Bosnian cuisine is balanced between Western and Eastern. The food is closely related to Turkish, Middle Eastern, and other Mediterranean cuisines. However, due to years of Austrian rule, there are also many culinary influences from Cetral Europe.

Bosnian cuisine uses many spices, but usually in moderate quantities. Most dishes are light, as they are cooked in lots of water; the sauces are fully natural, consisting of little more than the natural juices of the vegetables in the dish. Typical ingredients include tomatoes, potatoes, onoions, garlic, bell pepers, cucumbers, carots, cabbage, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, dried and fresh beans, plums, milk, paprika and cream.