Best Serbian Food: 55 Best Serbian Dishes And Traditional Food in Serbia To Try

Best Serbian Food: 55 Best Serbian Dishes And Traditional Food in Serbia To Try

We will write about the best Serbian food with the best 55 Serbian dishes. Serbian cuisine is not yet world-famous, but one thing is for sure, the food in Serbia is good! But there are also some Serbian dishes that are an authentic traditional food in Serbia to try and drinks in Serbia!

Serbian cuisine has a lot of Mediterranean influences and you can see a lot of crossovers with other popular cuisines like Greek, Turkish, Lebanese cuisine and more. You can have a budget for dishes in Serbia to try of €15-20 a day and it can already get you more than enough decent meals.

Food is an important part of the local culture. If you are interested in knowing more about the Balkan culture you need to know more about the local food here. Geographically, Serbia is located on the crossroads between the Middle East and Europe and thus you can see various cooking styles from these regions.

Read here best Serbia travel tips, the best Serbia sim card for tourist and how to get from Belgrade airport to city center

WHERE TO STAY IN SERBIA

You can sleep in a dorm room or a room for less than $10 USD while you can stay in a budget hotel for as low as $20-30 USD. There are so many to choose from depending on what type and how luxurious you want your stay to be starting from $50 USD.

Book your accommodations in Serbia through Agoda or Booking

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

Two of our favorite travel insurance: Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your HeymondoTravel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full comparison of Genki vs Safetywing Travel Insurance Review and the comparison Heymondo vs Genki

Best Serbian Food: Best Serbian Dishes And Traditional Food in Serbia To Try

TRADITIONAL SERBIAN FOOD AND BEST SERBIAN DISHES

Here in we look into the best Serbian food that you can try:

1. ĆEVAPI

Ćevapi is the most popular food in Serbia and the Balkans. Ćevapi is grilled meat made of pork, lamb or beef. Ćevapi is usually served in bread with ajvar sauce and more vegetables similar to pljeskavica. Cevapi is so delicious and I love it as favorite for Serbian cuisine.

2. PLJESKAVICA

Pljeskavica is a burger served inside bread in Serbia. Pljeskavica is the most popular street food in Serbia and you can add sauce, and vegetables to the meat (lamb, pork or beef). Prices are around €2.

3. Karadordeva Snicla (Karadjordje’s Schnitzel)

Karadordeva Snickla is one of the most popular Serbian dishes to try. Karadordeva Snickla is a fried bread cutlet that includes a rolled veal or pork steak stuffed with kajmak. The fried bread is served with roasted potatoes and tartar sauce. 

4. Prebranac

Prebranac is a traditional food in Serbia that you can also find in Hungary. Prebranac can be made in different ways it usually is a casserole of caramelized onions and white beans sprinkled with bay leaves and sweet Hungarian paprika for additional flavor.

5. CUFTE

Cufte is a popular dish to try in Serbia especially in winter time. Cufte is made of meatballs with a soup broth with onions and tomato sauce plus other species. You can eat cufte for lunch or dinner served with bread, salad or mashed potatoes.

6. Sopska Salad

Sopska Salad can be an option for vegetarian dishes in Serbia. Sopska Salad is made from onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and roasted peppers and sirene (white brine cheese) and parsley. Sopska Salad is generally dressed with sunflower oil and served as an appetizer.

7. Riblja Corba

Riblja Corba (a.k.a. Fisherman’s soup) is a fish broth that consists of fish trimmings mixed with fresh vegetables, green peppers, red onions and fresh tomatoes. Fresh ground paprika is added to Riblja Corba to bring in the local flavor.

8. Muckalica

Muckalica is a Serbian stew made great for winter time since is a warm dish. Mucklaica is made from mixed vegetables and cold leftover barbecued meat.

9. Svadbarski Kupus

Svadbarski Kupus is a traditional Serbian dish that is slow-cooked on coals and has a combination of cabbage, red onions, pepper, bay leaves, paprika, and meat such as bacon, pork, veal or lamb.

10. Gibanica

Gibanica is one of my favorite snacks to try in Serbia. Gibanica is made from cottage cheese and eggs, Gibanica is made in various sweet and savory flavors.

11. Urnebes

Urnebes is a traditional Serbian spread that you usually eat with bread. Urnebes is made from garlic, salted cheese, roasted paprika, cooked egg yolks and paprika oil. Urnebes is also served with hamburgers and other meat dishes.

12. Kajmak

Kajmak is a dairy product made by heating and fermenting the top condensed layer of milk. Kajmak is an appetizer served with delicious ajvar and slices of dry meat or on its own.

