Šljivko, The Forgotten Serbian cookie

This is Šljivko – a forgotten Serbian cookie that I bought last weekend in Sirogojno.

First records of it date back to the time of the Ottoman rule (Serbia was under Ottoman occupation between 1459. and 1804. despite three Austrian invasions and numerous rebellions). For it’s high nutritional values and the fact that it will go bad practically never, it was a strategic food for hajduci and even official army during the Balkan wars (1912-1913) and even I and II World War.

A kind lady at the shop where I bought it told me traditional recipe that was passed on from one generation to another.

Šljivko, Serbian cookie

Cook fresh plums for a very long time. Then, add a little corn meal, just enough to be able to form a cookie into a round shape. After you shape the cookies, they should be sun-dried placed over fresh cabbage leaves. At the end, wrap it in blackberry leaves and tie with a rope. The dried blackberry leaves can be used to make tea.