Food Beyond Borders Balkan cuisine is a synonym for slow food: home-cooked food, based on traditional recipes and using traditional kitchenware and ingredients from autochthonic breeds and varieties. The Western Balkan countries are a cradle of agrobiodiversity – assortment of traditional autochthonic animal breeds and plant varieties with exceptional quality and nutritional value, which represent the richness of the region, its culture and its tradition. Usually, these products attract customers that appreciate culture, tradition, environment protection, healthy food and novelties. The Balkan culinary fairytale – ‘Food Beyond Borders’ is an art and science product, both a practical guide for gastronomic alchemy and a collection of descriptions of typical traditional specialties, autochthonic animal breeds and plant varieties. It provides the readers with a range of various recipes of alluring, nutritionally rich, colourful and affordable dishes be they vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, meat dishes or desserts from all six Western Balkan countries. We hope that you will enjoy the reading, cooking and the exceptional taste of the Western Balkans. Cheers! Food Beyond Borders Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Antonie Grubisic 5, 1000 Skopje Republic of North Macedonia Regional project: Support to Economic Diversification of Rural Areas in Southeast Europe (SEDRA) Responsible person: Mr. Benjamin Mohr, Team Leader Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in SEE (SWG) Blvd. Goce Delcev 18, MRTV Building, 12th floor, 1000, Skopje Republic of North Macedonia Authors: Ms. Sonja Ivanovska, PhD, Ms. Mirjana Jankulovska, PhD, Mr. Sokrat Jani, PhD, Ms. A CIP catalogue record for this publication is available from the Gordana Gjuric, PhD, Mr. Ervin Zecevic, PhD, Ms. Suzana Dordevic Milosevic, PhD, Mr. Zoran National and University Library „St. Kliment Ohridski“- North Jovovic, PhD, Mr. Shukri Fetahu, PhD. Macedonia. Photos by: Mr. Milosh Dedic, Mr. Robert Atanasovski, Ms. Suzana Dordevic-Milosevic, PhD, CIP – Каталогизација во публикација Mr. Slobodan Milosevic, Ms. Sandra Dordevic, Mr. Igor Manov, Mr. Josip Grabovac, Mr. Marijan Национална и универзитетска библиотека “Св. Климент Antolovic, Mr. Gvozden Micic, Mr. Arben Elshani, Mr. Armand Habazaj, Mr. Kocho Porchu, PhD, Охридски”, Скопје Association of producers and processors of Futog cabbage Editors: Ms. Sonja Ivanovska, PhD, Ms. Irena Djimrevska, PhD 641.56(497)(083.12) Language proofreading: Mr. Jason Brown, Ms. Jana Vasilevska, MA 392.8(497) FOOD beyond borders / [authors Sonja Ivanovska ... [и др.] ; Art-science concept development: Ms. Jana Vasilevska, MA, Ms. Irena Djimrevska, PhD photos by Milosh Dedikj ... [и др.] ; editors Sonja Ivanovska, Irena Graphic Design: Mr. Darko Stojoski Djimrevska]. - Skopje : GIZ, 2020. - 156 стр. : фотографии ; 25 см The statements in the publication represent the opinion of the authors and are not necessarily Други автори: Mirjana Jankulovska, Sokrat Jani, Gordana Gjurikj, representative of the position of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit Ervin Zechevikj, Suzana Gjorgjevikj Miloshevikj, Zoran Jovovikj, (GIZ) GmbH. Shukri Fetahu. - Други фотографи: Robert Atanasovski, Suzana Gjorgjevikj-Miloshevikj, Slobodan Miloshevikj, Sandra Gjorgjevikj, Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Igor Manov, Josip Grabovac, Marijan Antolovikj, Gvozden Mikjikj, Company Headquarters: Bonn and Eschborn, Germany Arben Elshani, Armand Habaza ISBN 978-608-4536-29-1 Kliment Ohridski Str 33/35, 7000 Bitola а) Балканска кујна - Готвачи б) Традиционална исхрана - Балкан COBISS.MK-ID 112106762 The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food Str. 16-ta Makedonska brigada No 3, 1000 Skopje 2 - Balkan Traditional Cookbook Table of contents Preface Corn Pie Casserole with Spinach 6 Carp Fish Casserole with Onion 10 he Balkan culinary tale begins with the Balkan cuisine is a synonym for slow food: Octopus with Grass Pea 14 firmly held belief that a good everyday home-cooked food, based on traditional Goat Meat in a Milk Bin 18 diet should contain homemade meals, recipes and using traditional kitchenware. Albania T Ram Meat with Plum Jelly 22 prepared from fresh agricultural products The quickest dishes, at first glance, seem to which are regularly obtained from particular be prepared or cooked in a matter of hours. Pork Meat with Cabbage 26 domestic or autochthonous plant varieties They are alluring, nutritionally rich, colourful Poljak Bean Grass Pea Broth 30 and livestock breeds. This authentic and affordable. All lasting efforts lead to one Bosnian Pot 34 agricultural assortment of genetic resources purpose – to enjoy the food for hours in a has been preserved over generations, and it family atmosphere. The lunch