Žganci

Žganci is a dish in Slovenian and Croatian cuisine, known as Sterz in Austria, pura on the Croatian coast, and also known in northern Italy. It is a traditional "poor man's food" of hard-working farmhands similar to polenta, although prepared with finer grains.

Ajdovi žganci with cracklings

Preparation

The dish is made from buckwheat flour (Slovene: Ajdovi žganci, German: Heidensterz), maize, wheat, or a combination of potato and wheat flour and water, cooking oil and salt, which is cooked for fifteen minutes on a low boil. The lump is then crumbled onto a plate for serving. Softer žganci is called Styrian style in Slovenia. Žganci can be served with milk (žganci z mlekom), honey, lard and cracklings, or runny yogurt. A savory version is served with meat as part of a main dish.

Žganci in Slovenia

Žganci was a typical everyday meal of the central and Alpine parts of Slovenia. Its popularity and common use is implied in the following witticism from the 19th century: "Žganci are the pedestal of Carniola." This attitude implies its crucial meaning for the survival of the population. Freshly boiled žganci could be served as breakfast or lunch, or warmed-up or toasted for dinner or breakfast the following day. Belsazar Hacquet (1739–1815) mentions that žganci was served with sauerkraut in Upper Carniola.[1] The oldest preparation method explains the word žganci. The word žganci is derived from the Slovenian verb žgati 'to burn, to toast'.[1]

See also

References
  1. Taste Slovenia. Bogataj Janez, 2007. Rokus Gifts. ISBN 978-961-6531-39-9
  • Media related to Žganci at Wikimedia Commons
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