What preparation is more defining to the national diet than pasta in Slovenia?

Struklji (rolled dumplings) or hearty grain dishes

The culinary landscape of Slovenia features pasta, but it is not considered the defining element of the national diet. The text explicitly states that preparations like štruklji, which are rolled dumplings, or certain hearty grain dishes are considered more foundational to the traditional Slovenian plate. These indigenous starches, often involving folding or rolling dough, take precedence in defining the national cuisine, serving the role of the primary carbohydrate vehicle, much like pasta does in Italian cuisine, but utilizing local methods and ingredients. This contrast highlights that while pasta is present and consumed, it doesn't hold the same historical or defining weight as the indigenous dough-based items.