An inevitable part of your stay on the Croatian coast is getting to know the
gastronomic offer of the Mediterranean. Dalmatia offers a handful of restaurants and taverns where you can enjoy the
irresistible flavours of the Mediterranean.
Mediterranean seasonings are so popular and valued that there is festival called "
Taste the Mediterranean" that takes place in
Split every year. Croatia, along with countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Morocco and Cyprus, is on the
UNESCO list of countries whose Mediterranean diet is recognised as an
intangible cultural heritage of humanity. "Taste the Mediterranean" is a cultural event where the Mediterranean diet is presented through numerous exhibitions, workshops and tastings. Really worth a visit, isn’t it?
In order to introduce the
Dalmatian cuisine to you, in this text we will introduce the traditional seasonings of the Mediterranean, but also dishes that you must try during your stay in one of our
villas in Dalmatia, whether you
prepare them yourself or you decide to order them during visits to local restaurants.
Rosemary
The first seasoning on our list is a popular seasoning when making
soups, steamed vegetables, meat, roasts and soft cheeses. It is particularly widely used in fatty dishes and heavier sauces. In Dalmatia, it is almost an indispensable part of fish dishes with olive oil. During your stay in Dalmatia, be sure to order
cheese with olive oil and rosemary as a starter!
Oregano
As soon as you smell oregano, you'll instantly be in the mood for some
homemade Mediterranean pizza. This seasoning is not only an indispensable addition when preparing pizza, but also an
addition to omelets, sauces, dishes with tomatoes, lamb or vegetables. Our first choice is the classic Margarita with oregano.
Basil
This is a
sweet smelling seasoning and is used to prepare vegetable soups, sauces, noodles, meat dishes, fish and seafood, as well as salad dressings. Our suggestion is
pasta in tomato sauce with the addition of basil.
Thyme
This seasoning has a very
spicy, slightly bitter taste and is used in Mediterranean cuisine as an addition to vegetables, various meat dishes, pies, fish, salads, sauces and soups. Like many other intense spices, thyme is
used to soothe fatty dishes and is often combined with other spices such as parsley, marjoram, oregano and bay leaf. To experience the aroma of thyme, we recommend a traditional
“pasticada” with gnocchi.
Bay leaf
Bay laurel is an evergreen shrub and dried bay leaves with a
warm aroma are used as a seasoning. Since bay leaves release a strong aroma when cooked, it is recommended to use it in dishes that are cooked longer, such as
stews or goulash soups. While in Croatia, you must definitely try a spicy beef stew!
Saffron
Saffron is known as the
most expensive spice in the world. Up to 80000 flowers are required for just 500 g of this spice, which can be recognised by its intense red color. This spice is a favourite addition in the preparation of various delicacies in Mediterranean countries. In Croatia you will encounter this flavour most often when you try dishes made from rice, chicken, fish and seafood, mushrooms and asparagus. Our recommendation is
risotto with saffron.
Lavender
When walking through Dalmatian cities, you will surely feel this
fragrant plant in the air. Lavender is not only used as a room freshener, but is also as a popular seasoning in the preparation of many Mediterranean dishes. It is most commonly used in the preparation of
lavender oil, which is very popular in aromatherapy. However, the leaves and petals of this flower are also added to salads, soups and other cooked dishes. In contrast to the other seasonings we mentioned, this plant is, in
combination with sugar, a popular addition when making jams or ice cream. Cool yourself down with
lavender ice cream on your next visit to Dalmatia!
Mint
Finally, we present a plant with a
pleasant, aromatic scent. Mint is known as a medicinal plant and is most often used for making
tea or as an addition to
meat and wild game dishes. Mint has a refreshing menthol scent. If you have never tasted this seasoning in a meat dish, you have definitely tried it in one of the
most famous cocktails - Mojito!
Martina Pozgajec
14.1.2022
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
