National Dish of Slovenia Belokranjska Povitica

One of Slovenia’s most iconic dishes is Belokranjska Povitica. It is a cake similar to a strudel and it is traditionally made at family and village celebrations.

Servings

5 Person

Prep Time

55 Min

Cook Time

50 Min

Total Time

105 Min

For the Dough:
½ kg
For the Dough:
1
egg (beaten)
2 tbsp.
oil
1
pinch salt
1 tsp.
apple cider vinegar
1/3- ½ L
lukewarm water
2
For the Filling:
2-3 tsp.
salt /2-3 tsp. sugar (depending on sweet / savory version)
1
500g package ricotta cheese
7 tbsp.
0.1 L milk
13 ½ tbsp.
0.2 L sour cream
7/8 cup
200g butter
Raisins (for sweet version)
Pork cracklings (for savory version)
Egg wash

One of Slovenia’s most iconic dishes is Belokranjska Povitica. It is a cake similar to a strudel and it is traditionally made at family and village celebrations. This dish originated in southeastern Slovenia, in a village called Bela Krajina. There are sweet and savory versions of this dish.

Directions for Preparing Belokranjska Povitica

For the Dough:

  1. Knead together the flour, egg, salt, apple cider vinegar, and water for ten (0:10) minutes.
  2. Divide the ball of dough into four pieces.
  3. Shape into balls, brush them with oil, and allow to rest for thirty (0:30) minutes.
  4. Roll out the balls of dough into four very thin rectangles.
  5. Trim and discard any thick edges, then allow to rest for fifteen (0:15) minutes before spreading the filling.

For the Filling

  1. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with butter, sour cream, and milk.
  2. Use a hand mixer to incorporate the eggs and either salt (for the savory version) or sugar (for the sweet version).
  3. Mix until thick and creamy, then add raisins (for the sweet version) or pork cracklings (for the savory version).
  4. Divide the filling and spread it evenly onto each of the stretched dough rectangles.
  5. Roll each into long cylinders and tuck in the ends.
  6. Grease a circular baking pan, then arrange the four rolls in a continuous spiral.
  7. Brush the rolls with egg wash, then bake for thirty (0:30) minutes at 200 degrees F until golden brown.
  8. Slice and serve.

Slovenia is a country in central Europe that was part of Yugoslavia for most of the 20th century. Slovenia is a small but topographically diverse country made up of portions of four major European geographic landscapes—the European Alps, the karstic Dinaric Alps, the Pannonian and Danubian lowlands, and hills, and the Mediterranean coast.

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Belokranjska Povitica is one of the most iconic traditional dishes of Slovenia, originating in the southeastern region known as Bela Krajina. The dish is a rolled cake similar in technique to strudel, distinguished by its spiral arrangement and thin, hand-stretched dough. Povitica has deep roots in rural Slovenian life, where it was traditionally prepared for family celebrations, village feasts, religious holidays, and weddings. The ingredients reflect farmhouse cooking, using dairy products, eggs, and simple pantry staples. Over time, both sweet and savory versions developed, depending on availability and occasion. Sweet povitica is commonly filled with dairy mixtures and raisins, while savory versions may include pork cracklings or cheese-based fillings. The careful stretching of the dough until paper-thin is a skill passed down through generations and is considered essential to achieving the correct texture. Belokranjska Povitica represents craftsmanship, celebration, and regional identity. Today, it remains a symbol of Slovenian heritage and is still widely prepared in homes and featured at cultural festivals throughout the country.

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