Local Cuisine of Krushevo

Local Cuisine of Krushevo

Krusev Cuisine

The traditional Krushevo cuisine combines Balkan and Mediterranean characteristics, inherited largely from Turkish tastes that prevailed during long centuries of Ottoman rule. Travelers are delighted by the taste of local tomatoes, carrots, lettuces, parsley, onions, and garlic - not to mention the rich flavor and aroma of fresh fruit, such as watermelons, melons, cherries, apricots, grapes, peaches, and others. Most herbs are collected in the local mountains and in the countryside, and are renowned for their taste, scent and healing properties.

Here's a list of Krushevo’s (and Macedonia's) most popular dishes & cuisines:

Tavche Gravche (beans in a skillet). Traditional dish throughout Macedonia. The boiled beans go first and then are mixed with onion, peppers, tomato, oil, flour and various spices baked in a pottery saucepan.

Beans in a skillet

Ajvar (ayvar) - A relish made principally from red bell peppers, with eggplant, garlic and chili pepper. It's traditionally homemade all over the country at the beginning of the fall. Ajvar can be consumed as a bread spread, in sandwiches, as a condiment, or on a salad.

Ajvar

Kashkaval. Specific type of yellow sheep's milk cheese; in Macedonia the term is often used to refer to all yellow cheeses (or even any cheese besides Sirenye-white cheese).

Yellow Cheese

Tarator. Liquid salad, made of sour milk/ sour cream/yogurt/, cucumbers, garlic, walnuts, and vegetable oil.

Tarator

Kachamak. Traditional dish made of corn flour, potato and, sometimes, feta cheese. Similar to the Italian polenta, it is prepared by boiling the mixture thick or rare depending on taste, and then mashing while the pot is still on the fire. It is usually served with milk, plain yogurt, sour cream or sometimes with bacon.

Kachamak

Moussaka. This is a traditional eggplant-based dish in the Balkans and the Middle East. The Macedonian version of it traditionally consists couple of layers of ground (minced) lamb or red meat, sliced eggplant and potato (optional ingredients include: tomato, green peppers).

Moussaka

Sarma. Sarma is the name of a minced meat.Usually beef, pork, veal, rice, onions, and various spices, including salt & pepper and various local herbs, are mixed together and then rolled into large plant leaves of grape or cabbage.

Krusevo Sarma

Grilled meat (local: skara). Macedonians and the other Balkan nations are known as great lovers of grilled meat; especially the tasty “kjebapchinya” (in the picture above) and grilled meat patty (pleskavica) which go excellently with onion. These two are the most popular meals with younger and older populations, and they are offered in many of the taverns (kafeana)

Grill

Wines. Macedonian wines rank among the best value and most drinkable wines available anywhere. The Macedonian wineyards, especially the ones in the Tikves valley area, are characterized by the exquisite grapes and skilled masters who prepare the drink. The lengthy ripening process concentrates the sugar and acids in the grapes, ensuring rich colouurs and complex aromas in our wines.

Wine

Rakija. Scotland has whiskey, Greece has metaxxa, while Macedonia has rakija. Throughout Macedonia, people make their own rakija, which is similar to brandy, through the by distillation of fermented fruits.It is a very strong alcoholic beverage that is typically 50 to 60% alcohol. One version of rakija contains walnuts, altering its aroma and taste, and another has plums - Slivova rakija.

Rakija

Krushevo lokum. Krusevo is famous for making the tastiest lokum (Turkish delight) and meringue in Macedonia. This 200-year-old tradition is carried on today by the newer generations. Lokum was introduced to Europe in the 18th century by a British traveler to the Ottoman lands and became known in the West as the Turkish delight. It is made by cooking curdled melted sugar with cornstarch. Walnuts, nuts, or pistachios are used as filling. It is currently produced in different colors and aromas. It is a Turkish specialty that is soft, not too sweet, and is prepared and sold in the shape of small cubes.Lokum

Krushevo pie. The famous Krusevo pie you can find with cheese, leeks, cabbage or spinach.

Krusevo Pie

Throughout all of the tours around Krushevo you’ll taste and enjoy local cuisine and then ask as about the recipes. You’ll be introduced to the paradise of local Krusevo food, and learn more about the special art. You’ll taste different kind of dishes from Krushevo and the wider area of Pelagonia.  

We invite you to taste what Krushevo has to offer! Na zdravye!