How to make Komiška pogača – a Vis island tradition

Komiška pogača

A lot of places around Croatia have their own traditional food you must try when you visit. On the island of Vis that is the Komiška or Viška pogača. 

The Komiška pogača, translated as the pie from Komiža, a small fishing settlement on the island, is a type of baked bread pie, similar to focaccia filled with anchovies or salty fish, onions and tomatoes. The Viška pogača, which is the pie from Vis, is similar, expect it does not contain the tomato salsa. 

The recipes have a long tradition on the island. 

If you visit the island of Vis, head to Komiža, which is located at the foot of the Hum hill on the western coast of the island, and try a slice or two of the Komiška pogača. It goes great with a local Vugava wine from the island. 

Komiža

Below is a recipe for making homemade Komiška pogača. 

Ingredients

Anchovies / salty fish – 200 g
Onion – 1
Peeled tomatoes – 100 g
Olives (black) – 50 g
Flour – 250 g
Yeast – 1 pk
Olive oil
Pepper

Instructions

Prepare dough – similar like for bread (mix flour, yeast, olive oil, warm water, finely chopped rosemary) and let sit for 30-40 minutes.

In a pan (with olive oil) fry the chopped onion until soft and brown, then add the chopped peeled tomatoes. Add a bit of pepper and when cooked take off heat.

On a board or bench top sprinkle flour. Cut the dough in half. Roll the halves into a thickness of about 1cm.

In the dish, you will cook the pie in grease with olive oil and place one-half of the dough.

Then place the anchovies evenly on the base. Add the onions and tomatoes which were prepared earlier evenly over the top of the fish. Add the olives and sprinkle some more olive oil over.

Use the other half of the dough to cover. Sprinkle more olive oil on top.

Cook in the oven at 180°C for around 45 minutes.

Komiška pogača