History

Zlikrofi recipe dates to mid-19th-century Idrija and likely arrived with German mining families from Transylvania. The name probably comes from German schlichtkrapfen, slippery dumpling. They were protected at Slovenian national level in 2002 and at EU level in 2010, becoming the first Slovenian dish to gain TSG status. Traditional service is with bakalca, a mutton-and-lamb stew.

Common allergens: Gluten, Egg

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4 (makes 32 zlikrofi)Hands-on 1 hrTotal 2 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 300g 00 flour plus extra for dusting
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Pinch of salt
  • 500g floury potatoes
  • 50g pork crackling or smoked bacon, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp marjoram
  • Salt and pepper
  • 50g butter to finish
  • 1 tbsp chopped chives

Method

  1. Combine flour, eggs, oil and salt. Knead 10 minutes to a smooth dough. Rest covered 30 minutes.
  2. Boil the potatoes whole in their skins until tender, about 25 minutes. Peel and pass through a ricer.
  3. Saute the onion and bacon in a little oil until soft. Combine with the riced potato, marjoram, salt and pepper.
  4. Roll the dough out very thin. Cut 6cm rounds. Place a small ball of filling in the centre of each round.
  5. Fold the round over, seal the edges, then press your fingertip into the top to create the characteristic hat shape with ears.
  6. Cook in salted boiling water 4 minutes. Drain. Toss in melted butter with chives, serve hot.

Tip from the editors. The hat shape is structural, not decorative. The dimple holds the sauce; the ears keep the dumpling upright. Skipping the shape is skipping the point.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat idrijski zlikrofi

Idrijski zlikrofi in Ljubljana

Druga Violina ★ 4.2

stari-gradUntil Tue-Sun until 24:00

Druga Violina keeps the kitchen running till midnight Tuesday through Sunday, with Slovenian classics from kranjska klobasa to ricet available late.

Try: Slovenian classics

Stari trg 21, 1000 Ljubljana

More cities are in research. Want idrijski zlikrofi covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

Browse all dishes →