As elsewhere in the Balkans, cuisine in Bosnia and Herzegovina tends to be rich, with emphasis on dairy products and meat, particularly beef, lamb and pork, which are often grilled or barbecued. People tend to shop for ingredients daily.

A typical hearty breakfast (kwizija) begins early with warm milk, tea or coffee, and might include scrambled eggs, soft white cheese, and bread with butter, jam or honey. Lunch, the most substantial meal of the day, is eaten with family in the late afternoon, while supper is usually very light and eaten after 8:00 p.m.

Lunch might begin with homemade soup, followed by a meat or fish dish, vegetables, salad and dessert. A popular entreé is Bosanski lonac, a mixture of meat and vegetables slow roasted and served in a ceramic pot with a long, wide neck. Other common dishes are japrak, cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice; and pies such as sirnica, made with cheese, and zeljanica, made with spinach. Fresh fish tends to be eaten more often near coastal areas. Many Bosnian dishes, such as shish kebabs and burek, a type of pastry stuffed with meat, show the influence of Turkish cuisine.

Dessert is often fresh fruit, pudding or plain cake. Baklava and other sweet desserts are reserved for special occasions. Tufahijia is apples stuffed with walnuts and topped with whipped cream.

Bosnians often enjoy beer and sometimes wine with their meals and can choose from many local varieties. Men also like locally produced rakija (brandy), which comes in numerous flavours, such as grape and plum. After their meals, children drink milk or soft drinks, while adults favour coffee.

The Bosnian Pot

Ingredients 1 kg beef or lamb, diced 1 cabbage 2/3 carrots 3/4 large tomatoes 3/4 large potatoes 2 onions 2 or more cloves garlic, sliced 2 green bell peppers 1/2 tbsp cooking oil 1/2 tbsp vinegar salt and pepper to taste Preparation Dice all the vegetables. Combine with the meat and seasonings in a large pot. Add enough water to completely cover the mixture, then add the oil and vinegar. Cook, covered, for two to three hours on low heat, until everything is well done. Serve with pita bread.

Did you know?

The Bosnian fast food cevapcici dates back 400 years. Nicknamed cevaps, the snack consists of small, oblong sausages surrounded by somun, a type of pita bread, and lots of chopped onions.