13. Mladi Sir (Cottage or Curd Cheese)

Mladi Sir is cottage cheese with low-fat milk and made in various households and available in various Serbian markets.

14. Kobasice (Serbian Sausages)

Kobasice in Serbian means sausages. Kobasice has a blend of beef and pork meat sprinkled with paprika, salt and black pepper and various local herbs.

15. SERBIAN MEZE 

Meze is one of the most popular snacks in Serbia to try. Meze is a mix of hot and cold appetizers usually served with drinks. Meze is a mix of Mediterranean food with bread, olive oil, humus, cheese and vegetables.

16. Cvarci

Cvarci is primarily made up of various pork cracklings. Cvarci is considered a winter food. Cvarci is generally eaten as a snack with a beer when joining your friends and family.

17. Djuvec

Djuvec is one of the most delicious in Serbian cuisine. Djuvec is a casserole that blends in all types of vegetables and meat and rice together. In some regions, a layer of pork is added then baked and caramelized to make it more delicious.

18. Pecenje

Pecenje is roasted meat. Pecenje includes the meat of lamb, goat or whole roasted pork. Pecenje can be eaten as a snack in Serbia or with salad as a side dish.

19. Punjene Paprike (Stuffed Paprikas)

Punjene Paprike a.k.a. stuffed paprikas include peppers that are stuffed with meat, rice and tomato sauce. The stuffing ingredient includes eggs, spices, salt, minced meat, tomato and rice. There are many variants of this dish across the Balkan region.

20. Skembici (Tripe Soup)

Skembici is a tripe soup mixed with vegetable stew and herbs. Skembici is generally served with boiled potatoes in Serbian cuisine.

21. Popara

Popara primarily includes mashed bread and milk. Popara has a neutral taste and therefore additional ingredients are added to give it a sweet or savory flavor.

22. Kiseli Kupus (Cabbage Casserole)

Kiseli Kupus is also known as sauerkraut Kiseli Kupus is a mix of fermented cabbage that is then cooked with various herbs and spices.

23. Pasulj Serbian Beans

Pasulj is a Serbian bean soup. Pasulj is made from white beans, pinto beans or kidney beans. Pasulj is served with smoked bacon and sausages and a dash of mixed vegetables like onions and carrots.

24. MOUSSAKA

Moussaka is a must Serbian food to try (also common in Greece). Moussaka is an eggplant- or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, in the Levant, Middle East and Balkans with many local and regional variations.

25. SARMA

Sarma is a popular dish in Serbia for winter time. Sarma wrapped rolls are made of cabbage with minced pork, rice and tomato sauce. If you like vegetarians you can make it without meat. Sarma is usually cooked at home for celebrations.

26. FIS PAPRIKAS

Fis Paprikas is a spicy fish stew made from a variety of freshwater fish such as catfish, starlet and pike. Fis paprikas stew is infused with fresh ground paprika that adds spiciness to the dish.

27. CORBA OD SPANACA

Corba od Spanaca is a homemade spinach soup. Corba od Spanaca has a mixture of vegetables like onions, carrots, primrose root, celery root, garlic and potatoes.

28. PULE (CHEESE)

Pule is one of the most popular Serbian cheese to try. Pule is a rare cheese that is made from 60% Balkan donkey milk and 40% goat milk.

29. PINDUR (CONDIMENT)

Pindur is also known as Pindjur in Serbia. Pindur is a summer spread that is primarily made up of traditional ingredients like tomatoes, red bell peppers, garlic, vegetable oil and salt.

30. Prsuta (Smoked Ham)

Prsuta is a dry-cured ham normally served uncooked. The curing process in Prsuta includes the use of sea salt and beech wood smoke. Prsuta is similar to Spanish Ham.

31. AJVAR

Ajvar is my favorite sauce to eat in Serbia and the Balkans. Ajvar is made of red pepper, olive oil and salt and I love eating it with bread. Prices are around €1-2 and you can find at supermarkets in the Balkans.

32. BUREK

Burek is one of the most popular breakfast in Serbia. Burek is a baked bread with cheese and it can be with meat or vegetarian with spinachs. You can see everywhere in the bakeries in Serbia and prices are for less than €1.

33. Knedle (Mashed Potato Dough Dumplings)

Knedle is a boiled potato dough dumpling that is filled with plums and apricots. Knedle is served as a side dish, main dish and a dessert as well.

FOOD IN SERBIA: DESSERTS

34. PALAČINKE

Palačinke is the Serbian pancake. Palačinke is so delicious and is usually made with Nutella and eaten for breakfast or dessert in Serbia.

