3 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Ston

Buzara is a Croatian technique of preparing seafood by cooking it in a mixture of olive oil, wine, garlic, fresh herbs (usually parsley), and (sometimes) breadcrumbs. This method of preparation creates a flavorful sauce that gives the dish distinctive, fresh, and clean flavor and aroma reminiscent of the sea. The dish is simply seasoned with salt and pepper, while the most common choice of seafood is scampi (škampi na buzaru) or mussels (dagnje na buzaru), but clams, prawns, lobsters, limpets, or even small fish are also often cooked using this method. Buzara can be prepared na bijelo (white) or na crveno (red), referring to the color of the sauce. White buzara is made with white wine and all the other ingredients mentioned above, while the red version calls for the addition of fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce, and in some cases, a splash of red wine instead of white. This technique of cooking is typical of coastal Croatia, especially of the Dalmatia and Istria regions, and seafood-based dishes similar to this one are commonly served with crusty bread for soaking up the delicious sauce. Expand

Dagnje na buzaru is a traditional dish of the Croatian coast prepared with mussels as the main ingredient. The shells are scrubbed, placed into a pot with lukewarm water, covered, and lightly heated until all of them crack open. Olive oil, garlic, parsley, and a bit of pepper are sautéed, then mixed with the mussels and maybe a few slices of lemon. White wine is added for the final touch, and the dish is then shortly simmered. Before serving, dagnje na buzaru are often sprinkled with breadcrumbs for thickening, and the dish is then served with lots of bread on the side for mopping up the leftover juices. Dagnje na buzaru is a 'white' version of the dish, but there is also a 'red' version called dagnje na crvenu buzaru or dagnje na crveno, prepared mostly in the same way, but with the addition of tomato sauce and without breadcrumbs.Expand

The star ingredient in this rich cake is a pasta variety called makaruli—in shape similar to penne or ziti. Traditionally prepared in round cake tins, a thin layer of dough is used as a base, while the cooked makaruli are then layered inside with a fragrant mixture of ground almonds or walnuts, grated chocolate, cinnamon, and lemon zest. The entire combination is doused in a blend of melted butter and eggs, and the cake is neatly wrapped with the dough. As the name suggests, this cake is the signature dessert of the city of Ston, but it is commonly prepared and enjoyed throughout the region. It is one of the traditional desserts that do not have an exact time of origin but represent an authentic delicacy that was created by employing only locally available ingredients. In the past, torta was mainly associated with special and festive occasions, but nowadays it is a common staple in many traditional restaurants in the city of Ston and the surrounding area.Expand