When you visit a foreign country, particularly for the first time, you want to take in as much of that country’s culture as possible. Nothing makes it easier to sample the culture of a foreign land than to partake in some of its local cuisine. Montenegro is filled with culture, particularly when it comes to national cuisine. Found in the very heart of Europe, Montenegro has a culture that encompasses many traditional dishes and drinks. If you are planning a visit soon, you will want to be prepared to taste dishes that are unlike anything else in the world. There are a few popular traditional dishes that should definitely be on the top of your list of foods to try.
Traditional Mediterranean Diet
Montenegro strongly follows a traditional Mediterranean diet, with meats, cheeses and lots of fresh fruits. Grains are an important part of the Mediterranean way of life and you will find many bread choices throughout Montenegro. Also included in a traditional Mediterranean diet are a variety of herbs and spices and various cheeses and yogurts, all of which you will find when you visit any restaurant serving up traditional Montenegrin foods.
Balkan Diet
Balkan countries have a long rich history, particularly when it comes to their foods. Most Mediterranean countries share a food culture that is intertwining and Montenegro is certainly no exception. Food influences throughout the Balkans include a variety of meats and cheeses, freshly made breads and a number of side dishes. Bread is a very important part of the local cuisine and there are varieties of sweet breads that go along with tradition. Most restaurants and eateries make breads fresh every day and it is not at all uncommon to find assortments of breads that have nuts or seeds sprinkled on top.
Montenegrin Diet
Montenegro offers a number of traditional cultural dishes, from breakfast through dinner and dessert. You will find that most local eateries offer at least a part of these traditional dishes. From cheese and meats to a number of breads, there is always something new and different to sample. Many of these dishes are synonymous with a traditional Mediterranean diet, meaning that you will see loads of meats, fresh breads, fruits and various other foods that are traditionally good for you. You will find that most restaurants in Montenegro share similar menus, although depending on the specific region you are visiting, you may find interesting choices that are unique to that area.
Breads
Homemade breads are very popular in Montenegro. Most breads are close in taste and texture to those made throughout Italy and bread is served with every meal in the country. The most common choices for homemade breads include a barley bread, Jecmeni, a rye bread, Razani, corn bread or Rumetinov and a traditional wheat bread known as psenicni.
Soups
You cannot visit a local Montenegrin diner or restaurant without seeing a selection of at least one homemade soup. Traditional soups in Montenegro range from clear to thick stew type soups and porridge style dishes. Soups are typically served as the first course with lunch but can be enjoyed any time of the day. Popular soups choices include chicken or beef broth, lamb broth, and a number of thicker chowders. A very popular thick soup is a shepherd cream soup with mushrooms, as well as cut hay chowder and noodle porridge.
Seafood Dishes
There are a number of shorelines in Montenegro, so fresh seafood is very popular. Most coastal restaurants offer fresh catch of the day options, in addition to more traditional dishes, such as octopus salad, black risotto with cuttlefish and grilled or fried squid. Prawns and mussels are also very popular at most seafood restaurants in the country.
Desserts
Seasonal fruit is the most common form of dessert in Montenegro, true to the Mediterranean diet. Sweets are typically served by themselves or with coffee or tea. Popular desserts include rice pudding, fritters served with jam, cheese or honey and sundried figs with honey and walnuts. Homemade pomegranate syrup is also wildly popular, so much so that you can typically find it in most restaurants and nearly every home in the country. Pomegranates grow readily throughout the southern section of Montenegro.
Cheeses
As with any nationality, Montenegro has its own favorite cheeses. You can find cheese in any restaurant and in most delis and groceries throughout the country. Popular cheeses include salted cottage cream, whole cheese made from unboiled milk, known as cijeli sir, a special cheese that is kept in oil, known as njeguski sir and prljo which is a special cheese that is made from skimmed milk. Cheese is served with meals and between meals with certain breads and fruits.
Montenegrin Breakfast
A typical Montenegrin breakfast is much like any other Mediterranean country. Breakfasts normally consist of freshly made bread with cheese and cured meat, such as salami. You will find a number of freshly baked pastries and fruit choices as well. For those looking for something a bit more filling, omelet is a commonly ordered breakfast food throughout Montenegro and typically consists of traditional ingredients, such as eggs and cheese, with a variety of meat and vegetable choices.
Traditional Main Dishes
Montenegro is famous for a number of traditional dishes from kacamak to cicvara. Kacamak is a dish that includes mashed potatoes and wheat and corn flour and is typically served with milk and cheese. Potatoes are a commonly used vegetable in the country and dishes range from more traditional baked potatoes to the cooked potato, which is normally accompanied by sour cabbage and cheese. Popeci, a steak made from veal, rolled in cheese and smoked ham and fried in oil, is also a very popular Montenegrin main dish.
Montenegro Drinks
If you are planning a trip to Montenegro, you definitely want to sample some of the local beverages. While you can certainly enjoy a bottle of water or a can of soda at most restaurants, traditionally prepared beverages are the best. Montenegro is well known for its wine, which is unique to this particular part of Europe. Wine in Montenegro relies on the perfect combination of sun, soil and water for a beverage that is unsurpassed. Southern Montenegro is characterized by two distinct types of grapes. The Vranac and Krstac grapes offer high quality wines and those wines are perfected by a technological process of production that gives them a smooth flavor.
Beer
Montenegro is very well known for its Niksic beer. Montenegrin beer offers a stronger taste than many other varieties found throughout the world. It is made of hard mountain water, aromatic hops and barley and typically served at cool temperatures. Niksic beer contains only five percent alcohol. Those visiting Montenegro can find this beer on tap at many restaurants as well as in stores in packages. Each of the types, Nik, Nik Cool, Nick Dark and Nik Gold, offer different tastes.
Other Beverages
Aside from grapes, apple is used in Montenegro for producing beverages, as well as pears and plums. Traditional Montenegrin drinks even consisted of those produced by boiling cornel and figs, as well as fruits from the juniper trees. There are a variety of brandies made from various fruits, all of which are available at most restaurants and bars throughout the country.
Wherever you are traveling in Montenegro, you are not going to be without choices when it comes to traditional foods and drinks. From local delis and restaurants that serve nothing but traditional foods to fast food establishments that have a more western world approach to cuisine, there are wide varieties of flavors for you to try. Most national restaurants follow the traditional ways of preparing these dishes so you get the true flavor as it has been for centuries. Whether you are looking for low key and low cost establishments or restaurants that require weeks long reservations and serve higher cost meals, you are definitely not going to be without a place to go to get a taste of the culture of Montenegro.