The science and nutrition behind the viral Balkan breakfast

TikTok’s version of the “Balkan breakfast,” which essentially includes variations of the same whole, raw ingredients, has a distinctly rural flavor, he explains. While summer breakfast dishes are more of a celebration of tomatoes, sweet peppers, and watermelon (á la “Balkan breakfast”), hearty, flavorful porridge made from buckwheat or polenta are common winter dishes, especially in colder, mountainous regions. Many ingredients are also regional, such as Albania’s crepe-like ingredients. fljaor prosciutto, Pechenicaand other cured meats from the Dalmatia region of Croatia.

Contrary to what social media would have you believe, not every day is a big spread opportunity. Usually breakfast is just a pastry, for example burek and a Turkish coffee or a glass of yoghurt. But weekends may call for more elaborate entrees, including platters of poached eggs with steamed vegetables. kajmak and other homemade soft cheeses, vegetable preserves such as the popular sweet bell pepper and eggplant relish Ayvarand layered pastries filled with everything from meat to vegetables to jam. Pickled vegetables and preserved fruits are common in the Balkans. Portions are often small, and he adds with a laugh: “We use plates and cutlery.”

Although traditional in the Balkans, small plate-style dining is not unique to the region.

“This culture is broadly Mediterranean,” says Ken Albala, a food historian and professor at the University of the Pacific, pointing to similar food offerings such as Spanish tapas, Basque pinchos and Italian antipasto platters. Breakfasts filled with fresh, whole ingredients are common in Turkey, Egypt and the far east such as Israel or Lebanon. “I can’t think of what makes this distinctly Balkan.”

Benefits of Balkan style breakfast

When it comes to Balkan breakfasts, the overall emphasis on convenience, simplicity and fresh local ingredients makes for a healthy and adaptable morning routine.