What is Gibanica?
Gibanica is a very popular Balkan cake bowl often made of dough and cheese. Depending on the region and the personal preference of the chef, this pastry may be either spicy or sweet, dessert or side dish. The dough is often made of yeast or filo dough, while the filling is usually made of white cheeses. Some recipes may also require honey or sugar, dried fruits or fresh vegetables and nuts or seeds. The foundation of the Serbian gibanics usually consists of thin layers of filo dough covered and laminated in the salt filling of the Feta or Ricotto cheese. Sweet varieties often include sugar, raspberry cans or dried apricots. Squant types are usually made of salty forms of cheese, but may also include spinach, minced beef or mushrooms. As with regions, these pastries are often based on cheese, but may include a number of other items. The dessert versions are very popular in Slovenia and usually include a filling made of dry trembling cottage cheeseRa, poppy or walnuts, fresh apples or raisins. Some dessert recipes require a yeast base in the body and honey or sugar help to sweeten the filling. Spicy meals often contain salty cheese, cabbage or potatoes.
There are many forms of Gibanica that can be found in several different regions, and there are also a number of dishes that are very similar. Some areas of Croatia create sweet and salty varieties that are very similar to gibanics made in Slovenia. In Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, these pastries are often made from full -fat or dry cottage cheese, as well as with Feta cheese. Bulgarian Gibanica is often referred to as a banitated -up pumpkin or apples.
Similar dishes include burk, guzvara and Pita Zeljanica. Serbian burk is considered almost identical in the structure, but is usually made of sharper cheeses. Guzvara, popular in Croatia and Serbia, JE similar, but differs in the fact that the dough is often soaked in the filling, which gives it a wavy, crumpled appearance. Pita Zeljanica is a spicy food that has a filling made almost exclusively with white cheese and spinach.