starts with Bosnian Kebab 38 is specific and passed down from generation fresh vegetables or dip appetizers such as Collard Rolls with Raštika 42 to generation in every single family, along meze, accompanied by different pastries and Bosnia Plum Jam 46 Herzegovina with the long-established recipes for using and strong rakija. The main course is a Poached Stuffed Apples 50 the precious foods. perfect combination of local vegetables, dairy and meat products, often purchased from Corn Pie 54 As a region historically threaded with countryside farms. It is cooked in the form of Pie with Cabbage 58 distinctive nations and religions, followed soups, broths, stews, roasted or grilled meat Grits with Chicken 62 by their cultural and folkloric benchmarks, and enjoyed with wine or beer. Desserts are Lamb in Milk 66 the Balkans became the homeland to an Kosovo heavy in calories, and combined with local innumerable quantity of diverse vegetables, Dessert with Chestnuts 70 fruits or nuts. grains, fruits and grapevine varieties. Some Sweet Preserve from Pumpkin 74 are exclusively specific for a small area within Almost all Balkan dishes are the result of a Polenta 78 a single country, while others are dispersed kind of gastronomic alchemy that combines throughout several countries or across and uses to great effect the different cultural Buckwheat Pie 82 the entire region. Southeastern Europe is influences of the past. Full of many oriental Beaten Olives 86 considered as the primary centre of origin flavours borrowed from the Middle East Smoked Carp 90 for many fruits, berries and nuts, olives, and or Ottoman cuisine as well as styles from Montenegro Cooked Dried Goat Meat 94 leafy and root vegetables. Consequently, the Hungarian and Mediterranean kitchens, astonishing diversity of their local varieties Balkan food offers a dizzying array of tastes Roasted Lamb with Potatoes 98 are autochthonous for the Balkans. Many and smells. Similar dishes are prepared Pie with Leek 102 crops were introduced here in ancient times, throughout the region with only minor Pie with a Sheep Dried Meat 106 domesticated and wisely selected into local differences in their recipes and names. Potato Mash with Embroidered Peppers 110 varieties by their guardians – the farmers Balkan food is recognized and appreciated Baked Beans 114 themselves. The selection of superior by even the most demanding gourmets, and plants was inspired by their adaptability to Liver Rolls from Sheep 118 attracts tourists from around the world. Its specific growing conditions, the appealing Macedonia North Mariovo Village Meat 122 authenticity will give you an unforgettable flavour and the possibility for continuous sensory impression. Cheese Curd with Corn 126 consumption of their products, fresh or Sjenica Sheep`s White Cheese 130 preserved throughout the year. In order to promote the Western Balkan treasure of genetic resources in agriculture Lean Dry Red Stuffed Peppers 134 The nomads, and later Balkan farmers, Stuffed Sour Cabbage Rolls 138 and culinary specialties the project ‘Support Serbia applied similar domestication to the breeding to Economic Diversification of Rural Areas in Srem Dry Sausage from Mangalitsa Pig 142 of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry, creating Southeast Europe (SEDRA)’, implemented by several strains and breeds that are clearly Patron Saints’ Festivity Wheat Grain 146 the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale recognisable for this region. The habit of Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the preserving meat by drying, salting, and Description of the dishes and short overview of used plant varieties and livestock breeds per country 150 Regional Rural Development Standing smoking, and to produce various dairy Working Group in South-East Europe (SWG) Content of dishes 152 products from milk is still largely practiced, developed the cookbook of Balkan cuisine Diversity of presented plant varieties and livestock breeds 153 especially in the smaller cities and villages. which you now hold in your hands. Fresh-water fish from the natural lakes and The cookbook was prepared in cooperation rivers is also cooked in different ways and with the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and almost regularly prepared during times of Food, University St. Cyril and Methodius, fasting throughout the Balkans, while seafood Skopje and experts on genetic resources is typically limited to the Montenegrin and in agriculture from the Western Balkan Albanian menus. countries. 4 - Balkan Traditional Cookbook Albania Albania Country of origin: Albania Sulova Corn Pie Serves: 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Casserole with Spinach Cooking time: 40 minutes (Pispili with Sulova Corn) Calories in 100 g: 323 kcal Ingredients: ̓ 500 g of