Simit-Pogacha

Simit-pogacha is a beloved breakfast food in Skopje, the capital city of the Republic of North Macedonia. Bakers slice open a bun, stuff it with burek—a pastry crust of layered phyllo—and serve as a sandwich. No meat, no cheese, no sauce. Just bread.

Burek is typically stuffed with feta cheese, greens, or meat. However, the burek that goes into simit-pogacha is just the plain, flaky crust. Depending on where you buy it, the crust can be housed inside warm, fluffy rolls or dry, hard sesame buns. Either way, diners almost always wash down the greasy, comforting carb combo with drinking yogurt.

If you leave Skopje without at least trying simit-pogacha, you’re missing the city’s soul. The sandwich doesn’t have much flavor and can be dry without the lubrication of the yogurt, but its comforting carb-on-carb composition makes it a morning must for many locals..

Need to Know

Sometimes bakeries use sesame buns left over from the previous day’s baking. These can lead to a drier experience and will require a bit more yogurt to help them go down smoothly