Prebranac, Serbia’s Traditional Baked Beans

I had only heard of pesolj (bean soup), never of baked beans as a traditional Serbian food, but every time I travel, I learn something new. I had to try it to compare it to Boston Baked Brown Beans. I expected the same smoky flavour, but without the sweetness. I learned that there isn’t any smoky flavour, and that the pillowy, soft mounds of warm comfort are flavoured with caramelized onions and then baked for a very long time at a very low temperature, and that is about it. These were apparently disappointing, but I think I got the idea. They lacked salt, but I thought they were quiet, and truly tasty.

I loved the little Mount Zlatabor touch: the earthenware serving dish. A simple nutritious, delicious, and cheap meal.