Kollpite or kullpite is a traditional pastry consisting of flour, warm water, and salt. The dough is rolled out or stretched into very thin dough sheets, which are then stacked on top of each other and drizzled with oil or melted butter in between each layer and on top.
Variations of this pastry also use yeast and sugar for the dough, and the pastry is baked until nicely colored and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Although it’s commonly filled with crumbled cheese, kollpite is often left plain, with nothing but oil or melted butter in between the layers.
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Petulla is a traditional snack and the Albanian version of fried dough. The dough is usually made with a combination of flour, yeast, milk, eggs, sugar, salt, and vegetable oil. Once mixed, the dough is left to rest, and it's then scooped out and dropped in hot oil in batches.
The dough balls are cooked on all sides for a few minutes until golden brown. The fried dough is drained on paper towels and it's then enjoyed with powdered sugar, honey, raspberry jam, or feta cheese for a salty kick.
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Hurmašica is a Bosnian treat prepared by dousing the pastry dough consisting of butter, eggs, sugar, and flour in lemon-flavored sugar syrup. Just like many other Bosnian dishes, this dessert also came from Türkiye, where its relative is the almost identical kalburabastı.
The distinctive top design of the cookie is achieved by pressing the pastry dough on a grater, while the ingredients can be modified to include desiccated coconut or walnuts. This sweet treat is baked throughout the year, although it is traditionally prepared for important religious holidays.
MOST ICONIC Hurmašica
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Kazanlak donuts are a specialty of the Bulgarian town of Kazanlak – also known as the City of roses. The donuts consist of eggs, flour, yogurt, milk, yeast, salt, sugar, and vanilla flavoring. After the dough has been fried in hot oil, Kazanlak donuts are typically dusted with powdered sugar or topped with honey, jam, or syrup, although they can be consumed without any toppings.
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This Bosnian dessert couples shredded kadayıf dough and a rich nut filling, which usually consists of chopped walnuts. Though there are rolled varieties, kadaif is typically layered, with the nut filling placed between the two layers of butter-coated kadayıf threads.
When baked, the dessert is doused in a thick lemon-flavored syrup that is occasionally enriched with cinnamon or cloves. Kadaif has its origins in Turkish culinary tradition, but it has been recognized as a signature Bosnian dessert. It is enjoyed on various special occasions and is best paired with strong Bosnian coffee.
MOST ICONIC Kadaif
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These traditional Slavonian pastries take their name from the Croatian word salo, meaning leaf lard. Typically filled with homemade apricot or plum preserves, salenjaci are traditionally made in wintertime, especially during the pig slaughter season when there is an abundance of fresh lard available in Slavonian households.
Besides leaf lard as the main ingredient, it is the method of folding the yeasted dough that is crucial in achieving the leaf-like appearance and texture of the so-called Croatian croissants. While they are still hot from the oven, salenjaci are dusted with icing sugar and eaten warm, though they will keep fresh and succulent for days.
Mucenici (lit. martyrs) are traditional Romanian pastries made from a sweet dough similar to that used for cozonac. They are shaped in the form of number 8, and are then boiled in water with sugar, cinnamon, and crushed walnuts, while modern variations may also employ desiccated coconut.
The name of this dish derives from the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, a group of Christian Roman soldiers who were drowned in a lake during the persecutions of Diocletian. It is said that the pastries embody the martyrs, while the water in which they are boiled represents the lake where they had drowned.
Scovergi is a traditional fried flatbread. Similar to the Hungarian lángos, the Romanian scovergi is usually made with a combination of flour, yogurt, yeast, eggs, salt, and oil. The flour, yogurt, eggs, salt, water, and yeast are mixed into a sticky dough that's left to rest in the fridge before it's rolled into circles and fried in hot oil on both sides over medium heat until golden.
The flatbreads are then typically arranged on a plate and covered with kitchen paper or cloth before serving so that they don't dry out and become too crisp. Scovergi are usually enjoyed as a snack, and they can also be sprinkled with grated cheese, if desired.
Bundevara is a flavorful Serbian pie consisting of phyllo sheets that are filled with grated pumpkin, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. The pie can be additionally enriched by the addition of raisins. It can be served either hot or cold, and it is recommended to sprinkle it with powdered sugar on top before consumption.
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Ružice or đul-pita is a Bosnian baklava variety made with yufka sheets that are filled with ground walnuts, melted butter, and raisins, if desired. The concoction is rolled, then cut into smaller pieces which are subsequently placed in the baking dish so that they resemble roses or rosebuds.
After ružice have been baked, they are doused in syrup consisting of water, sugar, and lemon juice. Due to the sweetness of this dessert, it is recommended to serve it with a cup of strong black coffee on the side.
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