Slovenian food comes from the ancient culture of Slovenia. The country is located in Central Europe.

The top reaches the Alps and the bottom portion of the country stretches to the Mediterranean Ocean. While the country only became independent in 1991, the history of the people extends to the 8th century. Because of its location and history, the culture of Slovenia has had the benefit of extremely diverse influences. The biggest influences have come from Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy, and these cultures mixing with the people of Slovenia have made Slovenian food what it is today. Although there is not just one distinctive, standard cuisine to identify, there are many different distinct cooking styles. Additionally, there are divisions of Slovenian food such as farmhouse, castle, town, cottage, and parsonage. On record, Valentin Vodnik wrote the first cookbook in the Slovenian language. Much of traditional Slovenian food is difficult to digest being composed of fattening and high protein ingredients like mushrooms, beans, butter, pork, bacon, lard, and dairy products. Mushrooms are especially popular. People use them in cooking and historically they liked to pickle them. National Slovenian foods, offer some truly delicious dishes. Here are some fine cuisine choices from Slovenia:

Gibanica (rolled cake)

This bread is made of thinly rolled dough spread with a cream, egg, cheese curd filling and formed into a spin roll.

Frtalja

A Slovenian and Croatian omelette, this dish combines an omelette with asparagus and other vegetables and herbs in the spring, and mushrooms with bacon and white wine at other times of the year.

Mavželj

This dish is a formed pork meat, polenta and herb ball stored in netting.

Pinca

An Easter cake or sweet bread, this item is not only a favourite in Slovenia, but in Dalmatia, as well, and it the ingredients call for many eggs and a cross shape is on the top.

One-dish meals have been popular in the cuisine of Slovenia, but soup is a fairly new on the menu. Today, many soups common all over Europe are favourites in this country, like minestrone and stews with cabbage, sour kraut and various meets.

Certainly, traditional Slovenian cuisine and influences from neighbouring countries and beyond help to make up contemporary Slovenian food.