Sač facts for kids
A Sač (pronounced 'sach') is a special cooking lid, usually made of metal or clay. It looks like a shallow bell. People use it to cover food like bread dough, meat, or vegetables while they bake. Hot ashes and glowing coals are placed on top of the lid. This way of cooking makes food bake evenly, stay juicy, and taste really good! Sometimes, 'Sač' also refers to the delicious meal itself, made with meat, vegetables, and potatoes, cooked under this special lid.
Contents
Where Did the Sač Come From?
The idea for the Sač lid probably came from a tool called the saj. The saj is a curved metal pan used for cooking. One side, which curves outwards, is great for baking flatbread. The other side, which curves inwards, is used like a wok in places like the Middle East and many parts of Asia.
A Look at Sač History
Long ago, the Sač was a simple cooking tool. Families who didn't have modern ovens often used it to bake different foods. The lid itself could even be used as a plate for baking flatbread.
Today, this special baking tool is very popular. You can find it used in restaurants and homes across the Balkan Peninsula. This includes countries like Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (where it has names like Paradisiaki Gastra or Sini), Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
How the Sač Is Used for Cooking
Cooking with a Sač is special because it bakes food very evenly. The bell shape of the lid helps steam move around inside. This keeps meat, fish, and vegetables moist and juicy. It also lets the flavors of potatoes and vegetables mix wonderfully with the meat.
The Sač is also used for baking bread and traditional pastries like burek and pizza. People love this old way of cooking because it gives food a unique, rich flavor. It can even add a light smoky taste, along with the even baking process.
Different Kinds of Sač
In Bulgaria, the word сач (sach) or сачѐ (sachè) means something a bit different. It's a flat clay plate that gets heated up very hot. This hot plate is then put on the table. Thin slices of vegetables and meat are cooked right on it. No oil or fat is used, and it's not covered. In the Rhodopes region of Bulgaria, they often use more meat when cooking on a sach.
In some parts of Romania, there's a similar tool called the țest. This tool was used mainly for baking bread.
Images for kids
-
An example of cooking lamb in the sač
-
-
-
-
See also
In Spanish: Sač para niños
