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🥩
Main course Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥600kcal
💪35gProtein
🌾55gCarbs
🥑25gFat
🌿4gFibre
⚖️350 gServing

* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten

Šporki Makaruli

How to order / say it
Say it Šporki Makaruli — [Shporkee Ma-karoo-lee]
Order I'd like the šporki makaruli, please.
Locally Molim vas, šporki makarule.
Say locally

Pasta with a savory tomato meat sauce.

Why try it?

Typical of festive days, Šporki Makaruli combines simple ingredients with deep flavors, embodying Dubrovnik’s unique approach to comforting food.

How it tastes

The pasta is enveloped in a robust sauce featuring beef and tomato notes with a hint of cinnamon lending warmth.

Origin & History — first documented: 1550

A traditional holiday meal dating to the 16th century, it brings family and friends together, highlighting the use of local ingredients in cherished Dubrovnik celebrations.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 500 g beef
  • 🌾 250 g pasta
  • 🥕 100 g tomato paste
  • 🧄 1 medium onion
  • 🫒 40 ml olive oil
  • 🧂 1 tsp cinnamon

Method

  1. 1 Brown beef in olive oil, then add chopped onion to the pan.
  2. 2 Stir in tomato paste and cinnamon, cooking until fragrant.
  3. 3 Add a splash of water, simmer until beef is cooked through.
  4. 4 Combine with cooked pasta before serving.

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All Europe recipes — Croatia — Dubrovnik — Šporki Makaruli
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