Discussing the cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina is quite a demanding task, because a lot of different cultures have left their marks in this small country over time. Let´s just mention some of the peoples who, during the past centuries, were ruling the area: Celts, Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Turks, Germans, Austrians, Hungarians, and so on. Even the Crusaders passed through Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If we suppose that each of these cultural influences brought with them one of their traditional recipes – just one dish –  we get a rich mosaic of influences, which has also been shaped by different religious traditions.

Central European and Mediterranean impacts are very important in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Eastern or Italian culinary influences. The cuisine has also been strongly influenced by “oriental” cultures. It is difficult to talk about Bosnian or Herzegovinian cuisine in particular – the range of different meals is enormous.

Moreover, the country is of course influenced by its landscape. There are hundreds of rivers, many lakes and a coast line. The fertility of the soil, the climatic conditions and the proximity towards the sea have a high impact on the seasonal fruits of the region and the way of cooking them. The Herzegovinian kitchen often uses steamed vegetables, while in the Bosnian part food is prepared in a time-consuming way, using a lot of meat.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is especially famous for its barbeque specialties. The variety of combinations for the barbeque as well as the different sorts of meats used, are astonishing. Dishes prepared at the barbeque include: sausages, schnitzels, kidneys, livers, T-bone steaks, shish kebab and white kidneys, to mention only a few. Beef, calf, pork, lamb, chicken, different sorts of sea and river fish and shells, vegetables and mushrooms are also commonly used. By combining all these ingredients, the result is an amazingly long list of dishes that are cooked, baked, fried or served fresh.

Sweets and desserts speak of a heritage of different traditions: you can taste for example delicious Hazelnut cake as well as halva, baklava, walnut-stuffed apples known as tufahija, doughnuts, or stuffed dry plums cooked in port wine. All in all, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a very interesting culinary tradition, with something for all tastes. It could please even the demands of the most refined gourmands.

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Planning to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina? Read the restaurant tips of our writer, Mladen Jelicic-Troko:

"We have a large number of excellent restaurants which serve delicious dishes. I would personally recommend the following places."

Sarajevo:

“Avlija”

Avlija is a garden restaurant surrounded by a tall wall, hidden from curious eyes. The restaurant was carefully sheathed with laced structure of white mats that are framed with a green grass mats featuring discrete music. They serve home made food such as large steaks, doughnuts with sour cream, cheeses, salads and large choice of wines and beers.

“Kod Kibeta”

This is a restaurant which serves typical, traditional Bosnian cuisine, such as delicious pies, salads, roasted lamb, klepe (a sort of Bosnian ravioli stuffed with minced meat and served with sour cream and garlic). Somuni (traditional bread), home made pear and plum grappa, beers and wines are served.

Mostar

“Libro”

This place looks like your Grandmother’s dining room. It is filled with the genuine spirit of hospitality. The restaurant cooks with recipes from the old, traditional kitchen: Huge portions of salads, pickles, soups, all kinds of meat and even pickled eggplants are served. The specialty of the house is trout, which is highly recommendable.
Neum

“Humska kuca”

This pleasant and jolly place offers a huge terrace with a beautiful sea view and gives you the full Mediterranean feeling. The food served is mainly sea fruit, traditional recipes prepared the simple way, together with perfectly balanced ingredients of good quality and freshness. Squids, white and black risotto and shells of all kinds are served, as well as carpaccio with fresh shrimps. The restaurants also feature a long list of quality wines, mainly from Dalmatian and Herzegovinian vineyards.
Banja Luka

“Ognjište”

Ognjište is truly a temple of national food: sausages of horse meat, peppers stuffed with cheese and sour cream, calf “ispod saca” (steel cover, prepared on open fire), mac (sword) with four kinds of meat, smoked pork stuffed with sour cream. Not to forget the specialty of the house: kidney in milk is a dish that you could not find anywhere else.

Slatina (a small village near Banja Luka)

“Lovacki bar”

A Restaurant that offers a variety of prepared wild game and doughnuts baked with black flour and a delicious sour cream. They also offer snails with garlic and ingredients, hare’s fillet in hunter’s sauce, young boar with spruce and sweet and sour sauce.