the unique climate and terrain of the Zlatibor Mountains, as well as the beech wood used for smoking, infuse the meat with a distinctive, rich flavor and a pleasant aroma. This smoked meat is dark brown to red on the outside and dark red on the inside. 
06

Pork Rinds

SERBIA and  10 more regions
3.8
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Čvarci or ocvirki is a traditional specialty that's popular in Southeastern Europe and the Balkans. This variety of pork rinds or cracklings is usually homemade, and it's made by thermally extracting fat from the lard. The lard is usually cut into blocks and fried in its own fat until it melts away and tough and crispy pork rind remain in the pot.


During the process, čvarci are constantly stirred with big spoons, and milk is often added in order for them to obtain the color of caramel. Salt is typically added to the mixture, while some cooks like to add garlic or onions to the mixture. Čvarci are typically made in late autumn or winter, often during the pig slaughter, and they're usually enjoyed as a snack, served with bread and raw onions and paired with beer or rakija on the side. 
07

Sausage/Salami

SREM DISTRICT, Serbia
3.8
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Sremska salama is a cold-smoked Serbian sausage that originates from the area of Srem. It is traditionally made with a combination of ground pork, beef, and pork back bacon. Typical flavorings include salt, black pepper, paprika (both mild and hot), and garlic, although ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom are also traditionally used.


The seasoned ground meat mixture is usually stuffed into natural casings (clean pork intestines), and the sausages then go through a process of cold-smoking, drying, and aging, which typically lasts for 42 days. This traditional sausage is usually enjoyed thinly sliced as a meze dish, a cold appetizer, or a savory snack. 

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Serbian Meat Products