Bosnia and Herzegovina Cuisine

Bosnia and Herzegovina Cuisine is the traditional food of the country, shaped by Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and wider Balkan influences. Its recipes mix local regional habits with those of neighbouring Balkan countries, Greece, Italy and Turkey, and many date from the Ottoman era. Spices are used, but usually in moderate quantities, and most dishes are light, cooked in plenty of water with sauces that are little more than the natural juices of the vegetables. Typical ingredients include tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, beans, plums, milk, paprika and the cream products pavlaka and kajmak. Beef and lamb dominate the meat dishes. The country also has distinctive cheeses, a range of sweets inspired by the Middle East, and plum and apple brandy known as rakija, while the best local wines come from Herzegovina.