Top 10 culinary specialities in Dubrovnik

This Croatian town and municipality has a lot to offer in terms of food and indulgence. The town’s inhabitants are renowned for their love of tasty dishes based on fresh fish and vegetables, accompanied by delicious glasses of wine to wash it all down. In other words, it’s the perfect place for pesco-vegetarians and vegetarians! But for meat eaters, don’t go just yet! Dubrovnik is also home to many meat dishes that will make your carnivorous heart skip a beat. The great thing about this cuisine, often described as Mediterranean, is that it offers you a multitude of varied choices with meals that are both healthy and well-balanced. So, shall we explore all that? Let’s get down to business!

What to eat in Dubrovnik

1. Pork and Sauerkraut Stew

Dubrovnik’s multiculturalism is legendary. So you’ll find dishes from neighbouring countries in this ranking, such as pork and sauerkraut stew, which originated in Hungary. This hot stew is one of Croatia’s culinary trends, and is very popular in the city of Dubrovnik. Tender pork and slightly sour cream sweeten the crunchy sauerkraut, with onions and a drizzle of olive oil. It’s sure to fill you up and put a smile on your face!

2. The Green Vegetable Jardiniere

Vegetables take centre stage! Discover this feast of carrots, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, peas… Cooked with fresh produce from around the city, it’s a light dish that will help you reconcile with certain vegetables that you may have disliked as a child. Vegetable jardinière tends to thrill your taste buds while providing vitamins and a significant nutritional boost. Once you’ve tasted them, you’re sure to be in for a real treat!

3. Octopus salad

If you’ve rarely tasted octopus in your life, then this trip to Dubrovnik will give you the chance to eat the region’s good old crunchy octopus salad. Famous throughout the country, this Croatian speciality originated a very long time ago. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, but is mainly made up of pieces of octopus and olive oil (which, by the way, accompanies many Croatian dishes). Very aromatic and slightly spicy, due to the various herbs that accompany the dish, you can also enjoy it with tomatoes and potatoes. Exquisite.

4. Grilled sardines

We know that many of you avoid eating sardines (because of the breath they can give you). But you should know that sardines are one of the most satiating (and inexpensive) fish, packed with protein and healthy nutrients. Packed with calcium, this dish is a speciality of restaurants in Dubrovnik, as well as Croatian fishermen. With potatoes and a small salad on the side, it’s sure to be a taste explosion in your mouth!

5. Rožata

This medieval dessert is very popular around the Adriatic Sea and has its origins in the city of Dubrovnik. If you’re wondering what’s in it? A bit like a normal crème brûlée: essentially milk, sugar and eggs. Topped with caramel sauce, the Ragusans (inhabitants of Dubrovnik) like to enjoy it with red fruit. Cooked very slowly in a bain-marie, it’s a sweet treat that will stay in your mind for a long time, and in the recesses of your stomach that get nostalgic at the mere thought of it. Yummy!

6. The Walnut Roll

Better known as ‘orehnjača’, this is a must-try that you’ll find absolutely everywhere in Croatia, and Dubrovnik is no exception! It’s usually a dish that locals like to eat on special occasions, such as traditional celebrations or birthdays. It’s amazing what you can do with dough, sugar, milk, cinnamon and a few nuts! This little roll is so pleasing to the eye and the tempting smell intoxicates you.

7. The Brudet

If there were to be one cult fish dish that the whole of Dubrovnik had to endorse as a must-try, it would undoubtedly be the Brudet. It’s a harmonious fish stew with a thousand and one flavours. Very easy to prepare, you’ll find different varieties of fish from the Adriatic Sea on your plate, with fresh tomatoes and herbs adding a lovely colour to this thick soup. It’s an invigorating hot dish to enjoy in the evening, tempting you to plunge headlong into a sweet dream lulled by the city’s calm and peaceful night.

8. Quince cake

Originally from Denmark, this moist cake is a favourite with young and old alike! Usually baked with apples, Ragusans like to add quinces, whose natural acidity enhances the flavour. These are wrapped in a creamy pastry and eaten straight from the oven! This is typically the kind of food you’ll find in the town’s local bakeries, and can be enjoyed with a delicious coffee in hand, a cup of tea, or even a glass of wine.

9. Dubrovnik wine

The wines of the Dubrovnik region are among the oldest: according to experts, it was the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans who first cultivated grapes in ancient times. A number of amphorae (containers used to transport wine) have been found in the sea, proving that many crossings containing litres of wine took place at sea. White wine, red wine, these sweet nectars are to be tried at all costs. Above all, we recommend you try the “Plavac Mali”, whose intense berry colour has earned it a place among the region’s top wines.

10. La Buzara

We end this ranking with a final dish based on mussels. Typical of Dalmatia, Buzara is unanimously acclaimed in Dubrovnik! Shrimps and other shellfish are generally used in this dish. What makes it special? As well as the olive oil and breadcrumbs added, your dish will contain a small amount of seawater from the various shellfish used in the recipe. Paired with a glass of white wine, it’s even better!