National cuisine of Macedonia for gourmets. Authentic recipes, delicacies and specialties

Macedonia’s cuisine has evolved over the past centuries under the influence of the culinary traditions of neighboring countries. However, in spite of the similarity it shares with the Serbians, Greeks, Bulgarians, and Albanians with regards to the names and recipes of some of her dishes, there is still quite a sufficient amount of unique Macedonian dishes that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. They are tasty, nutritious, and easy to prepare. Vegetables, beans, and pickle cheeses are some of the food items employed in the preparation of most Macedonian dishes. A special role is also assigned to meat and fish. The basis for desserts and sweets is most often fruits, which are abundantly grown in the mild climate of the country. The traditional cuisine of Macedonia will be enjoyed by those who are accustomed to a thorough and abundant diet, and know a lot about servings.

The Macedonian meal begins with one of the traditional snacks, with the most famous of them known as “Ajvar”. In houses, it is cooked from sweet red pepper, garlic, and sunflower oil. Sometimes beans or tomatoes are also used. “Ajvar” is traditionally served with meat or fish. As a snack, it is eaten with fresh bread and cheese. No less popular is “shopska” salad prepared from tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and olives, with the addition of brynza and fragrant herbs, coupled with a spicy “urnebes” based on fatty cheese with paprika, hot pepper, and spices. Lunch in Macedonia cannot be complete without a plate of fragrant hot soup: a thick “chorba” based on bread kvass or a light cool “tarator” on kefir with cucumbers, olives, nuts, and greens.

Macedonians love meat dishes, with pork, beef and mutton enjoying special respect. Of the many meat dishes, it is necessary to highlight the fragrant “Chebapi” – fried sausages from beef or pork forcemeat with onions and spices. There are also; “koftinja” – meatballs with garnish of vegetables, stew with rice “dzhevyuch”, “skara” – grilled meat, “turlitava” – mutton baked with vegetables, puff cake “burek” with cheese, and meat stuffing. Ohrid trout is considered the national pride. After cooking, it acquires a delicious, tender taste. It is stewed in clay pots with egg-garlic sauce containing prunes, vegetable oil, and herbs. The dish prepared in this way is called “pastrmka”. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Stewed vegetables are usually served as garnish for meat or fish dishes in Macedonia. They include ragout “zagzavat”, fried beans “tavche gravche”, boiled rice, egg noodles or fried potatoes. The table of Macedonians must always have cheese, bread, and fresh greens. When preparing dishes, Macedonians do not economize on seasonings. In the recipe of most dishes, garlic or hot pepper is used. When in Macedonia, you should definitely try the “Muckalika” from pork and vegetables, “sarma” – local cabbage rolls, “piperki polneti” – stuffed paprika, “selsko meso” – ragout of meat in peasant way, and “cevapi” from smoked meat or dried ham “prsut”.

Macedonian cuisine is rich in desserts. The most famous of them is the “bougatsa” cake made from puff pastry with custard. For breakfast or a mid-day snack, yeast donut “mekici” is often served. They are deep-fried, dipped in honey or syrup, and then generously sprinkled with cinnamon. Other favorite dainties of Macedonians include; sweet rice pudding “sutliyash” halva, burger “tulumba” with syrup, “kadaif” (dessert made from thin strips of sweet dough which resembles vermicelli). Sweets are usually served with black coffee, herbal teas with honey, thick sweet “salep” with cinnamon, mousses, and juices. The connoisseurs of alcoholic drinks should try a strong white or yellow “rakija”, liqueur “Mastika”, local red wine, or beer.

There are many good restaurants in Macedonia that prepare dishes of national cuisine or cuisines from other countries of the world. For a quick snack, you should go to a snack bar or other fast food outlets. Part of the population of the country professes Islam. In Muslim neighborhoods, cafes and restaurants are divided into “male” and “female”. Usually the first is more prevalent. The most famous institution for women is the “Baghdad restaurant” in Skopje. Tipping in restaurants is usually 10% of the bill amount. In some places, the service charge is included in the bill in advance. A complex dinner at a local snack bar costs about 150-200 Macedonian denari, while for a price of 900-1000 Macedonian denari, it is possible to have a good “dinner for two” in an average restaurant.