Herzegovina on Keto – a place where tradition respects nature

Herzegovina is the place where Greek Goes Keto team spends the winter! As you might have already read in the article about our road trip, we move a lot. But most of the year we spend in the land in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. You would be surprised with Keto friendly food available here! If you pay a visit to a local market, you will find the most amazing organic products, meat, fish, dairy and even awesome nuts! Above all, in Herzegovina, they have an amazing tradition in preparing smoked meat. Some even say that Herzegovinian prosciutto, or as they call it here Pršut, could be the tastiest meat delicacy in the world.

Our visit to the Herzegovinian marketplace

Dried and smoked meat tradition

As a zero carb person, I must say, I live in a real carnivore paradise. In this area, you can find all sorts of grass-fed, wild and organic meat for a really affordable price! Furthermore, meat curing and smoking tradition are taken to another level. In fact, as a Ketonian, you should consider this wonderful destination for your next Balkan visit. Nothing compares to Herzegovinian smoked bacon, or as they call it here Slanina. Not long ago on my Instagram account I made a joke and posted a photo of Herzegovinian smoked bacon and compared it with Adidas brand stripes. I guess it’s a local humour that makes me feel at home here. In Greece, everything is similar, but you can feel the difference in small details, such as the tradition of smoking meat.

Traditional “Izljevača” from Herzegovina

Well, besides several stews and pies, Herzegovinian typical villager’s cuisine is quite rustic. I wanted to pay a tribute to a local traditional dish, but, of course, I wanted to ketonise it! And when I say ketonise I mean no cereal flour, no potatoes, not even onion! You see, these three ingredients are typical for Izljevača!

Calling it Keto Izljevača

In the mountain villages and in the western part of Herzegovina, they have a tradition of baking something similar to baked pancakes or casserole with smoked bacon and cheese. This wonderful simple delicacy is also called Izljevača. The meaning would be “poured dough”. You literally make a dough with the consistency of pancake batter and add bacon and cheese. Then you bake it with lard in the oven. The smell and aroma of garlic from smoked bacon is unmatchable! The texture? Pure perfection!

Of course, we will not use wheat flour

To make a Keto bread or even Keto Pogacha, nothing replaces wheat flour better than a combination of almond and sunflower seed flours. With just a dash of coconut flour, you will get the most neutral combination. Of course, you have to use free-range eggs and another great ingredient – sparkling mineral water. Let’s get to Keto “Izljevača”

(Try not to break your tongue while pronouncing it as Izli-ye-va-cha)