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
MOST ICONIC Perkelt
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Pasulj is a popular Serbian bean soup that is traditionally prepared with white beans. The beans are usually simmered with sausage, bacon, or ham, and vegetables such as onions and carrots. Paprika, bay leaves, and garlic are commonly used as seasonings in the soup.
Pasulj is a typical representative of Serbian comfort food, and it is also very popular throughout the Balkans, especially in the neighboring countries. It is recommended to serve the dish with some crusty bread or sliced raw onions on the side.
MOST ICONIC Pasulj
Čorbast pasulj is a popular Serbian dish made with soaked beans, onions, carrots, paprika, garlic, and bay leaves. Dried or smoked meat and ribs are common additions to čorbast pasulj in order to make it more flavorful and to give the dish a fragrant, smokey aroma.
This bean stew is typically flavored with parsley and pepper after it has been cooked. When served, it is recommended to pair it with various cuts of meat or meatballs. Čorbast pasulj was a staple dish in the Yugoslavian army due to ease of preparation and its nutritive value.
MOST ICONIC Čorbast pasulj
Svadbarski kupus or wedding cabbage is a traditional dish consisting of sour cabbage, onions, paprika, bay leaves, pepper, and meat such as pork, veal, lamb, and bacon. The combination of these ingredients is slowly simmered in a clay pot over hot coals.
It is said that the longer it cooks, the more flavor it will have, especially if reheated the next day. The dish is typically served at weddings and similar large feasts.
MOST ICONIC Svadbarski kupus
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Sataraš is a vegetable stew made with a combination of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and parsley. The ingredients are first fried, then seasoned with salt and pepper and gently stewed. It is recommended to use a wide pan while preparing the dish so that the liquid evaporates more quickly, while the vegetables retain the desired shape and texture.
Sataraš can be eaten hot or cold. It can be served on its own or as an accompaniment to fried meat and fish dishes. In Croatia, when sataraš was served in the past, the head of the family would sometimes ask for a sunny-side-up egg or two to be placed on top of the dish (making the meal non-vegan with his request).
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Fiš paprikaš (or hal paprikas in Hungary, with the addition of sour cream) is a traditional stew cooked in a big cauldron over an open fire. This spicy fish stew is traditionally made with a variety of freshwater fish such as catfish, starlet, pike, and carp.
The stew is heavily flavored with large amounts of the region's staple – ground red paprika, which can range from mild to very hot. Fiš paprikaš is often served with homemade noodles, and it is so popular in the region that there are numerous fiš cooking competitions organized throughout the year.
MOST ICONIC Fiš paprikaš
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Medvjeđi gulaš (bear goulash) is a traditional dish from the Balkans, particularly popular in countries like Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Medvjeđi gulaš is made using bear meat, which is slow-cooked with onions, garlic, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, and a mix of spices like paprika, similar to other goulash dishes.
The long cooking process tenderizes the bear meat, which can be quite gamey and tough. It is typically served with polenta, potatoes, gnocchi or bread. Since bear meat is not commonly available everywhere, this dish is considered a delicacy and is usually enjoyed in regions where bear hunting is legal and regulated.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.