To begin, warm the milk gently until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast with sugar and a few spoonfuls of the milk. Let it rest for 10 minutes until foamy. Move to preparing the dough.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, the remaining milk, and one egg. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, around 10 minutes. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour. Proceed to rolling.

Once risen, punch down the dough and roll it into a rectangle on a floured surface. Keep the thickness around 1 cm. Transition to layering with lard.

Spread a thin, even layer of softened pork lard over the rolled dough. This layer is crucial for the pastry’s flakiness. Move to folding.

Fold the dough into thirds (like folding a letter). Turn 90 degrees, roll again, and spread another layer of lard. Repeat folding. Cover and let the dough rest for 30 minutes. Transition to final rolling.

Roll out, spread lard, fold again. Do this folding and resting process 2–3 times in total. Each fold builds the flaky layers. Proceed to shaping the pastries.

Roll out the dough one final time to about 1 cm thick. Cut into squares or rectangles. For the traditional version, fold or twist slightly for a rustic shape. For the jam variation, place a teaspoon of thick plum or apricot jam in the centre of each square, fold edges over carefully, and press to seal. Place all pieces on a baking tray lined with parchment. Move to brushing.

Beat the egg yolk lightly and brush the tops of each pastry. This ensures a golden finish. Transition to baking.

Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 20–25 minutes until puffed and deep golden. Remove and cool slightly on a wire rack. Move to finishing touches.

Dust lightly with icing sugar if desired. Serve the traditional Salčići warm with tea or coffee. If using jam filling, allow the pastries to cool for 10–15 minutes before serving so the filling sets and does not burn when bitten into. Presentation tip: stack them on a wooden board or arrange in a basket lined with a cloth for a rustic touch.