Introduction: Čvarkuše, Croatian Little Treats

These rich salty flaky pastries called čvarkuše are a traditional drinking snack recipe from Croatia and is the perfect pair to a cold beer.

Step 1: Ingredients:

  • 80 gr flour sifted
  • 1 egg
  • 2-3 tbl. white wine
  • 1 tbl. lard or butter cold cubed
  • 1 cube fresh yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 dl milk
  • 40 gr. pork cracklings (optionally ham)
  • 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp of water to use as an egg wash

Step 2: Procedure:

  • Crush the yeast into the milk and the sugar and leave to rise.
  • Put the flour in a large bowl, make a hole in the middle, add salt and put the yeast mixture inside.
  • Knead well until everything is incorporated adding a bit more milk if needed. Add the wine, the egg, the lard and the cracklings (or butter and ham if using).
  • Knead until the dough is elastic and soft. Let rest for half an hour covered with a damp towel. Knead three times more with half hour intervals for resting in between.
  • Roll out the dough and cut with a floured round cookie cutter. Make sure you do not twist it, just lift the cutter up and press the dough out.
  • Arrange the Čvarkuše in a baking tray. Using a pastry brush, brush the top of the scone with beaten egg yolk.
  • Bake in a 200 o C preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the Čvarkuše turned golden brown. Enjoy!

The perfect pair to a cold beer recipe from Mediterranean, don't forget to share this.