Šporki Makaruli – Dirty Macaroni
traditional Dubrovnik dish
Šporki makaruli, or dirty macaroni, is a dish prepared for the celebration of St. Blaise. The name comes from a tradition to make a rich beef stew for the festivity of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik city patron. The biggest festivity in Dubrovnik required a special menu served just for that occasion, and this meal was like a hot appetizer.
In ancient days, servants would have a chance to taste it after all the guests eat. The mistress of the house would let them eat what remained. It was her merciful act, giving the servants a treat for this festivity. Not much meat would remain in a bowl, but they would cook more macaroni, and mix it with the remaining sauce. Still, it was a feast for them.
Servants didn’t eat the same meals as family members. Just occasionally, they would have a chance to taste the food served on the master’s table.
Convenient dish even nowadays
In the more recent past, this dish became common in every household. Since a lot of friends and relatives from the neighboring villages would come to the city for the festivity of St. Blaise, it was hard to anticipate how many guests would visit your home. Therefore, you would cook a big bowl of beef stew, and whenever a new group of guests would come, you would just cook fresh macaroni.
Those who arrived first would eat more meat, and those who came the last were like former servants: eating macaroni just smeared (dirtied) with remaining sauce, without meat. That’s where the name comes from.
Today, dirty macaroni is a great dish for every day. Since family members usually don’t eat lunch together, due to different time tables of students and parents, you just prepare a stew in advance. Everyone can boil the macaroni, and serve himself, once when they get back home. And when served, don’t forget to cover it with grated goat cheese or parmesan, it’s more delicious.
Would you like to taste it? Join me on my Dubrovnik gastronomy tour, and we’ll share the experience!
Dirty macaroni
Šporki Makaruli – Dirty Macaroni
traditional Dubrovnik dish
Šporki makaruli, or dirty macaroni, is a dish prepared for the celebration of St. Blaise. The name comes from a tradition to make a rich beef stew for the festivity of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik city patron. The biggest festivity in Dubrovnik required a special menu served just for that occasion, and this meal was like a hot appetizer.
In ancient days, servants would have a chance to taste it after all the guests eat. The mistress of the house would let them eat what remained. It was her merciful act, giving the servants a treat for this festivity. Not much meat would remain in a bowl, but they would cook more macaroni, and mix it with the remaining sauce. Still, it was a feast for them.
Servants didn’t eat the same meals as family members. Just occasionally, they would have a chance to taste the food served on the master’s table.
Convenient dish even nowadays
In the more recent past, this dish became common in every household. Since a lot of friends and relatives from the neighboring villages would come to the city for the festivity of St. Blaise, it was hard to anticipate how many guests would visit your home. Therefore, you would cook a big bowl of beef stew, and whenever a new group of guests would come, you would just cook fresh macaroni.
Those who arrived first would eat more meat, and those who came the last were like former servants: eating macaroni just smeared (dirtied) with remaining sauce, without meat. That’s where the name comes from.
Today, dirty macaroni is a great dish for every day. Since family members usually don’t eat lunch together, due to different time tables of students and parents, you just prepare a stew in advance. Everyone can boil the macaroni, and serve himself, once when they get back home. And when served, don’t forget to cover it with grated goat cheese or parmesan, it’s more delicious.
Would you like to taste it? Join me on my Dubrovnik gastronomy tour, and we’ll share the experience!
