World Food Day

Polenta withgarlic butter sauce and potato halves baked in “sač” oven are traditional dishes of Herzegovina. Once common in every household, today these dishes are delicacies to welcome dear guests.

Polenta is made from locally grown corn flour that is added to boiling salted water. It is then stirred, covered with a lid and cooked with occasional stirring until any remaining water evaporates. It can be served either topped with melted butter or with sour milk. Polenta topped with homemade sour milk mixed with melted butter garlic sauce is a special delicacy.

Once upon a time, potatoes were baked directly on the hearth while nowadays they are baked in a shallow pan (tepsija) which is covered with a cast iron dome called “sač”. The most important thing is to start a fire in a fireplace using good quality wood (oak, ash or hornbeam), let the fire burn until all the wood turns into charcoal. Cut the potatoes in half, add salt and place them in a shallow pan. Cover with a saçand bake for about an hour. Potato halves are best served with homemade fresh cheese or bellows cheese.

(Željka Šaravanja)