Sarma
It’s difficult to describe the taste of sarma, which is referred to as wrapped in Turkish, and signifies grape leaves or stuffed cabbage throughout the Balkans. Sarma is stuffed cabbage stuffed with rice and minced meat and pork. In Albania is called japrak or dollma in Greek. Sarma is traditionally prepared at home, but some restaurants may serve it in the winter.
Grilled
The Balkans have grilled meat dishes as an essential part of their cuisine. Although pork is the most typical, chicken, lamb, and veal are available, too. You can find grilled meat on several Balkan menus. Grilled meat is found in several menus around Balkan countries. This meat is usually prepared in a variety of styles, including slow-cooked stew, cabbage, and peppers stuffed with it. They are grilled and served as street food, too.
Cevapi/Llukanik
Cevapi, Ćevapi, Cevapcici, and Ćevapčići are all common Balkan sausages. They are made up of pork, beef, and lamb, with varying proportions. Cevapi sausages are made by hand and do not contain sausage casing. They are served grilled as a street food.
Lamb cooked under the bell
The Balkans have a traditional way of cooking Lamb meat under a bell. This bell-shaped lid is known as sač or saç and is used to cook Lamb or any other meat. It is buried in hot embers and cooked slowly for several hours until it falls apart. This method gives to the meat a juicy taste, spread of flavor and aromas. It has its origins in Ottoman cuisine and is widespread in Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and others.
Gulash
Originated in Austro-Hungary, Goulash is the Balkans’ staple food. In the Balkans, it is a thick stew made from beef, veal, pork, lamb, or sometimes wild game meat. Gulash is filled with onion, pepper, tomato, and carrots. It is eaten as a primary meal with pasta, potatoes, or polenta in Albania, Kosovo, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia.
Pljeskavica
In the Balkan, every country has its own way of serving a burger. Milovan Mića Stojanović, Tito’s personal chef, is credited with developing the pljeskavica recipe.
The burger is served with sliced onions, shredded cabbage, and ajvar sauce. The patties are slightly charred, giving them a nice crunch.
Kebap/Cevapi
You must eat kebap if you aren’t a vegetarian. Kebap is a grilled meat mixture, similar to a meatball, but longer. The main ingredients are pork, beef, and lamb, along with garlic, baking soda, paprika, salt, and parsley. Sometimes you may find it filled with white cheese (kajmak). It is typically served with bread and onion, or with pita-bread in Greece. It is a popular street food in Albania, Kosovo, Greece and Serbia. In Albania, they may serve it with bread and salad for dinner.
Gyros
A gyro is a well-known and favorite Greek dish made with grilled spiced meat shaved off a vertical rotisserie. Gyros are typically served with pita-bread, fried potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki.
It is similar to the Turkish, Lebanese, and Mexican versions of this dish, respectively. Pork and chicken are common choices for gyros, but it may serve beef and lamb sometimes depending on the region. This dish can be served also on a plate with pita-bread, fried potatoes, vegetables, tzatziki, and lemon on the side.
