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Traditional Montenegrin breakfast
Start your day in a local way! Have a rich, nutritive breakfast, that not only would satiate you for a long time, but that will also be natural, local and provide your organism good proteins and carbs.
As in many Slavic countries, also in Montenegro, breakfasts are an important meal during the day. It has to be rich, give a lot of energy and be well balanced. It should include proteins, carbs, and fats. No simple oatmeal, fresh fruits salads or croissants and brioches. These breakfasts should include meat, cheese, bread and additionally some vegetables. Apart from that, a cup of hot coffee or tea is a must.
Delightful home-made products
To continue this tradition, Montenegrin homemade products play an important role in the breakfast. Apart from wonderful, smelly and aromatic breads, local products are on a daily basis. Regional cheese, ham, sausages and jams. It is usually served with some butter or with a dense, thick, salty sour cream. The second option is not so popular, but still, in some places you might get it.
How does a traditional Montenegrin breakfast look like?
The most typical set includes a couple of slices of a regional cheese (the type of the cheese depends on the region where you are staying), some meat (sausage, ham, salami etc.), boiled or fried eggs and some vegetables (usually that is bell pepper, tomato chunks or cucumbers). The breakfast is served with a local bread that very often is still made at home. It is a kind of a white bread made of a wheat flour. It is fluffy and delicate.
Cheese types and tastes are different from what you might know. Very often you will get a goat or a sheep cheese instead of a regular one made from cow’s milk. These cheeses have their specific flavor, some different smell, and are significantly saltier. Their taste is more distinguishable and stronger.
Sausages and salamis are relatively fatty. They have both wide and big meat and fat chunks. Although that is good and tasty, the amount of the fat in them is sometimes too big and it is hard to eat more than a slice or two of it. It is not like a Parma ham or a regular ham from any supermarket. These meat products are aromatic, well-seasoned and have a mild spiciness. However, they are salty what makes the whole breakfast even saltier. Remember that the Montenegrin cheese is usually also salty, as is sour cream. But it is still very good and really worth trying. Actually, it is such a good, homemade meal, that you could eat it for a long time, and will not be tired with it.
Eggs are also commonly served. The way of serving them depends on the family. They can be hard or soft boiled, fried, or rarer, scrambled. These eggs, as they are organic and natural, have a wonderful yolk color and have an aroma that is never in eggs from supermarkets.
Have a cup of Turkish coffee with your breakfast
Apart from that, coffee is served. Usually it is a black, strong coffee, that is called a Turkish coffee. However, I would say, it has nothing to do with the coffee you would drink in Turkey. Although it is good and strong, the brewing method is different. More or less, Montenegrin way of preparing a Turkish coffee, is to put a spoon or two of it into a small cup and fill it with boiling water. There is no boiling or cooking it. Cups are also bigger, but the strength is comparable. While a black coffee is the most popular one, you will not have a problem with ordering it with milk too. It is up to you, however, I think it is good to try a local, black coffee at least once, as only thanks to that you will be able to distinguish its all aromas. Of course, this breakfast coffee is not of the best quality, it is just a regular one, but still a good one. Its strength is remarkable, so if you prefer something milder in the morning, or rather would prefer a less harsh flavor, take it with milk. It will definitively also give you a good morning kick!
Author: Beti – A passionate traveler and lover of Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Japanese dishes, Bernadeta brings her culinary and cultural experiences to life in her writing. Beyond her travels, she’s an avid technology enthusiast with a deep interest in data processing, merging her love for exploration with analytical insights.
Photographer: Adalbert – An aficionado of computers and photography, Adalbert captures the essence of diverse cuisines with a discerning eye. A connoisseur of rich flavors and particularly fond of meat-based dishes, he combines his technical skills with his passion for the culinary arts in every shot.
EAT IN ASIA / Food destinations / Other food destinations / Europe - european food / Montenegro - montenegrin food
