A cheese pie with ingredients and size depending only on your desire, gibanica is a trademark of this region and a dish that indispensably finds its place in the culinary offer of Serbia
If there is a dish you can find in Serbia and in no other country, that would be gibanica (a kind of pie).
Serbian cuisine was formed under influence of various national cuisines. Despite that, it turned out new and original, and local specialties rich in taste became pretty well-known.
Other countries in the region have their own similar versions, but a pie like this you can eat only in Serbia. And its taste – finger licking good.
In the first place, gibanica is a pie made only with cheese. But not any cheese! It has to be a traditional homemade cow’s milk cheese, the kind you buy directly from farmers at the market place. People not living in the region are usually unfamiliar with its specific taste and shouldn’t miss a chance to try this specialty as well. Other ingredients needed for gibanica are eggs, water, oil and filo dough.
There are different ways to “pack” the cheese inside filo dough, but the specialty around here is gibanica called “gužvara” (crumpled pie). Except the first sheet of filo dough, all the others are well soaked in a dressing made of cheese, eggs and water, crumpled and lined up in a casserole, in which they are well baked later. This dish can be ordered in almost any restaurant in Serbia, and if you like pies you will certainly enjoy this one.
Is gibanica a first course, main course or a side dish? Should you eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner? In Serbia, the answer to all of these dilemmas is “yes”.
In the morning, eaten with yogurt it can be a fine and tasty breakfast that will make you enjoy the beginning of the day. If you eat it for lunch, it is a great first course that will open your appetite for the main course. In that occasion it goes best with cold beer. And after a long and hard day, when you return home exhausted, some hot gibanica will make you relax and get in a better mood.
If you haven’t got time to sit and enjoy your meal but would rather grab some fast food, gibanica could be your choice. You can find it in any bakery, grab a slice with some yogurt and continue your walk. Of course, the best way to enjoy gibanica is to order it in a “kafana” (traditional Serbian tavern).
Gibanica is one of the most popular dishes in Serbia. It is easily and quickly made and therefore perfect when some guests show up at your place unexpected. With just a bit of cooking skill, you can serve hot and fresh gibanica in less than an hour, and please your guests with a dish everyone likes.
Besides, gibanica has its place at the table of any celebration in Serbia, especially the traditional ones. Served as first dish, while guests are still arriving and exchanging greetings with their host, the scent of hot gibanica will open everyone’s appetite.
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