Dalmatia – Review, recipe and giveaway

Dalmatia: Recipes from Croatia’s Mediterranean Coast by Ino Kuvačić celebrates traditional recipes that capture the fresh, simple cuisine of the Dalmatian region. The title page has a stunning aerial view of the coast line that captured my heart immediately – any place this mesmerizing surely must be home to beautiful cuisine as well.

Ino Kuvačić is a Melbourne-based restaurateur who was born in Split, Croatia where he studied to be a chef. When he relocated to Australia in the late nineties, he worked in a few of the country’s most iconic restaurants. This debut cookbook stemmed from his desire to share the food of his native coastal homeland with the world. 

Scampi in Garlic, White Wine and Tomato, Cabbage Sausages, and Croatian Apple Cake along with other sweets unlike any I have come across await us in this beautiful book. Until I can walk along the shores of Croatia, I will be content to prepare and share the dishes of this magical locale. 

My grandmother was Croatian and even though I do not have deep feelings with regard to much of my family this book somehow strangely brings me closer to her. The cuisine of Dalmatia is frugal but inventive and that could be said of how my grandmother cooked. Tomorrow we are having guests over. I hope to make the cabbage with pasta sheets and the zucchini fritters we are sharing here today, I will come back later this weekend and update the post with my photographs if they turn out decently.

Special thanks to Hardie Grant for sharing this recipe that will be perfect to use up the zucchini flooding our gardens. Be sure to scroll down and enter our giveaway.

 

Zucchini fritters (Fritule od tikvica)
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This is one of my favourite dishes in the warmer months. When I was a child we used to have this for lunch before heading to the beach. My childhood memories are coloured by the bright blues and greens of the Croatian summer – the intense turquoise of the Adriatic Sea and the jewel green of the pine trees and our vegetable garden. Every time I eat zucchini fritters my mind is filled with the memory of these colours and the joys of summer.

SERVES 4-6 

3-4 zucchini (courgettes)
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 egg
handful dry breadcrumbs
50 g (1 3/4 oz) plain (all‑purpose) flour
vegetable oil, for shallow‑frying
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Grate the zucchini, season it with salt and put it in a colander set over a shallow plate or bowl. Place a plate on top of the grated zucchini and then something heavy on top of the plate to press the water out of the mixture.  

Leave the zucchini in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, then remove and squeeze out any excess liquid with clean hands.

Transfer the zucchini to a mixing bowl. Add the onion, egg, breadcrumbs and flour and mix well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Shape the mixture into small patties with your hands. They can be palm-sized – or whatever size you like.

Heat some vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook the patties until they are golden brown. Drain on paper towel then serve hot.

Excerpted with permission from Dalmatia by Ino Kuvačić, published by Hardie Grant Books May 2017.

The publisher, Hardie Grant, is offering three copies of this book to EYB Members in the US. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you like to try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. Please be sure to check your spam filters to make sure you receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on October 3rd, 2017.



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66 Comments

  • bevb  on  August 26, 2017

    My husbands family is from Split, Croatia. I NEED this amazing book!

  • lgroom  on  August 26, 2017

    The chicken and paprika stew sounds good.

  • kmn4  on  August 26, 2017

    Red and white baccalá (Bakalar na bijelo i na crveno)

  • rchesser  on  August 26, 2017

    Walnut pancakes with chocolate sauce (Palačinke)

  • Suzw  on  August 26, 2017

    Sauteéd vegetables with rice (Ðuveđ)

  • Shelley.b  on  August 26, 2017

    Zucchini pancakes

  • jaburg  on  August 26, 2017

    zucchini pancakes

  • lpatterson412  on  August 26, 2017

    I want to try the little doughnuts! Beautiful cover for a cookbook!

  • DarcyVaughn  on  August 26, 2017

    Mussel pasta with Dalmatian tomato sauce

  • WildCottage  on  August 26, 2017

    Duck with sauerkraut sounds interesting.

  • Siegal  on  August 27, 2017

    I want to mAke chicken and paprika stew

  • sgump  on  August 27, 2017

    The lentil, apple and pomegranate salad (salata od leće jabuke i nara) sounds nice and light!

  • LaurenE  on  August 27, 2017

    Zucchini fritters for sure!

  • bookreadera  on  August 28, 2017

    Partridge risotto, subbing in a Cornish game hen

  • Braco777  on  August 28, 2017

    The very first recipe: Carrot, capsicum and eggplant soup, since I have them in my fridge.
    By the way, if someone could send me the recipe?

  • hirsheys  on  August 28, 2017

    I'm so intrigued by the cabbage sausages.

  • lean1  on  August 28, 2017

    Dalamation mushrooms would be my first choice.

  • Ladyberd  on  August 28, 2017

    Goat's cheese crêpes with roast capsicum salsa – YUM!!!

  • Katiefayhutson  on  August 28, 2017

    Goat's cheese crepes with roast capsicum salsa!

