History

Gibanica comes from the Prekmurje region, the part of Slovenia east of the Mura that spent centuries under Hungarian rule. The four-filling structure (mak poppy, skuta cheese, orehi walnut, jabolka apple) and EU protected designation make it the most architecturally complex of the Slovenian cake tradition. Slovenska hisa Figovec serves a strong version.

Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy, Walnut, Poppy seed

Make it at home

Yield Serves 12Hands-on 45 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 1 packet phyllo pastry (about 400g)
  • 200g butter, melted, for brushing
  • 200g cottage cheese (skuta), 2 eggs, 50g sugar, vanilla (for cheese layer)
  • 150g ground poppy seeds, 100ml hot milk, 80g sugar (for poppy layer)
  • 150g ground walnuts, 100ml hot milk, 80g sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon (for walnut layer)
  • 3 apples, grated, 50g sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon (for apple layer)
  • 200ml double cream and 1 egg for the topping

Method

  1. Brush a deep baking tin (about 25cm square) with melted butter.
  2. Lay two phyllo sheets, brush with butter. Spread the apple layer.
  3. Two more phyllo sheets, brush butter. Spread cottage cheese mix.
  4. Two more phyllo, butter. Spread poppy seed mix.
  5. Two more phyllo, butter. Spread walnut mix.
  6. Top with two more phyllo sheets, brush butter. Whisk cream and egg, pour over the top.
  7. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 50 minutes until set and golden. Cool fully before slicing.

Tip from the editors. The order matters: apple goes at the bottom because its moisture has to migrate up through the layers, not down into the base.

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 prekmurska gibanica

Prekmurska gibanica in Ljubljana

Vodnikov Hram ★ 4.2

Slovenian traditional, grilled meats€€€€35-60vodnikov-trg

Vodnikov Hram in vaulted stone cellars on the market square plates Slovenian classics through the seasons: jota, kranjska klobasa and prekmurska gibanica.

Vodnikov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana Book →

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

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