Traditional BH gurabija dessert was on the list of the 100 worst-rated dishes in the world, where it ranked 90th with a score of 2.8.
Namely, the world gastronomic guide Taste Atlas recently published a list of the worst rated dishes according to their users. Thus, gurabija was also on the list, which was often considered a poor dessert because it did not require many ingredients.
“The classic Bosnian dessert, gurabija, is a type of round, flat shortbread cookie that is usually made from flour, sugar and oil. It is believed that this sweet specialty has Eastern origins, and is an indispensable part of the culture, tradition and culinary heritage of the entire Balkans.” they wrote on the Taste Atlas page.
They explained that gurabija can also come in different varieties, and ingredients such as eggs, baking powder or baking soda, butter or margarine, and dairy products such as cream, yogurt or milk are often added.
An indispensable ingredient is certainly sugar, and Taste Atlas points out that gurabija is sprinkled with vanilla powder or vanilla sugar, and some also add lemon zest, nuts and dried fruits.
“Apart from the ingredients used to make the dessert, cookies can also differ in size, shape and decoration.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, cookies are often decorated with a fork or a knife, while the real distinguishing feature of Bosnian gurabija is the sugar cube that is pressed into the middle of the cookie before baking,” they explained.
They also stated that gurabija can be found with a slightly different taste in Albania, Macedonia and Serbia. They especially highlighted the Tuzla gurabija, which are made with the addition of apple jam.
“The Bosnian city of Tuzla, on the other hand, is famous for its gurabijas with apple jam (boiled apple juice), a variant that is characteristic of Bosnian Muslims. These cookies know no religious boundaries because they are prepared by Muslims alike for religious holidays and celebrations and Christians,” they point out.
Gurabija is usually served with a cup of coffee or tea, and you can also eat them for breakfast with a cup of milk.
