Episode 61

Sretan Božić, priatelji!

Welcome back to another holiday edition of Let’s Learn Croatian!

In today’s lesson, we will review some Holiday words we’ve already learned, and also put a few new ones in our stocking!

It’s going to be festive and fun!

Lesson

Review:

Xmas Eve - Badnjak

Merry Christmas - Sretan Božić

Happy New Year - Sretna Nova Godina

Christmas Tree - božićno drvce

Happy Holidays! - Sretni blagdani!

Midnight Mass on Xmas Eve - Polnoćka

Nursery (the Nativity scene) - jaslice

balls on the Xmas Tree - kuglice za bor

mistletoe - imela

Santa Claus - Djed božićnjak

In Episode 61’s Super Slatko Report, DJ Moe will tell us about the traditional Christmas dinners of all the regions of Croatia.

Which meals do you wanna try? All of them, like us!?

I came across a web site that broke it down by region, agree or disagree , I look at as a starting point for what you do with your loved ones during the holidays. By no way is this complete, please let us know what your holiday table looks like.

Here’s a brief description for each Croatian region and it’s surrounding areas.

Zagreb: Roast Turkey, and sometimes pig, paired with hardy root veggies. 

Central Croatia: Usually stuffed duck. To the South roast pork or lamb. And here you’ll also find Gibanica, a layered pastry dish with varying cheese fillings.

Istria: Usually go for the Roast Turkey, but can also feature Veal or Pig. Often paired with their chosen protein is homemade bread. Yes please!

Dalmatia: According to the web site, are not big on the roasted meat during the holidays. Apparently, they opt for a dish called pašticada, which is a stewed piece of the finest beef available, topped with gravy and served over a bed of gnocchi. Wow! But if a meat is to be roasted, it will usually be a Turkey.

A few things that were mentioned that peaked my interest during this research.

In Zagreb, along with the Roasted Turkey, they’ll serve Mlinici.

Which is a type of flat bread baked earlier than the meal, then right before the meal is served, the bread is either cooked briefly in soup or fried in fat.

In Central Croatia, gibanica is served. This is one dish that I’m really familiar with, having baked a few myself for my mother-in-law in the past. Made with filo dough and a couple different types of cheese, this dish is baked until flaky golden brown. I have eaten my fair share of this one, it’s favorite in our house, my kids eat it up!

Lastly, favorited across all regions was Sarma. This celebratory dish was also mentioned as part of the wedding tradition episode we did. Part of the 3am meal if you remember. Made of mixed minced meat, wrapped in cabbage leaves, cooked in a sauerkraut base. Tangy, savory notes throughout, goes perfectly with a hardy bread; so that you can wipe your plate clean when you’re done!

Definitely some great holiday meal traditions here, and most likely a lot that were not mention. Please let us know what is on your holiday table, we’d love to hear about it and send pictures too!

And that’s it for this episodes Super Slatko Report.