ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in North Macedonia
Five dishes to try in North Macedonia, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in North Macedonia
Tavče gravče Тавче гравче
Baked white beans with onion, peppers and paprika, served in a clay dish.
How to have it: The national dish; often vegetarian but sometimes cooked with sausage, so ask if it matters.
Ajvar Ајвар
Smoky spread of roasted red peppers, sometimes with aubergine.
How to have it: Homemade jars appear in autumn; eat it on bread with white cheese as a starter.
Shopska salad Шопска салата
Chopped tomato, cucumber, onion and peppers under a heap of grated white cheese.
How to have it: The default starter with rakija before a grilled-meat meal.
Pastrmajlija Пастрмајлија
Oval flatbread pie topped with diced cured or fresh pork and often an egg.
How to have it: A Štip speciality, now found in bakeries across the country; good with a chilli pepper on the side.
Burek Бурек
Flaky layered pastry filled with cheese, meat or spinach.
How to have it: Bought by weight from bakeries in the morning and eaten with drinking yogurt.
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Questions
What food is North Macedonia famous for?
Tavče gravče (baked white beans with onion, peppers and paprika, served in a clay dish) comes first on our list, followed by Ajvar, Shopska salad, Pastrmajlija and Burek.
What is the national dish of North Macedonia?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for North Macedonia is Tavče gravče: baked white beans with onion, peppers and paprika, served in a clay dish. The national dish; often vegetarian but sometimes cooked with sausage, so ask if it matters.
Which dishes in North Macedonia are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Tavče gravče, Ajvar and Shopska salad. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.