New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2026

Cooking plan

What to make on which day, so the holiday itself is only warming up and serving.

1. 2 days before · Tuesday, December 29

   • Sarma (stuffed sauerkraut rolls) · New Year's Eve dinner

     Roll the sarma and simmer them three hours with the smoked meat and the rest of the sauerkraut.

   • Walnut roll (orahnjača) · New Year's Eve dinner

     Bake the walnut roll: knead, prove, roll out, spread the filling, roll up and bake about 45 minutes. It keeps a week.

2. The day before · Wednesday, December 30

   • Russian salad (francuska salata) · New Year's Eve dinner

     Boil and dice the vegetables, fold in the pickles and mayonnaise, and chill overnight.

   • Poppy seed roll (makovnjača) · New Year's Day lunch

     Bake the poppy seed roll; pour hot milk over the poppy seed so it swells before you spread it.

3. On the day · Thursday, December 31

   • Cold platter · New Year's Eve dinner

     Slice the meats and cheese an hour before serving so they come to room temperature.

   • Sarma (stuffed sauerkraut rolls) · New Year's Eve dinner

     Reheat slowly; sarma gets better every time it is warmed.

   • Beef broth with noodles · New Year's Day lunch

     Simmer the meat and vegetables for three hours and strain the broth.

   • Roast pork with potatoes · New Year's Day lunch

     Rub the meat with salt, garlic and caraway and leave it overnight somewhere cold.

   • Red cabbage salad · New Year's Day lunch

     Slice and salt the cabbage and dress it; it softens by tomorrow.

4. -1 days before · Friday, January 1

   • Beef broth with noodles · New Year's Day lunch

     Heat the broth and cook the noodles in it.

   • Roast pork with potatoes · New Year's Day lunch

     Roast two hours at 180 °C, the last hour with the potatoes, basting with the juices.