  • lils74  on  August 28, 2017

    Pork skewers – the recipe list includes eggplant, so I'm in!

  • Leahspitzer  on  August 29, 2017

    Damnatian mushrooms. We have a trip,planned to Croatia next year, would love to try some Dalmatian recipes!

  • RSW  on  August 29, 2017

    Sour Cherry Soup

  • lhudson  on  August 30, 2017

    Potato dumplings with beef sauce

  • sarahawker  on  August 30, 2017

    Lentil, apple and pomegranate salad (Salata od leće jabuke i nara)

  • FrenchCreekBaker  on  August 30, 2017

    I think the addition of figs in the pear strudel makes for an intriguing recipe. Pear Strudel it is,

  • InAHealthyKitchen  on  August 30, 2017

    The cherry soup sounds amazing. I'd love to make it.

  • love2chow  on  August 31, 2017

    Carrot, capsicum and eggplant soup (Juha od mrkve, balancana i crvene paprike), Duck with sauerkraut (Patka sa zeljem)

  • robynsanyal  on  August 31, 2017

    Fish soup (Riblja juha)

  • chowfamily  on  September 1, 2017

    Mussel pasta with Dalmatian tomato sauce

  • t.t  on  September 2, 2017

    Stuffed capsicums (Punjene paprike)

  • sweetmarah  on  September 2, 2017

    White bean salad

  • dna  on  September 2, 2017

    zucchini fritters

  • jim.windle  on  September 2, 2017

    Partridge risotto

  • br22  on  September 2, 2017

    The Chicken and Paprika Stew; then the Tomato & Green Bean Salad.

  • Lafauvette  on  September 2, 2017

    Definitely the zucchini fritters!

  • njk4  on  September 2, 2017

    So many c, I'll start with the stuffed eggplanthoices

  • LMS209  on  September 2, 2017

    Dried Fig Bombice

  • RickPearson54  on  September 2, 2017

    White bean salad

  • WCchopper  on  September 2, 2017

    Mmm brudet!

  • mpdeb98  on  September 2, 2017

    Chicken and paprika stew

  • sequoia55  on  September 3, 2017

    Chicken and Paprika Stew;

  • sequoia55  on  September 3, 2017

    Chicken and paprika stew

  • soffner  on  September 4, 2017

    Grilled potato and spring onion salad

  • fbrunetti  on  September 5, 2017

    Red and white baccalá

  • davisesq212  on  September 6, 2017

    Mussel pasta with Dalmatian tomato sauce is what I would try first!

  • motherofpearl81  on  September 7, 2017

    Zucchini Fritters

  • JenJoLa  on  September 7, 2017

    Walnut pancakes with chocolate sauce (Palačinke)

  • tarae1204  on  September 7, 2017

    Lentil, apple and pomegranate salad

  • bstewart  on  September 8, 2017

    The grilled potato and spring onion salad

  • choppergirl  on  September 8, 2017

    Croatian potatoes (Restani krumpir)

  • fiarose  on  September 8, 2017

    oh man, mediterranean food–this is gonna be a long list. carrot, capsicum and eggplant soup, baked black olives, dalmatian mushrooms, eggplant, potato, and tomato bake, tomatoes stuffed with vegetables, dalmatian fish stew, octopus salad, eel and frogs legs stew (how cool!), lamb stew with tomatoes and peas, dried fig bombice…this looks so beautiful!

  • Karla123  on  September 9, 2017

    Dalmatian mushrooms…these would taste so good this fall.

  • PennyG  on  September 9, 2017

    Potato dumplings with beef sauce.

  • mrmoas  on  September 9, 2017

    Dried fig cake mmm

  • AnnaZed  on  September 10, 2017

    Baked black olives (Pečene masline) (page 27)

    **whoops*** I mistakenly put this info in my tweet entry, and can't change it! Here's my tweet: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/907102141256409088
    ******************
    {in the contest I am Margot C__ on the Rafflecopter}

  • skipeterson  on  September 11, 2017

    Lobster risotto (Rižot od jastoga)

  • matag  on  September 12, 2017

    Potato dumplings with beef sauce

  • kitchenclimbers  on  September 14, 2017

    goat cheese crepes

  • ladybrooke  on  September 15, 2017

    Chocolate bombiće

  • Julia  on  September 17, 2017

    Tomatoes Stuffed with Tuna and Capers.

  • Scotsman61  on  September 27, 2017

    Zucchini fritters With Duck with sauerkraut

  • Teruska  on  September 27, 2017

    Stuffed calamari

  • rachael_mc  on  September 30, 2017

    Dalmatian mushrooms

  • orchidlady01  on  October 1, 2017

    Grilled potato and spring onion salad (Pole od krumpira s mladim lukom)

  • Leebot  on  October 1, 2017

    Spring lamb stew with tomato and peas (Janjetina s bižima)

  • Cmgitan  on  October 2, 2017

    Artichokes Dalmatian-style!

Seen anything interesting? Let us know & we'll share it!