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Two indispensable spices of Dalmatian cuisine
Dalmatian cuisine follows the trend of modern food norms. Light cooking of food (mostly in water or on the grill) and a lot of fish, olive oil, vegetables and wild herbs that can be found along the coast is the reason why this cuisine is considered very healthy.
Although, even today, each area prepares certain dishes in its own, unique way, Dalmatian cuisine represents a separate world because of its rare spices.
You need to know the flaws and virtues of every spice, in order for your dish to be perfect. Therefore, we bring you the two most basic spices of Dalmatian cuisine, but of course as everything in Dalmatia those spices sometimes have more purpose than just spices.
Lovor - Laurel
Mediterranean plant that is very often used to shape ornamental hedges. It is a shrubby, evergreen plant that can grow up to 3m in height. It takes many years to achieve larger dimensions as it grows very slow. The leaves are dark green, firm, and the shape is Lancelot. It is also specific because there are male and female plants. Female plants after flowering are producing dark purple berries for about 1cm long. It has a long tradition since laurel wreaths were crowned by the winners of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece.
In the kitchen, it is most often used in the preparation of main dishes, but also as an ingredient in various marinades. Pay attention to the amount, since only half a leaf is enough for the dish to take on the taste of laurel.
Dried Laurel leaves drive insects out of the closet, and it’s also helpful to put it among old books in the attic so their leaves don’t turn yellow. Laurel tea helps with sore throats and stimulates digestion. The essential oil is also very useful in treating rheumatic pains and sprains. If you have dry and cracked hands, you can restore their moisture by soaking your palms in a bowl of lukewarm water in which you have previously boiled a few leaves of Laurel, walnuts and celery.
Ružmarin - Rosemary
Rosemary is a shrubby evergreen plant. It has small, narrow and leathery petals with white, blue and purple flowers. A plant that belongs to the Mediterranean macchia and has a mild climate. In addition to being delicious, rosemary is also very beautiful, the ancient Greeks even called it a "beautiful flower", so you can often find it in gardens where it is an ornamental plant.
In cuisine it is most often used as a spice for preparing various meals, it should only be used with caution because it can overpower other flavors in larger quantities.
It is known for its many healing properties, improves digestion and is used as a means of strengthening the whole organism. In addition, rosemary essential oil strengthens the body and stimulates hair growth. It is also good for treating muscle pain, gout, rheumatism and neck pain. It is also an integral part of many massage creams, lotions and scented baths. Toothpastes with the addition of rosemary strengthen the gums, while the plant is also used for the care of the oral cavity, especially in the case of aphthae.
