Slovenian potica ( sl, Slovenska potica) is a
nut roll and a traditional festive pastry from
Slovenia.
The name of potica is distinctly Slovenian and developed etymologically from earlier Slovenian forms such as povitica, povtica, potvitsa. This is also connected with the development of potica production methods from the Middle Ages (before the 15th century) to the beginning of the 20th century, when development stabilized and the unique naming of potica was established from the 18th century. The term Slovenian potica has been used since the second half of the 19th century.
Varieties
Slovenian potica consists of a rolled pastry made of leavened paper-thin dough filled with any of a great variety of fillings, but most often with
walnut filling.
The most characteristic Slovenian poticas are made with ground walnut,
tarragon,
quark
A quark () is a type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. All commonly o ...
,
hazelnut
The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree and therefore includes any of the nuts deriving from species of the genus ''Corylus'', especially the nuts of the species ''Corylus avellana''. They are also known as cobnuts or filberts according t ...
,
pumpkin seed or
poppy seed
Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum''). The tiny, kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. It is still widely used in many countries, ...
, salted ones even with
cracklings or
bacon
Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork made from various cuts, typically the belly or less fatty parts of the back. It is eaten as a side dish (particularly in breakfasts), used as a central ingredient (e.g., the bacon, lettuce, and tomato sand ...
, and other fillings. Slovenian potica is a festive pastry and could be baked in two ways: in the oven or directly on the hearth, but original Slovenska potica is a ring-shaped pastry, baked always in the special shaped potica baking mould (
ceramic,
glass or
tin one), called potičnik, which has a conical protrusion in the middle.
Potica is served also every
Easter and Christmas in
Slovenia and is still very popular even in some parts of the
United States.
[Official Slovenian recipe](_blank)
For example, potica is a popular offering at many local bakeries in
Hibbing, Minnesota based on recipes handed down for generations in the immigrant community.
File:Poticza nut bread 2020.png, Potica made with mixed nuts and cinnamon
Image:Potičnik.jpg, Potičnik - traditional baking mould for slovenian potica
File:Velika noč - jedila hren šunka pirhi potica.jpg, Potica as part of traditional Slovenian Easter breakfast
File:Potica at Kaiser's Six Point Bakery (2129648111).jpg, American potica at Kaiser's Six Point Bakery
Protection regime
Slovenska potica has been registered as a
Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) in the European Union since April 2001.
See also
*
Belokranjska povitica
''Belokranjska povitica'' (English: White Carniola rolled pastry) is a Slovenian national dish. It was supposedly brought to the White Carniola region by the Uskoks, who were Croatian Habsburg soldiers that inhabited the areas of the eastern Adri ...
References
{{reflist
Pastries with poppy seeds
Slovenian pastries
Traditional Speciality Guaranteed products from Slovenia