Slovenian cuisine

There is no such thing as a single, uniform, distinct Slovenian cuisine. In the opinion of some experts^[who?], there are more than 40 distinct cuisines in a country, whose main distinguishing feature is a great variety and diversity of land formation, climate, wind movements, humidity, terrain and history.

In the northeast there is the expanse of the Pannonian plain, in the east, the green and hilly Lower Carniola region, in the south the Karst and the Adriatic coastline, in the north-west the Alps, the marshes and the wine producing hills of Styria. All these factors influenced the development of the great variety and range represented by Slovenian cooking. To give some examples: crabs are found only in the rivers of Inner Carniola, pršut (Karst leg ham) can be dried only by the winds of the Karst and the coast.

In addition, Slovenia is a borderland country. It borders on four states with established and distinct national cuisines, namely Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. Slovenian cuisine is divided into town, farmhouse, cottage, castle, parsonage, and monastic Slovenian cuisine. The first Slovenian cookbook was published in Slovenian by Valentin Vodnik in 1799. Many Slovenian dishes are hard to digest. They are often based on the use of animal fat; ocvirki, zaseka, bacon, lard, drippings, mushrooms, pork, flour-based dishes, potatoes, beans, butter, cream and eggs. For example: 24 eggs go into Gorenjska prata.

Foods and dishes

Soups are a relatively recent invention in Slovenian cuisine, but there are over 100. Earlier there were various kinds of porridge, stew and one-pot meals. The most common soups without meat were lean and plain. A typical dish is aleluja, a soup made from turnip peels and a well-known dish during fasting. The most common meat soups are beef and chicken soup. Meat-based soups are served only on Sundays and feast days; more frequently in more prosperous country or city households. Slovenians are familiar with all kinds of meat, but it is generally served only on Sundays and feast days. Pork was popular and common everywhere in Slovenia. Poultry also often featured. There is a wide variety of meats in different parts of Slovenia. In White Carniola and the Slovenian Littoral they eat mutton and goat. On St. Martin's Day people feast on roasted goose, duck, turkey, and chicken. In Lower Carniola and Inner Carniola, they eat roasted dormouse, quail and even hedgehog. Until the great crab plague in the 19th century, crab was a source of income and often on the menu in Lower Carniola and Inner Carniola.

Dandelion is Slovenian wild lettuce, which has been gathered in the fields for centuries. Even today dandelion and potato salad is highly valued. Since it can be picked only for a short time in early spring, much is made of it. Families go on dandelion-picking expeditions, and pick enough for a whole week. In the Middle Ages people ate acorns and other forest fruits, particularly in times of famine. Chestnuts were valued, and served as basis for many outstanding dishes. Walnuts and hazelnuts are used in cakes and desserts. Wild strawberries, loganberries, blackberries, blueberries were a rich source of vitamins. Mushrooms have always been popular, and Slovenians liked picking and eating them. There are many varieties. Honey was used to a considerable extent. Medenjaki, which come in different shapes are honey cakes, which are most commonly heart-shaped and are often used as gifts.

Traditional Slovenian Dishes

Ajdovi žganci with cracklings

• Ajdovi žganci
• Belokranjska povitica
• Bujta repa
• Funšterc
• Kmečka pojedina
• Kranjska klobasa
• Matevž
• Mavželj
• Mežerli
• Mineštra (minestrone)
• Obara
• Pirh
• Potica (nut roll)
• Prekmurska gibanica
• Ričet
• Špehovka
• Vipavska jota

Soups and stews

• Bakalca
• Bobiči
• Bograč
• Jota, Vipavska kisla juha, Vipava sour soup
• Mineštra
• Prežganka is Slovenian national soup made of flour, caraway seeds and beaten eggs^[1]
• Šara
• Štajerska kisla juha is a sour soup that originates from Lower Styria. It's prepared at the feast of koline (pig slaughter) from the pork pettitoes and parts of the pig's head.

Vegetarian dishes

• Ajdovi žganci, žganci is a dish in Slovenian and Croatian cuisine. It's similar to polenta, although prepared with finer grains. Balthasar Hacquet (1739–1815) mentions that žganci was served with sauerkraut in Upper Carniola.^[2]
• Aleluja
• Bezgovo cvrtje
• Čompe
• Fritaja is a Croatian and Slovenian dish. Both are specialties in Istria. They are especially common in the springtime, as at that time there are many plants and vegetables such as wild asparagus, wild hops, herbs, chicory, tomatoes, young garlic sprouts and spices available to add to egg^[3]. Fritaje are many times prepared throughout the year with ham, mushrooms, sausages, bacon, white or red wine.
• Frtalja
• Idrijski žlikrofi
• Jabolčna čežana
• Kaša is a cereal commonly eaten in Eastern Europe. At least a thousand years old, kasha is one of the oldest known dishes in Eastern European Slavic cuisine.^[4]
• Krapi
• Maslovnik
• Matevž
• Medla
• Mešta
• Močnik is made from cereals such as buckwheat, maize, wheat, millet, rye, or oats in either milk, cream or soured cream.
• Njoki
• Smojka
• Štruklji

Meat dishes

• Budelj
• Bujta repa
• Bunka (food)
• Furešna
• Jetrnice (liver sausage)
• Kranjska klobasa (Carniola sausage)
• Krvavice (black pudding)
• Mavta
• Mavželj
• Meso v tünki
• Mežerli
• Povijaka
• Prata
• Pršut (prosciutto)
• Šivanka
• Švacet
• Vampi (Tripe)
• Zaseka
• Želodec (stomach)

Desserts and pastries

Prekmurska or međimurska gibanica

• Bobi
• Buhteljni
• Cmoki
• Hajdinjača
• Krhki flancati
• Krofi
• Kvasenica
• Miške
• Mlinci
• Ocvirkovica
• Pinca
• Pogača
• Posolonka
• Povitica or Potica (nut roll)
• Prekmurska gibanica^[5] (Pastry from Prekmurje)
• Šarkelj
• Škofjeloški kruhek
• Špehovka (bacon roll)
• Vrtanek
• Zlevanka

Drinks

• Brinjevec
• Češnjevec (cherry brandy)
• Cviček (Slovenian wine from Dolenjska region)
• Kislo mleko (sour milk)
• Šabesa
• Slivovka, Slivovica
• Tolkovec
• Tropinovec
• Pinjenec (kefir)

References

1. ^ Traditional slovenian cookery. Adamlje Slavko, 1997. Mladinska knjiga. ISBN 86-11-15044-99
2. ^ Taste Slovenia. Bogataj Janez, 2007. Rokus Gifts. ISBN 978-961-6531-39-9
3. ^ Taste Slovenia. Bogataj Janez, 2007. Rokus Gifts. ISBN 978-961-6531-39-9
4. ^ Molokhovets, Elena. Classic Russian Cooking. Indiana University Press, 1998. Page 331.
5. ^ (Croatian) Međimurska gibanica (recept na coolinarika.com)

• Milhench, Heike (2007.) "Flavors of Slovenia: Food and Wine from Central Europe's Hidden Gem." Hippocrene Books Inc. ISBN 0-7818-1170-8