Savory Pie · Dalmatian Hearth Bread

Soparnik

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Soparnik was long dismissed as peasant food, yet since 2016 'Poljički soparnik' has been protected across the EU as a Protected Geographical Indication.

Soparnik is a thin, unleavened flatbread stuffed with a filling of Swiss chard, onion, garlic, and olive oil, then baked on the hearth or in a wood-fired oven until the crust blisters. Vendors at Dalmatian markets slice it into wide diamond pieces, brushing on more oil and crushed garlic before handing it over warm.

Why it's made this way: Soparnik comes from Poljica, the villages between Split and Omiš, where its meat- and dairy-free filling made it a traditional dish for fast days such as Christmas Eve and Good Friday; today it is sold at bakeries and stalls around Split.