Dalmatian Peka – croatian recipes (2024)

After living here 5 years, we have come to love some of the local dishes, so I thought I wanted to start sharing some of them with my blog readers.

One of my absolute favourite dishes is the Dalmatian Peka, So what is a Peka, well a Peka is a Baked dish with meat and vegetables made in a pot or a tray, the pot is put into the embers of a fireplace, in many houses here in Dalmatia, especially on the country side, you have a special place in the barn or at the ground floor of the house for preparing the Peka.

Peka is an absolute top dish in the area, something which is put on the table when there is guest in the house, we as “semi” natives often have had the privilege to taste a real home cooked Peka, and I can tell you it is delicious. My personal favourite is the Veal Peak the meat gets so soft that you can literally chew it with your eyebrows!

One of the interesting things about Peka is that you can make with any kind of meat you like, also in restaurants you normally have option to choose between several kinds of meet like, Veal, chicken, lamb and octopus, my colleague has been so kind to reveal, how she is preparing the Peka, so if you are up for trying to make you own Peka here is how it goes.

How it is made:

Dishes under the lid are some of the top gastronomic offers in the Dalmatian cuisine, perhaps I am a little subjective because I am a big fan of food prepared under cripnja (this is Dalmatian term for the special bell shaped lid, which is put over the pot/tray, for cooking the Peka). The food is easy to prepare, only you have to catch the “hand” for the right mix of ingredients … and success is guaranteed. For the food prepared in the embers of a fireplace, we can use all types of meat, octopus, fish, squid … here I will post the recipe for preparing veal and octopus under the bell.

Veal Peka:

Ingredients:

  • 1-1.5 kg beef,
  • 2 dl olive oil
  • 0.8-1kg potatoes
  • 2 zucchini
  • 1 onion
  • 4-5 carrots
  • 2 peppers
  • 1 dl white wine
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Sprig fresh rosemary

Preparation:

All the ingredients except the wine to put in a flat round tray and put under cripnja (iron bell in fireplace), and left an hour under the embers. After an hour of baking stir the meat and vegetables and add a decilitre white wine, cover the cripnja again, and let it bake on the embers for another half hour.

Octopus Peka – Octopus under the bell

Ingredients:

  • 1.5-2 kg octopus
  • 0,8-1 kg potatoes
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 dl olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Sprig fresh rosemary
  • (If desired you can add more vegetables)
  • 1 dl white wine

Preparation:

All the ingredients except the wine to put in a flat round tray and put under cripnja (iron bell fireplace), and left an hour under the embers. After an hour of baking, stir the octopus and potatoes and add a decilitre white wine, cover the cripnja again, and let it bake on the embers for another half hour.

Additional advice for the preparation of the octopus: If you have a fresh octopus it is best to freeze for a day, because then the octopus will be softer. Serve the Peka preferably with homemade bread, and typical dessert prepared in Dalmatian the rožata. Enjoy!

Where to eat Peka:

Peka is one the menu in more or less all traditional Dalmatian restaurant, so this is for sure something you can try during a vacation here in Croatia, be aware that Peka has to be ordered up front (If you have lots of patients you can of course also order when you come to the restaurant) as it takes more than an hour to prepare.

The Price for a portion of Peka in restaurant is normally about 60-80 kuna depending on which meat you choose, to our experience we normally only have to order 3 portions to have a enough for 2 adults and two kids with a great appetite.

The Peka is normally served on in the Iron pot on the table, so watch out for the smaller kids, as the pot is usually very hot.

Recommended articles:

Dalmatian Olive OilFritule – Dalmatian essence for Christmas eveRozata – Dalmatian version of crème brûléeCroatian food

Culture, Living, recipe, traditional food

Dalmatian Peka – croatian recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a traditional Croatian dish Peka? ›

One of the most popular meals in Croatia's Dalmatia region is peka, a blend of vegetables and meat drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with herbs, and then baked to perfection under a bell-like dome, or ispod čripnje.

What does peka mean in croatian? ›

Peka (“bell”) is a very popular traditional method of preparing various specialities across Croatia. It involves roasting the food over open flames using a clay or wrought-iron baking vessel.

