Let’s eat the rainbow…vegan style

Now you know!

Eating Vegan in a Meat Country

It’s really not difficult at all. There are so many traditional and non traditional options here it was incredibly eye opening. Serbian Orthodox have multiple times a year they fast and as a result of this religious tradition their fasting means giving up meat and dairy.  While I am told that the Serbians view Veganism slightly different than the western world…it is still very possible to eat Vegan in Serbian and 100% possible to be a vegetarian here.

Did you eat with a spoon today?

We started the tour in a healthy food restaurant where we enjoyed fresh tomato soup.  Now, I love tomato soup but this was a whole other level.  The tomato flavour was so prominent it really was an incredible bowl of soup. No wonder why Serbian mothers always tell their kids to start the day eating with a spoon. LOL. (ie. Did you have your soup today?)

Green Markets of Belgrade

Then we went to the Greenmarket, Zeleni Venac to taste typical Serbian dried fruits. I tried plums and apricots soaked in apple sauce which was amazing. This particular green market is known as Queen of the Markets.  It is most central and right next to the big transport hub of Belgrade. They have been trading here since 1847. and is the most competitively priced market in the city.

Oh the Locum!

In the Savamala district we went to the only preserved locum candy shop in the city and they have been making locum with their recipe since 1936 on the same giant thick marble table. Apparently, the thicker the table the better you are, because the the locum cools much faster on a thick marble slab than a thin marble slab.

Sauerkraut Pie

Continuing on with the vegan food extravaganza, we went to a bakery name Kljuch, to taste the traditional Burek, vegan style, stuffed with sauerkraut. Trust me when I say, this was the best one I have had and these guys are the only shop in town that makes it with sauerkraut. No wonder their name, Kljuch, means The Key in Serbian.

Time for Lunch?

Then we went to the bohemian district, also my home for the month, and enjoyed some traditional Serbian dishes that are vegan, without even trying. We ate a traditional restaurant named, Velika Skadarlija. We ate Prebranac (Serbian Beans), Risotto with vegetables, couscous, seasonal salad and a vegan burger patty with tomatoes (which was my favourite) but wowzer it was all so good and I had so much leftovers I took it home to eat for lunch the next day.

Last Stop

We stopped at a shop that makes domestic jams, liqueurs, wine, juices, prepared with the fruits from the remote forests of the Serbian mountain Jastrebac. Everything is hand-picked & hand-made. I tried many of their juices, walnut rakia, and enjoyed a spoon of Serbian “slatko,” which is essentially a more liquid form of jam and is a symbol of hospitality for Serbians. When guests visit, you serve them a spoon full of slatko and  water.

It Was Worth It

This tour was sooo much more than just about food. It was most likely the best tour I have ever been on. Marija really has a special gift with connecting with the guests, superior story sharing and I felt like I spent the day with a friend I have known my whole life. Her selection of stops along the tour were very unique and I was so surprised to learn that we were eating entirely Vegan, I thought it was Vegetarian. The food was spectacular, oh the food!!! The way she merges Serbian history, culture and food had me fully engaged the entire tour. Some stories make you laugh, some gives you goosebumps and the food fills your tummy and your soul. I loved it, I want more time with her energy. It was a 5 star + tour.

If you are in Belgrade, I highly recommend that you try this tour by Marija, Alternative Serbia. She has many more amazing tour selections that are very unique as well as a focus on Eco Tourism. But seriously, even if you aren’t vegan or vegetarian I SWEAR you will not be disappointed with this tour. 

_{Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion.  There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.}