The Uplift project, launched by Mastercard, introduces the first standardized recipes for brudet, pašticada, black risotto, and other delicacies, preserving their authenticity without imposing a "single correct" version.
Is there such a thing as an original recipe for pašticada? Does brudet always have to include the same type of fish? How long should savur be marinated? These are questions that have sparked lively debates across Dalmatia for decades, with answers varying from place to place, and even from household to household. That's precisely why the Uplift - Friend of Croatian Cuisine project, launched by Mastercard, decided to put an end to the speculation and deliver the first reference recipes for six Dalmatian classics.
The task was not to find the "one true" version, but rather to determine what makes these dishes authentic and what their common characteristics are, regardless of local variations. Top chefs Marin Medak, Hrvoje Zirojević, Braco Sanjin, Vjeko Bašić, and Marijo Curić, along with gastro advisors Radovan Marčić and Dino Galvagno, worked on this task for weeks. They analyzed numerous traditional recipes and experiences from different parts of Dalmatia to define what is essential.
Each of these dishes emerged from very specific life circumstances. Brudet served as a way to use up the day's catch and was also a method of preserving fish before the era of refrigeration; fish on the grill, on the other hand, showcases a cuisine that values ingredient quality over complicated preparation methods. Pašticada was reserved for special occasions on family tables, while black risotto, born in fishermen's kitchens, gradually became one of the most famous dishes of Croatian cuisine.
Chef Hrvoje Zirojević, a member of the project's expert working group, described the philosophy of Dalmatian cuisine with these words:
"The scent of a sea morning on a plate, that's what I want to convey to guests."
The result of this work is the first set of reference recipes for brudet, pašticada with njoki, black risotto, fish soup, grilled fish with Swiss chard, and marinated fish (savur). The intention was not to determine which version of a dish is best, but to preserve what gives these dishes their recognizability, from ingredient selection and cooking methods to techniques passed down orally through generations.
The initial findings of this project have already been published and are available to anyone eager to discover authentic Dalmatian flavors. Mastercard cardholders can download all six standardized recipes for free on the priceless.com/uplift platform. In addition to detailed written instructions, there are also video materials in which chef Marin Medak, who leads the project's expert working group, demonstrates step-by-step preparation of these Dalmatian classics, whose flavors and stories are passed down from generation to generation.
The Uplift project doesn't stop at Dalmatia. Over a five-year period, the project will cover various Croatian regions and their signature dishes, with the aim of creating a kind of encyclopedia of knowledge about Croatian culinary heritage. In addition to standardized recipes, educational programs for young chefs, professional materials, and a digital platform are being developed to make traditional cooking more accessible to a wider audience.