35. VANILICE

Vanilice (a.k.a. little vanillas) is a Serbian bit-sized vanilla cookie. Vanilice is a sandwich of two cookies, vanilla and walnut with a dollop of apricot or rose jam in between.

36. Krofne

Krofne is Serbian doughnuts that hold a lot of cultural value. Krofne doughnuts in Serbia are made from milk, sugar, salt, eggs, and all-purpose flour.

37. Lepinja

Lepinja is a soft and light flatbread that is normally used with other main course food items.

38. ORASNICE

Orasnice is a horseshoe-shaped cookie made from egg whites, walnut and sugar. Orasnice are meringue cookies not too sweet and are ideal to be replaced as a dessert.

39. Cesnica (Round Bread)

Cesnica is a round loaf of bread. Cesnica is popular in Serbian cuisine as par of the Christmas celebrations in Serbian culture.

40. Pazarske Mantije

Pazarske Mantije is small sphere made from dough. Pazarske Mantije is mixed with butter, ground beef, salt, pepper and onions. Pazarske Mantije is usually accompanied by yogurt.

41. GLIKO

Gliko is a sweet made from fruit, nuts and sugar syrup. You can eat Gliko as a dessert with a spoon while drinking coffee or tea. Gliko is popular in the Balkan countries too.

42. BAKLAVA

Baklava is also popular in Serbia but maybe you know it as a Turkish dessert too. Baklava is baked and made of pistachios, butter and syrup. You will find in most of the bakeries in Serbia for affordable prices. Baklava tastes so sweet!

43. PROJA

Proja is made from baking powder, corn flour, sunflower oil, carbonated water and salt. In some variants of Proja, eggs and yogurt is also added.

44. BUNDEVARA (PUMPKIN PIE)

Bundevara is a flavorful Serbian pie made up of phyllo sheets filled with grated pumpkin, sugar and spices. Bundevara is served hot or cold with sprinkled powdered sugar on top.

45. USTIPCI (MEKIKE)

Ustipci is a doughnut-shaped fried dough ball. Ustipci can be eaten as a dessert or main course food in Serbia.

46. RASPBERRIES

In Serbia Raspberries are so delicious and you will find plenty of them. Serbia is one of the biggest exporters of raspberries in the world like Russia. If you visit Serbia in the right season you will enjoy them!

DRINKS IN SERBIA

47. RAKIJA

Rakija is the most popular drink in Serbia. Rakija usually serves as a shot. Rakija is made of fermented fruit and the alcohol is around 40-60%. When meeting locals they will always offer you handmade rakija at their place.

48. Vinjak

Vinjak is a light brown color brandy formerly known as Cognac. The alcohol goes through the wine distillation process and is aged for several months. It is mixed with distilled water while bottling to achieve 40% alcohol content by volume.

49. Pelinkovac

Pelinkovac is a bitter liqueur made from wormwood. Pelinkovac has a very bitter taste and contains 28% to 35% of alcohol content by volume.

50. Medovaca (Brandy)

Medovaca is a kind of brandy that is made by mixing 1 kilogram of honey and 7 kilograms of propolis into 4 liters of rakija (brandy). Medovaca brandy reflects a golden-yellow color and has an aftertaste of honey.

51. BEER

Serbian people love drinking beer, so it can be found everywhere. A beer is always a perfect partner with this traditional food in Serbia and snacks in Serbia.

52. COFFEE

Coffee anytime in Serbia. You will see in the bars having Turkish coffee in the morning and afternoon which is strong and unfiltered. Prices are around €1 in local coffee shops. In local homes in Serbia they will give you rakija to partner with the coffee.

53. Šumadija tea

Šumadija tea is one of the most common drinks in Serbia. Šumadija tea is a strong hot tea coming from fruits. Šumadija tea is good for partnering with desserts, sweets and also with snacks. You will see locals in Serbia drinking tea any time.

54. KVASS

Kvass is a traditional beverage made from black bread. Kvass is also popular in the Balkans, the Baltic countries, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.  You can find kvass as street food and prices are very cheap.

55. AYRAN IN SERBIA

Kind of Ayran in Serbia I loved so much. It’s fermented milk mixed with salt and yogurt so common in Easter countries in the Balkans, Bulgaria and Turkey. Perfect for breakfast and refreshing when the weather is hot in summer.

Hope you liked our Serbian food blog post. Let us know if we missed any food in Serbia and which one is your favorite in the list of Serbian dishes.

Happy Travels!