That juicy flavour and aromatic, rich smell of meat and fish will leave you speechless. The traditional homemade peka, accompanied with a glass of quality wine, you will definitely remember for a long time
Baking dishes under the peka (a heavy iron-cast bell/lid) is a traditional way of preparing food in this area. Peka is one of the top gastronomic offers of Dalmatian cuisine. It can be found on the menus of all Dalmatian taverns and restaurants. Cooking under the peka (‘ispod peke’) is the pinnacle of live-fire cooking. Peka is a thinner or thicker metal lid/bell, made of a grey cast iron. The ingredients are put in an iron pan under the peka/bell, and covered with a lot of wooden embers and hot coals. Cooking this type of a meal can take 2-4 hours, depending on the choice of ingredients.
During baking under the lid, the meat or fish concentrates the aromas, and the result is juicy and very tasty soft meat. If you add vegetables, the taste is even better because the food is half baked, half cooked in its own juices. The aroma and smells of the food prepared in this way are special – the magic in action.
You can make a perfect peka with any kind of meat but also with octopus, fish, squid, shellfish…and with vegetables added. When you visit the island of Vis, we highly recommend that you try peka in one of the many taverns or rural households.
Visit them and enjoy your meal!