What is the national dish of Croatia? ›

Istrian Yota

Known as the country's national dish, Istrian Yota is a stew made of beans, potatoes, bacon, and sauerkraut. It is popular in the region of Istria, hence the name Istrian Yota. This dish is popular because it is considered to be the national dish of Croatia.

What does Peka taste like? ›

Meals prepared under a peka are highly aromatic, tender, and juicy. You can say that such dishes are roasted, boiled, and braised simultaneously. Meat prepared under the peka easily separates from the bone, and the potatoes that float in the vegetable and meat sauce have a unique flavor.

What is the number 1 food in Croatia? ›

Croatian Food — Top Dishes You Have to Try While In Croatia
  • Black Risotto. This iconic delicacy boasts a rich, dark hue derived from the inclusion of squid or cuttlefish ink. ...
  • Peka. In the heart of Croatian cuisine lies a culinary gem known as peka. ...
  • Buzara. ...
  • Brodetto. ...
  • Grilled Fish. ...
  • Roasted Pag Lamb. ...
  • Fritule. ...
  • Strukli.

What is Croatia's famous dish? ›

Black Risotto

This popular and unique dish is one of the most popular foods in Croatia. Its characteristic dark colour comes from the inclusion of squid or cuttlefish ink, which infuses the dish with a delightful savory flavor.

What do Croatians say before eating? ›

Before starting a meal, you will usually say to everyone at the table dobar tek (doh-bar tek), which is Croatian for “Bon apetit”, and you will probably hear this from the waiter, too.

What is Croatian slang for hello? ›

Bok bohk

What is Croatia main drink? ›

Rakija or Rakia (a type of fruit brandy) is considered the national drink of Croatia. In the Istrian and Dalmatian regions of Croatia, rakija tends to be home-made exclusively from grapes, where the drink is also known locally as trapa or grappa (the latter name also being used in Italy).

What is a typical Croatian breakfast? ›

Breakfast & Gablec -- Western-style breakfast (doručak: eggs, pastries, meats, cereals) is served at larger hotels and restaurants throughout Croatia. In smaller towns and in homes, a glass of rakija (fruit brandy), a cup of coffee, and bread or a roll hot from the local bakery comprise the usual early-morning meal.

What is Croatia main meat? ›

Croatian meat-based dishes include:
  • Pork.
  • Miješano meso or Ražnjići (skewers)
  • Zagrebački odrezak (Veal steaks stuffed with ham and cheese, breaded and fried)
  • Šnicle (schnitzel) – breaded veal, pork or chicken cutlets.
  • Meso z tiblice – pork ham from Međimurje County.

How do you make peka? ›

The process for making peka is ancient and involves placing the pan over a bed of glowing coal embers and scooping more embers on top of the domed lid to create an oven-like environment where meats or seafood and vegetables are slow-roasted inside.

What is the history of peka in Croatia? ›

The history of Peka can be traced as far back as 5,000 years. Even under Roman rule, Croatian's maintained their unique cooking style, despite the Roman's furnace influence, making it one of the longest standing dishes in Croatian cuisine.

What is the meaning of peka? ›

thin-skinned [adjective] sensitive; easily hurt or upset.

What is the origin of Peka? ›

There are dozens of different terms for a dome-shaped lid used for food preparation on an open hearth but peka is the most popular in Croatia. The origins of such lids date back to the Bronze Age – the earliest period where they have been documented so far.

Do Croatians eat borscht? ›

Most have heard of the Slavic favorites: Borscht, Perogies/Varenyky, Holubtsi, Pork products… These are Ukraine's staples, and that flavor palate can be found in Croatia's food as well. However, there is so much more to both cuisines than these favorites.

How to use a peka? ›

Instructions
  1. Make the fire 1 hour before assembling the peka. ...
  2. Rub salt into the meat. ...
  3. Prep the vegetables and arrange them around the meat. ...
  4. Place the pan on the hot firebox and cover with the peka lid. ...
  5. Put the remaining embers on top and around the peka lid and roast for another 30 minutes.
Feb 1, 2024

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