What to Eat in Zadar | 15 Dishes That MUST be Enjoyed | Part 2

However, due to the specific climate, geographical position and variety of the flora and fauna of the Zadar region, some foods and dishes have a particular influence on the local gastronomy. We, therefore, offer a short list of the best foods that you must taste in Zadar:

Part 1

6. Sardine

It is a small and inconspicuous fish that looks impressive in large schools of a couple of million samples but it is one of the most important and most numerous fish of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean. The Adriatic sardine is esteemed in the world, the most esteemed among its 15 known subspecies. It is tastiest grilled, fried in oil, kept in saur (or savur), even when briefly boiled in a little water, wine and olive oil.  

7. Pašticada

There is no gourmand or meat lover who at first sight will not fall in love with the excellent and soft beef steaks stuffed with bacon, carrots and garlic and cooked long and carefully in a sour-sweet-salty creamy sauce. And then served with gnocchi made of potatoes, flour and eggs. Pašticada arrived in Zadar a long time ago, back during Venetian times, maybe even earlier, for the original recipe dates from the past millennium and comes from the region of Veneto.

8. White-Flesh Fish

This species of fish evokes the highest respect and mouth waters from every seafood lover when grilled, boiled lešo, prepared in brodetto (Italian fish stew) or gregada. Sea bream, gilthead and sea bass are on the first line of the highest quality Adriatic fish, followed closely by fish such as two-banded bream, bleak, striped bream, common pandora, black sea bream and black umber. Only two fish belong to the royal and most prestigious category: dory and grouper. The rich fishing grounds of the vast Zadar waters abound with the best white fish, which is easy to find in many restaurants in Zadar. Fish-farming of such quality fish has been designed in this city, the quality of which does not lag behind those living in nature.

9. Black Risotto

The meat of the cuttlefish is sweet, tasty and generous, and particularly interesting in the culinary aspect because it has the largest amount of blackness of all its mollusk relatives. In time, man learned how to use that color, and, first of all, as ink for writing and then in various dishes. The best known and most popular dish in Zadar and in all of Dalmatia is black risotto with cuttlefish which in Zadar is used as a starter, especially at wedding feasts but also as a main dish in the daily diet. Black risotto with cuttlefish is offered by numerous restaurants. 

10. Wild Plants (Herbs)

There are approximately 5,500 types of plants in all of Europe. In all of England and Ireland there are 2,000, while on Mount Velebit, the highest Croatian mountain that overlooks Zadar, there are 1,500 types of plants. In this part of Dalmatia there are 2,000 types and 76 of them are edible, tasty and, above all, healthy. Of course, wild herbs have long been deeply rooted in our local gastronomy, and the most famous delicacy from this natural and edible wealth is the wild asparagus. It is most often just boiled briefly and served with boiled eggs and olive oil. Dozens of other delicious gifts from pure nature are usually cooked as stew in a dish known as mišanca (herb mixture) or svakober. Wild plants (herbs) are best prepared and eaten in spring.