Croatian Mlinci Baked Noodles Recipe (2024)

A delicious side dish to many roasted meats, Croatian mlinci is best described as broken pieces of thin, homemade flatbread that is baked in the juices of a roasted turkey (pork or duck).

Mlinci: A Delicious Croatian Side Dish Specialty

Which dishes come to mind when you think about your favorite meals? Is it something someone else prepares or a recipe that you’ve mastered yourself? For me, it has and always will be my mom’s delicious, traditional Croatian mlinci. They are a sort of baked noodle, but more technically they are thin, broken pieces of baked flatbread soaked in the juices of a roasted turkey (duck or pork).

In our household, mlinci are served alongside a roasted turkey (duck or pork roast) prepared over the holidays (both Christmas and Easter) and for other special occasions. They are soft yet firm enough that they hold their shape and full of flavor that is unlike any other side dish I can think of. I am thrilled to share this recipe for my mom’s mlinci, which are the absolute best tasting mlinci out there (and trust me, I’ve tried my share)!

Ingredients Needed:

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The proportions make about 8-10 generous servings.

• 6 cups flour, all purpose
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 egg
• 5 cups water, divided
• 2 cups juice from a roasted whole or half turkey (pork or duck)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp Vegeta

How to Make Mlinci:

Mix the flour, salt, egg and 2.5 cups water using an electric mixer (such as a Kitchen Aid mixer) well until the dough is ready to knead by hand. The dough has to have the same texture as a classic bread dough. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and knead by hand for 2 minutes.

Divide the dough into 10 pieces and working one piece at a time, roll out the dough thin.

Preheat the oven 365F. Transfer rolled out dough onto the middle rack in the oven.

Bake for 7 minutes, turn and then bake another 4 minutes to give color to both sides.

Baking Tip – Place foil on the lowest rack to protect the oven from loose flour.

Remove baked flatbread from the oven and place on a tea towel lined counter top. Leave to cool completely. Can be prepared the day before. Repeat with the remaining dough.

When cool, break into smaller pieces and place in a large bowl.

Boil 2.5 cups of water and pour over top.

Cover with clean dish cloth and leave to sit for ½ hour.

Pieces should be soft but not mushy. If hard, add a bit more water and leave it to sit again. Steam will help to soften the pieces.

Since mlinci are usually prepared with turkey, save the grease from the baked turkey. Remove turkey from pan and use the same pan for the mlince.

Combine juices from roasted turkey (need about 2 cups of grease from turkey) with 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp Vegeta. You’ll need just enough sauce to cover mlince.

If there is not enough grease from the meat (you will need 2 cups of liquid), add hot water with more butter and Vegeta.

Place pan back in the oven to bake uncovered for another 20 minutes on 365F.

Stir the mlinci and serve.

Other Croatian Homestyle Dishes

Check out these tasty traditional Croatian recipes for your next meal idea.

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