DOMAĆA ZIMNICA: INOVATIVNI OKUSI UMJESTO KONFEKCIJSKIH Nešto starinsko, nešto moderno, a sve – fino
Written by: Maja Celing Celić
Our taste buds are on the lookout for more - all kinds of textures and tastes to outshine the products from supermarket shelves
"What are you having for Frühstück?" - that would be my grandmother in the morning before I’d have a chance to wake up. I would answer with a question: "What's there?"
I knew exactly what was on offer, I was just buying time. As a full-blooded Swabian, she would not hesitate.
"Bread and jam, honey, cheese, cream, milk, lard, ajvar, sausage…"
"Are there any biscuits?"
"What biscuits! There's jam. I can make you some bread in milk."
I wasn't even allowed to ask about cold cuts, because who in their right mind eats store-bought stuff when there is plenty of homemade food at home.
Nowadays it’s all a bit different. Most of us still have at least a jar or two of homemade jam, some pickled peppers or beetroot, a bag of hazelnuts from the village… However, our taste buds are on the lookout for more - all kinds of textures and tastes to outshine the products from supermarket shelves.
Fortunately, our producers are innovative, and they not only listen to our needs but create new trends, using traditional manufacturing to introduce food which is still new to these areas.

OPG Bošnjak’s Okra
OPG Bošnjak from Branjin Vrh has been making zimnica (pickled vegetables) for 16 years. This season, Ljubica and Andrija also made apricot, strawberry and plum jams, as well as beetroot, blackberry and mint juice, while their pickled vegetables are widely known. Ljubica is a true craftswoman, so her mason jars of mixed salad are little works of art - with eyes and smiles. There is one thing they stand out for, though, which is pickled okra. It won them a gold medal at the winter fair in Zagreb in 2019. "The pickling process is the same as with gherkins, and that's how you eat it, too. Moreover, okra has healing properties and I would recommend it to everyone, pickled or fresh, in a stew or tea", says the hard-working 74-year-old woman who does not find the work hard, and the only thing she complained about was the dry year. Still, she says, she feels great joy when her regular customers come back for more. Okra is just breaking through on the Croatian market, and we can say that the Bošnjak family are the leaders of this trend, and their pickled okra will certainly become a hit.
Ćućina Salata Calls for More
Ćućina pikant salata (Ćuća’s Spicy Salad), is a famous name from the Stipino brand’s range, created by Stipe Dumančić from Čeminac. This one, we promise, will keep you full all day.
"You have to try this," he told me at a team building event, apologising for not preparing anything vegan because he didn’t know. With some homemade bread, though, this was more than enough.
Carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, beans and paprika come together with homemade tomato passata, and the spicy taste just draws you in. The salad was named after Stipa's godmother Branka, known as Ćuća, from Brnaze near Sinj. You can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stipe Baranjac also produces ajvar and roasted peppers, and for your sweet tooth there are his strawberry, cherry and apricot jams.
Koritna Noodles and Pasta
For a complete meal, simply serve this salad with pasta. Slavonia is famous for its noodles, or rezanci - from the thin ones in the Sunday broth to the wide noodles - usually served with poppy seeds or walnuts, and with fish stew - so why not also have some with the salad. Biljana Miladinović from Koritna, near Đakovo, in the heart of Slavonia, produces this classic pasta using wheat flour and fresh eggs. She also makes "healthier" versions using spelt, rye and buckwheat flour, in all the forms and shapes you can imagine. The MilaBi range offers everything from pappardelle, fusilli, conchiglie, to thin, wide or lace noodles. For those who like their plates colourful, they also make green noodles with spinach and red noodles with beets.
Parenjica - Spiral Steamed Cheese
For more than 20 years, the Lenđel family from Podolje has been breeding dairy cows that live on the generous pastures of Baranja. The animals are free-range, living a life of freedom and movement, and the family takes great care of their well-being. They produce a range of products using their milk - from yogurt to fresh, boiled and steamed cheese called parenjica. This cheese is made in several stages, and steaming gives it elasticity and a special texture. It is formed into thin strips and rolled into the shape of a bun. There are a few versions of the Lenđel parenjica - basic, with chilli, spring onions or ham, all giving the cheese a unique savoury taste.
The Red Gold of Kopačevo
If there is a special place on every shelf in Slavonia and Baranja, it would go to paprika. It is of utmost importance, to the extent that we use it in every single dish. Sometimes just enough to give it colour, for example in a pea stew. According to many, good paprika is hard to find, the main question being what it is you’re looking for - colour or richness of flavour. Tamara Lakatoš from Kopačevo reveals that the Zoe variety carries plenty of seeds which give it a rich taste, the Bolero is fragrant and has a nice colour, while the hot peppers are there for those who like it spicy. The Lakatoš family produce it themselves, including transplanting, all the care, irrigation, harvesting, drying, several rounds of sorting, and then grinding by hand. It does not come as a surprise that we call it our red gold. Tamara reveals a trick - she adds the paprika in as soon as she starts cooking, for it to completely merge with the dish. "If you add it towards the end," laughs the vegetable gardener, "you’re risking heartburn."

