Serbian dishes for autumn: Top 5 recipes you must try

1. Prebranac - Traditional beans with onions 

Category: Savory dish / main dish

Prebranac is one of the favorite dishes for cold days. The rich taste of dried beans combined with lots of onions makes it ideal for lunch with fresh bread.

Ingredients:

• 500 g of beans
• 3 large black onions
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 dl of oil
• 2 bay leaves
• A teaspoon of ground paprika (spicy or sweet to your choice)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

• Soak the beans in water and let them stand overnight.
• Cook the beans until soft (but not too soft, so they don't fall apart) and drain.
• Fry the onion and garlic in the oil until soft and golden. Add bay leaf and paprika.
• Layer the beans and onions in an oiled pan. Bake in the oven at 180°C for about 30-40 minutes, until everything is nicely browned.

Tip:

Prebranac is even better when it stands for a day. Serve it with sauerkraut or pickles for a full fall meal.

2. Sweet pumpkin pies - Fragrant autumn on a plate

Category: Sweet dish / dessert

Pumpkin is the queen of autumn, and pumpkin pie is an indispensable dessert. This recipe is simple and requires only a few ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 500 g of grated pumpkin
• 500 g thin pie crusts
• 150 g of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 50 g of chopped walnuts
• 1 dl of oil
• Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Preparation:

• Grate the pumpkin and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Apply a little oil to each crust, then spread the grated pumpkin on top and sprinkle with walnuts.
• Twist the crusts into rolls and arrange them on a greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 200°C for about 30 minutes, until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Tip:

This pie is great with afternoon coffee or tea. For more ideas about traditional desserts, we recommend the book "Serbian Cuisine Through the Ages".

3. Homemade sarma - Queen of winter meals

Category: Savory dish / main dish

Sauerkraut and minced meat in perfect combination make sarma one of the most popular dishes in Serbian cuisine. Although its preparation requires a little time, the result is worth the effort.

Ingredients:

• 1 head of sauerkraut
• 500 g of mixed minced meat
• 1 cup of rice
• 1 onion
• 1 teaspoon of allspice
• Bay leaf
• 100 g of smoked bacon (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

• Fry finely chopped onions in oil, add meat and rice, then season with paprika, salt and pepper.
• Take the sauerkraut leaves, put a spoonful of the mixture on each leaf and wrap it in a sarma.
• Arrange the sardines in a deep pan, add a bay leaf and, if desired, a piece of smoked bacon for extra flavor. Pour water to cover everything.
• Cook on low heat for at least two hours.

Tip:

Sarma is even tastier when left overnight. For even more recipes for sauerkraut dishes, we recommend the book "Serbian specialties for every occasion".

Conclusion: Make autumn tasty and simple!

Enjoying traditional Serbian dishes is part of the culture that connects us with the past and nurtures the spirit of community. Prebranac, pumpkin pie and sarma are just some of the specialties that are easy to prepare and provide warmth on cold autumn days.

For those who want to explore even more recipes and perfect the preparation of Serbian dishes, we recommend the following books:

• Serbian Cook Book - Milica Jehlička
• TITO`S COOKBOOK - ANJA DRULOVIĆ
• SERBIAN CUISINE (II IZDANJE) - OLIVERA GRBIĆ ENG
  

Stay tuned for more recipes and tips, and let us know what your favorite fall dishes are!