Gastronomy

Often, when we get to know a new country, people, or culture, we start by asking what the national cuisine is like and what pleasant surprises this new civilization can bring us. Montenegro is just such a culture, hidden like a pearl in the very heart of Europe, ready to surprise you, to surrender to all your senses, to offer you on its national table things that you are seeing for the first time, as well as those that you have seen before, but now in a new arrangement. One thing could never be faulted with Montenegrins – they are excellent hosts. Here, open doors await you, the best place at the table, and the best that your host can offer… Montenegrin national cuisine opens its doors to you – taste the tradition…

The national Montenegrin cuisine was primarily influenced by Central European, Austrian, but also Eastern, especially Turkish cuisine. What has not changed in Montenegro is that people still live and eat slowly. On the coast, Mediterranean dishes and seafood are mainly represented, which are prepared in domestic olive oil. The most famous are grilled fish, grouper, moray, cuttlefish and other fish stews. Swiss chard, polenta, and salad are also served. Along with traditional dishes from the mountainous and continental parts - kačamak and cicvara, you won't go wrong if you order lamb and potatoes under a grill. In the village of Njeguši, at the foot of Lovćen, you will eat the best prosciutto, cheese, kastradina (dried sheep meat) and sausages - thanks to the sea and mountain air and the wood used for drying. Strong local drinks are drunk - grape brandy, pear and quality wines - Vranac or Krstač. Full of contrasts and diversity, it holds on to tradition but also finds and paves the way for new “trendy” offerings from various world cuisines. Thus, today's Montenegro has not been spared by other foreign influences. Almost all restaurants feature Italian, French, Mexican, Greek, Spanish, Chinese and many other cuisines.

Montenegro is a country rich in tradition and culture, natural resources and good hosts. In this beautiful, diverse country, one thing is for sure - you will eat well. Whether you opt for some of the seafood specialties on the coast or try some of the traditional dishes inland, your impression will certainly be positive. Montenegrin cuisine was created under the influence of many traditions and cultures, mostly Mediterranean and Ottoman. Montenegrins are hospitable people and if they invite you for lunch or dinner, they will prepare the meal with a lot of love.

Although Montenegrin specialties vary by region, there are some key traditional dishes that you should try, perhaps one of the most famous is kačamak. Kačamak is a dish made from corn and wheat flour, served with cheese and milk, and is a popular dish among Montenegrins. Then there is the inevitable Njeguški prosciutto and sausages, from the surrounding areas of Cetinje. They are prepared from high-quality meat that requires special attention. It is dried on oak for several months. It is served with Njeguški dried cheese and homemade grape brandy - Loza. Njeguška sausage is dried in the same way, which resulted in extremely tasty sausages.

One of the favorite local dishes is raštan, a cabbage dish with white potatoes and spices. Montenegrins also love boiled dishes and soups are included in every lunch. Thick Montenegrin soups are made from noodles, vegetables or potatoes. An interesting variation includes the use of nettle. Almost all soups include the use of fresh meat, so they are rich and nutritious. One of the specialties that we recommend trying in restaurants with traditional cuisine is Montenegrin lamb in milk. This dish is a specialty in Montenegro. To serve eight people, two kilograms of meat are needed, which are then cooked in milk. While potatoes and various spices such as pepper and bay leaf are added during cooking. This dish is also served on festive occasions.

There are many dishes that are specific to Podgorica, but Popeci are by far the favorite among the locals. This is a meal made from pork fillet and is interestingly decorated. What you need to do is wrap a piece of cheese or old 'kajmak' and a piece of 'prsuta' in a steak made from veal. This is then deep-fried, and you will get a dish that has a rich and juicy interior and a crispy and delicious exterior.

Montenegrins also love grilled food. For example, juicy kebabs or kebabs and grilled meat, pljeskavica, which they combine perfectly with onions, are everyone's favorite. These two dishes are popular with young people and can be found on the menu of fast food restaurants in Montenegro.

Each meal includes a salad. Balkan salad, which is famous and popular not only in the Balkans, but also in our country, consists of slices of cucumbers and tomatoes. It is served with plenty of grated cheese, which is a high-quality Balkan cheese.

When it comes to sweet delights, one of the most famous dishes in Montenegro are priganice. These small airy donuts are prepared with flour, water, oil, salt and sugar and are traditionally served with honey, but priganice can also be eaten as a savory dish. You can also enjoy low-calorie fresh or dried fruit or slightly more complex, high-calorie and tasty treats: fritters (served with cheese, jam or honey), pancakes, baklava, tulumbe, krempitas, champitas and strudels.