The Pleasant Taste of Blackberry Vinegar
Fruit vinegar is known to relieve heartburn symptoms. OPG Koprivčić’s blackberry vinegar is one of the latest additions to the Croatian market. This family has been growing berries for blackberry wine since the end of the ‘90s. After seeing gastronomy rise both globally and in the region, they decided to do something new.
"Using wine, quality blackberries and experimenting with spices, we tried to produce a type of vinegar our close family and friends would instantly love," says Ana, adding those customers like it for its subtle, pleasant taste. "It goes well with salads such as lettuce, arugula, radicchio, tomato, and beetroot. Top chefs love adding it to all kinds of dishes", she reveals and concludes that the most rewarding feeling is to have customers contact them after trying their blackberry vinegar in a restaurant or at a friend's house.
Healthy Snacks
Hazelnuts are the new walnuts in Slavonia. Their production is on the rise, providing us with innovative, fun and healthy products. The Habada family from Đakovo have been growing hazelnuts since 2015, and the young entrepreneur Anita Habada has been using them for some interesting products. With great love and dedication, she makes healthy snacks under the well-known Lješnjak Habada brand. There are several different flavours in addition to the basic toasted, such as salty, caramel and chocolate covered hazelnut. This summer they became holders of the Rural Quality label of excellence, which is proof of the highest quality of homemade products from Slavonia and Baranja.
Three Versions of Hazelnut Spread
The Đakovo region is home to another small hazelnut plantation, that of Damir and Ivana Hajduković from Tenja near Osijek. For several years now, they have been processing all their harvest into a range of different products, some of which are seasonal. Their range includes hazelnut and plum jam energy bars, as well as products made for market testing, such as salted hazelnuts with Mediterranean herbs, onions and pepper, which have quickly become part of their rich assortment. However, their most popular products have always been hazelnut spreads which come in three versions: Nuttea with 70% hazelnuts and dark chocolate, a fit version containing 91% hazelnuts, organic cocoa and agave syrup, and Nuttino butter made from hazelnuts and hazelnuts only. Interestingly, their products were named after their children - daughter Tea and son Tin, who actively participate in the creation of the products.
Hemp it up
Hemp has been grown in Slavonia for centuries, becoming especially important in the 19th and first half of the 20th century. Back then, it was used in the textile industry and as livestock feed. After almost a century of stagnation, it has made a comeback through a still small but increasingly important door. With the development of nutrition science and increasing concern about what we eat, it found its place. The Kalić family from Đakovo recognised this and started growing hemp 10 years ago, now offering more than 40 different products. Their range includes hemp oil, flour, tea, homemade honey with finely ground seeds, chocolate, and a must-try spread, all under the now recognizable Croaticanna brand.

Winter Market and Čvarak Fest
The Winter Fair and Čvarak Fest, which takes place at the end of November in the Baranja village of Karanac, is one of the most authentic events in this part of Croatia. It celebrates tradition and the preparation of homemade products, especially pork cracklings, which have become a delicacy among all who enjoy delicious food.
Visitors can witness traditional methods of preparing čvarci and taste local products such as sausages, kulen, brandy and local cheeses. The atmosphere is complemented by traditional music, stalls with local handicrafts and exhibitions of old tools, faithfully evoking the village way of life.
This is an opportunity for visitors to experience the spirit of Slavonia and Baranja, taste the most delicious local products and connect with the traditions and customs of this region. In addition to gastronomic experiences, enjoy the wonderful landscape of Baranja and the hospitality of the locals, which makes this event a perfect combination of gastronomy, culture and history.

Edible Souvenirs:
OPG Bošnjak (winter stores) https://tzbaranje.hr/en/taste/homemade-products/
Stipino (sauces, juices) https://www.facebook.com/stipinooo/about
Lenđel (cheese) https://www.facebook.com/p/Sirana-Len%C4%91el-100089254660847/
OPG Tak' slatko (hazelnut spreads) https://www.facebook.com/opgtakslatko/about
Koprivčić (blackberry wine or blackberry vinegar) https://www.facebook.com/kupinekoprivcicEUBATUS
OPG Završki (blackberry wine, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries) https://www.facebook.com/p/Opg-Zavrski-100027509936039/
OPG Kalić (hemp seed spreads) https://www.facebook.com/Croaticanna
Habada (candied hazelnut) https://www.facebook.com/ljesnjak.habada
OPG Tamara Lakatoš (paprika) https://www.facebook.com/tamara.lakatos.3
Milabi (pasta) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092251624854