Top 10 Dalmatian dishes to try on your Adventure SailWeek

So, You’ve booked your SailWeek this summer and already getting excited about it. What’s your sail Croatia gonna be like? Trust us, It’s going to be amazing.

The best way to get to know Croatia is by having some of the mouthwatering traditional food. If you are a foodie, this is a place for you. Croatian food in general is diverse, owing it to multicultural influences from the surrounding countries.

Dalmatian food was mostly influenced by one of the best cuisines in the world, Italian. If you like Italian, you’ll love Croatian. The main characteristic of Dalmatian food is that we only use fresh ingredients. That means we do everything from the scratch, no processed food allowed!

All of these dishes can be found in the restaurants on one of our SailWeek routes, Adventure SailWeek or Party SailWeek. Don’t hesitate to ask your skipper for recommendations.

1. DALMATIAN PROSCIUTTO AND CHEESE PLATTER

Let’s start from the starters. Dalmatian prosciutto or locally, simply called prsut is globally known delicacy as it’s cousins from Italy and Spain. It can be several years old and the meat is smoke or wind dried to become a tender delicacy. When you combine it with selection of best croatian cheese, olive oil and homemade bread you get a perfect starter.

Prosciutto and cheese platter is a traditional Dalmatian starter

2. OCTOPUS SALAD

With a prosciutto and cheese platter one of the most famous dalmatian starters. Finely chopped octopus combined with fresh tomatoes, parsley, garlic, onion, capers, olives, local olive oil and vinegar.

Octopus salad, a cold starter characteristic for coastal part of Croatia

3. STON OYSTERS

This gem can be found around peninsula Peljesac, near Korcula, one of the stops on our Adventure SailWeek. Freshly harvested oysters from a little coastal town Ston are renowned in this part of Europe. Fresh, grilled, fried, oyster soup or risotto. Whatever you choose you won’t regret.

4. STEWED MUSSELS – BUZARA

Simply prepared mussels stew with white wine, parsley, garlic, tomatoes and breadcrumbs. Light and delicious. Goes perfectly with Dalmatian white wines.

Mussel stew can be found in many traditional tavernas

5. BLACK RISOTTO

Cuttlefish risotto is also a must try while sailing Croatia. It’s a dish that can be found in all the menus along the coast. Salty and black with a special flavour that comes from the cuttlefish ink. Your taste buds will thank you.

Black cuttlefish risotto can be found in the most restaurants in Dalmatia

6. KORCULANSKI MAKARUNI

Homemade hand rolled pasta characteristic for the island of Korcula. Variety of sauces that goes with this pasta is endless.

Makaruni, hand rolled homemade pasta is typical for the island of Korcula

7. FISH STEW – BRUDET

Traditional dalmatian dish most commonly made from scorpio fish, conger eel, monkfish, shrimps, grouper, mussels and squid all cooked in white wine and prosecco. The more variety of fish, the better the stew. Served with polenta or homemade gnocchi.

Brudet or Brujet, traditional fishermans dish

8. PEKA

Ok, this one screams Dalmatia. Traditional as it gets. Usually can’t be ordered upon your arrival to the restaurant because it takes several hours to prepare so the best way to ensure you’ll enjoy peka for dinner is to ask your SailWeek skipper to organize one for you.

So, What is peka? Peka is a baked dish with meat, fish or octopus and vegetables made in a pot. Pot or a tray is put onto a fireplace and covered with “steel bell” and then covered with ashes and fire. You can make it with any kind of meat you like but the most common ones are veal, lamb, goat, octopus or white fish peka. Get your phones out, this one’s for Instagram!!!

Peka is one of the most traditional dalmatian dishes

9. PASTICADA – BEEF OR TUNA

BEEF

Traditional slow cooked sweet and sour beef dish served with homemade gnocchi. Tender and delicious. Perfectly goes with selection of dalmatian red wines.

Pasticada with gnocchi, one of the top traditional dishes in Croatia

TUNA

Bluefin Tuna steaks in red wine, tomato and prosecco sauce served with homemade gnocchi. Bon appetit!

10. ROZATA

Let’s finish with some sweets. Croatian version of creme brulee, mostly common in the Dubrovnik area. This dalmatian desert is made just with few ingredients. Egg, milk, sugar and lemon peel. Light and sweet. Check out why rozata is listed as one of the Croatian culinary heritage dishes.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this you can always contact our SailWeek information center.