Written by: Milica Bokšan
Serbian appetizers are a mandatory part of every Serbian feast.
You’re invited to the Serbian Slava? Expect a variety of Serbian appetizers. Serbian wedding? Same. Birthday party or just invited to the Serbian house as a guest? Expect them as well.
Many Serbs love these meals so much that they can not take a bite of the main dish!
Okay, that’s rarely the case because Serbian cuisine is so delicious that no one can resist, but appetizers are really more than enough to satisfy the hunger.
In this article, we will present different types of Serbian appetizers; in most cases, you can expect at least three to be brought to the table at once.
From dried-meat and cheeses, to the spreads and salads, one thing is sure – you will not stay hungry.
Note: You’d better be full when reading this article.
#1 Serbian Appetizers: Meze
In Serbia, meze is much more than just an appetizer.
But first, let’s introduce you to it.
Meze includes various varieties of dried meat such as pršuta, pečenica, kulen (spicy sausage), čajna kobasica and more.
It can be served alongside hard-boiled eggs, quartered, as well as different types of cheese, olives, and cherry tomatoes.
When you come as a guest to a Serbian home or you’re invited to Serbian celebrations, meze is the first thing you’ll see on a guest table.
But why did we say that meze is more than just a meal? It became (long ago, actually) a social ritual. It gathers people around the table, where they enjoy slowly savouring these delicacies alongside a glass of rakija (famous Serbian brandies) and lots of conversation.
Traditionally, meze is served on large wooden platters and shared among everyone at the table.
Now let’s introduce you more closely to these dried-meat delicacies.
1. Pršuta
Pršuta (or widely known as a prosciutto) is a type of dry-cured ham made from pressed pork. It is made with salt and air-dried for months, often in mountain areas with clean, dry air.
Pršuta has a strong, smoky taste that goes perfectly with homemade cheese, kajmak, olives, and warm bread or lepinja (= homemade bun).
2. Kulen
Kulen is a spicy sausage made from the finest pork meat mixed with paprika, garlic, and salt. When all is combined and shaped as a sausage, it’s left to dry for several months. The result is sausage with reach and a specific taste.
3. Pečenica
Pečenica is made from a clean piece of pork loin, soft meat from the whole back muscle, carefully salted.
According to the method of production, pečenica is the simplest, but it is undoubtedly one of the highest-quality meat products.
The specific taste of pečenica comes from the method of smoking the meat, and for this purpose, beech wood is often used.
#2 Serbian Appetizers: Čvarci
Čvarci are crispy pork pieces made by slowly frying pork fat until golden and crunchy.
They can also be part of a meze plate, but since they are satiating, čvarci can be a meal on their own easily.
Especially, if you combine them with fresh bread and some vegetables, such as pickles.
#3 Serbian Appetizers: Kajmak And Cheeses
There are many dairy products in Serbian cuisine.
Kajmak is a rich, creamy spread made from milk fat. It looks like creamy cheese, but it tastes even better. Serbs love to combine kajmak with pršuta and ćevapi.
Ćevapi na kajmaku are one of the most popular Serbian meals in restaurants. But be careful, this is a delicious dish, but at the same time very strong, so try not to overdo it. 😀
Different types of sir (= cheeses) are also among the beloved Serbian appetizers. They are usually included on a meze plate. They can be made from cow, sheep or goat milk. They are salty and have variations in taste and consistency.
Some of the most popular cheeses are Sjenički, Zlatarski and Homoljski sir. They got their names from places where they originated.
#4 Serbian Appetizers: Gibanica
Gibanica is a type of pie made from dough and cheese, yoghurt or kajmak.
The special thing about this famous Serbian pie lies in its thin dough layers, as thin as paper. They are carefully layered and then spread with some of these delicious dairy products.
It’s baked in the oven until the crust looks golden, while the inside stays soft.
The difference between gibanica and pita lies in their preparation. Pita consists of two or three layers of thin dough that are rolled up, while in gibanica, the thin dough is torn and arranged more loosely, with the filling in between. Gibanica is traditionally made only with cheese, whereas pita can have various other fillings.
#5 Serbian Appetizers: Proja
Proja is a cornbread made from corn flour, water, salt, and cheese.
There are many variations of proja, and one of the most famous is Zlatiborska pita (= Zlatibor pie), which is prepared similarly but also adds ham and pickles.
#6 Serbian Appetizers: Ajvar
There’s no Serbian appetizer complete without ajvar.
This is a specific spread made from red pepper. In some regions, people add roasted eggplants as well.
Ajvar is traditionally made in the fall, when the pepper season is in full swing, and is used all year round.
It is prepared by hand in open pots on a wood-burning stove. Before preparing, the peppers are roasted, carefully peeled, drained and ground.
Ajvar is used as an addition to many dishes or as a spread for bread. It can also be mild or spicy, depending on the ingredients.
#7 Serbian Appetizers: Urnebes Salata
Urnebes, which can be translated as ‘loudness’ or ‘chaos,’ is a famous Serbian spread made from cottage cheese, ground spicy paprika, and spices.
It pairs amazingly with grilled meat, but Serbs also love mixing it with meze and homemade bread.
#8 Serbian Appetizers: Ruska salata
Though its name points to Russia, Ruska salata is a classic on Serbian tables, especially during holidays and celebrations.
It’s made from diced cooked eggs, carrots, peas, pickles, ham, and mayonnaise. Ruska salata is often served with pečenje (= roasted meat) or meze plates.
#9 Serbian Appetizers: Srpska salata
Serbian salad is a vegetable salad, made from fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and diced onions, usually seasoned with sunflower or olive oil, salt and various hot peppers (pepperoni; in Serbian: ljuta papričica).
It is very similar to Shopska and Greek salads.
It is usually served with roast or fried meat, but you will often see it paired with appetizers, as it provides a refreshing contrast to the dry meat.
#10 Serbian Appetizers: Belolučane paprike
We must not forget to mention another Serbian refreshing food: salad and spread, but it’s still not any of these. 😀
The other Serbian name for belolučane paprike is simply pečene paprike sa belim lukom. They are delicious anyway!
This is a simple side dish, but still one of the favourites!
And For The End…
Do you know what the best thing of all is? All these types of Serbian appetizers go amazingly well together! And Serbs know that very well. So, don’t be surprised when you attend a Serbian celebration and find all of these on the table.
They are usually followed by čorba, sarma and pečenje. Also, be prepared to tell your host several times that you really can’t eat anymore. Although you will probably want to continue enjoying the flavors of Serbian cuisine. 🙂
But how would you tell your host this and still sound grateful and polite? If you want to find out, then you should start learning Serbian online!
