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Olito | Traditional Dessert From Cres, Croatia | TasteAtlas

Olito

The name of this old shepherd’s dish comes from olita - a dialect word for animal stomach and intestines, which gives a hint regarding the method of preparation. Olito is made by mashing together sheep suet, flour, dried figs, and raisins.


The mixture is flavored with cinnamon, orange and lemon zest, and it is then stuffed into a sheep stomach and boiled for a couple of hours. When cooked, olito is sliced and pan-seared in olive oil. The slices are typically served dusted with icing sugar and sprinkled with fresh sage.


This humble dessert is mainly associated with the town of Orlec, although nowadays it can be found across the island due to its long sheep-farming tradition.