When you think of Slovenia, your mind might drift off to pristine nature and rich culture. Both are absolutely true, but did you know that Slovenian cooking is without a doubt one of the country’s unheralded strengths? Slovenian vegetarian food uses fresh local ingredients and combines them to create the most delicious cuisine.
The cuisine borrows a little something from its neighboring countries: Hungary, Italy, and Austria. While traditionally heavily meat-based, the Slovenians emphasize the use of fresh and local ingredients which in practice means a multitude of amazing vegetarian Slovenian food to try!
This food guide will run you through some of the traditional elements of Slovenian food as well as some vegetarian dishes you should make sure to try while visiting.
Staying in Ljubljana for a few days and looking for additional things to do? There are plenty of cool day trips including one to the famous Lake Bled!
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Slovenian cuisine is an exquisite mix of Mediterranean and Eastern-European cuisine. I would venture out on a limb and say that it offers the best of both worlds. Fresh produce and olive oil/pumpkin seed oil are the basis for every meal, seasoned well with any of these frequently used spices: sweet marjoram, mint, sage, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, cinnamon, and black pepper.
Time to explore some of the traditional vegetarian Slovenian foods you will find on most menus around the country.
Slovenian Buckwheat
This neglected grain forms one of the main staples of the (vegetarian) Slovenian food. It is grown in Slovenia and is, therefore, a very popular ingredient for bread, dumplings, or as a side dish. The white flowers of buckwheat are a favorite of the honeybees, who produce buckwheat honey.
A well-known dish you might want to try is the delicious Buckwheat Porridge (ajdovi žganci z ocvirki). Make sure your porridge does not contain pork for flavoring. Other delicacies made with buckwheat are dumplings filled with cottage cheese (ajdovi krapi).
Slovenian Honey
Although not technically vegetarian Slovenian food, this staple could not be omitted from the list. In 2011, Slovenia was one of the first EU countries to prohibit the use of pesticides harmful to the bees and their environment. One in two hundred Slovenians is actually a beekeeper and together they produce over 2000 Tons of honey a year.
Beekeeping is one of the oldest crafts in Slovenia. In fact, in the olden days the bees were considered part of the family – the head of the family would talk to the beehive to inform them of important changes in the family.
Slovenian Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil is a deep green color and has a slightly nutty taste. The oil is produced in the Štajerska and Prekmurje regions of Slovenia. The seeds are roasted and pressed and produce this liquid gold called pumpkin seed oil. It is used as a salad dressing, drizzled on soups, or even on bread – much like olive oil in Italy.
It is also a popular ingredient for vegetarian dishes in Slovenian cuisine (stews, vegetable dishes). If you are feeling adventurous you can drizzle some pumpkin seed oil on vanilla ice cream to enhance to taste! Pumpkin seed oil is also heavily used in Northern Croatian cuisine.
Slovenian Dandelion
Another example of the perfect vegetarian Slovenian food is the use of dandelions, preferably freshly picked during springtime. The fresh leaves are known for their many health benefits and are served in fresh salads or mixed with potatoes and/or kidney beans– be sure to try the vegetarian version of Regratova Solata.
Potatoes
The most common side dish served on the Slovenian menu. The potato is so highly regarded in Slovenia that there are numerous festivals and sayings dedicated to this humble vegetable. It forms the core ingredient for traditional stews and dumplings (kostel potato dumplings, kocovi krapi pockets, štruklj) and is even eaten together with eggs to make a delicious omelet (krumpentoč, frika).
You get the picture, as a vegetarian (and even a non-vegetarian) you will be eating a lot of potatoes when savoring the many delights of vegetarian Slovenian food.
Slovenian Fruits
For those with a sweet tooth, fruit is an essential element. Apple, pear, and plum orchards can be found all over the country and are widely used to make desserts or spirits (schnapps!). Make sure you try the Slovenian strudelj (Strüdl). There are all sorts of varieties including cherry, apricot, peach, plum, and o fcourse apple strudelj (Juhm).
If all else fails, you could live on the different varieties of studelj or vegetarian štruklj (filled dumplings) throughout your stay in Slovenia. But that really would mean you are missing out on the wealth of the vegetarian Slovenian food on offer!
Tours to discover (vegetarian) Slovenian food
If you happen to be in Ljubljana, be sure to try their local food tour. The tour is around 3.5 hours long with 8 stops and it takes you around the best spots in Ljubljana, showcasing the best foods the country has to offer and there was wine! Have a look here. The tour caters to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians!
If you are not able to book a tour, you can take a self-guided food tour thanks to the online guide created by Ljubljana Yum. You can download the guide for a mere 6€! The eBook is mobile-friendly and contains tons of hidden gems and awesome wine bars.
Slovenia is such an amazing part of Europe, with plenty of beautiful places to see! It is worth spending at least one week in to get a bit of a feel for the country.
Vegetarian Slovenian dishes you have to try
I have touched upon a few vegetarian-friendly dishes in the above paragraph, let’s examine a few more dishes that need to go on your list of things to try when you are visiting Slovenia!
Žganci
Made from buckwheat and cooked for fifteen minutes in a large bowl, very much like one would cook porridge. Add milk, honey, or runny yogurt and you have the perfect hearty and typical vegetarian Slovenian breakfast.
Struklji
Possibly the most popular vegetarian Slovenian food. Traditionally štruklji are made with filo pastry and have a filling of your choice. The most common vegetarian alternative is made with ricotta cheese filling or a buckwheat walnut variety. Both are usually eaten as side dishes. For those of you with a sweet tooth, štruklji also comes with a variety of fruit fillings usually served with breadcrumbs on top at the end of a meal.
The central market in Ljubljana has a restaurant where they serve more than 20 kinds of different štruklji. They are freshly prepared each day!
Ričet
A delicious thick barley soup or the Slovenian version of minestrone. Usually, this vegetarian dish is served with barley, beans, potatoes, carrots, parsley, celery, leeks, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Sometimes a sneaky bit of meat will be added, so be sure to ask in advance if the soup is vegetarian.
Burek
This traditional Yugoslavian dish is made out of filo pastry, the vegetarian version is filled with cheese and the traditional version comes with a meat filling. This crunchy and greasy (vegetarian) Slovenian fast food is one of the nation’s favorites. The best burek in Ljubljana can be found in Nobel Burek.
Apple Strudel
Strudel is a sweet pastry filled with delicious warm apples and cinnamon. It is commonly found in Austria and parts of Germany as well as in Slovenia. This vegetarian-friendly Slovenia dessert is wonderful as an afternoon snack with a warm cup of coffee. Found on pretty much every menu around Slovenia.
Bled Cake
Known locally as Kremsnita or Kremna Rezina is a cream cake made out of sweet puff pastry delicately placed on top of a thick layer of delicious cream and custard and topped off with a healthy sprinkling of powder sugar. Another delicacy dating back to the Austro- Hungarian Empire and one you will want to savor while overlooking the beautiful Lake Bled.
Have your pick of places to try this vegetarian-friendly Slovenian food (I say food because the portions are generous enough to fill you up) while chilling out at one of the many eateries dotted around the mesmerizing lake. The original version of this cake was created in the Park Hotel where to this day reportedly 3,500 slices of Kremna Rezina are served every day
Potica
A sweet pastry usually filled with walnuts, poppy seeds, and tarragon. These traditional flavors are often found in Slovenian cuisine and come together beautifully in this traditional Slovenian dessert. You can’t get more traditional than this cake. It is a favorite around the holidays!
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