The cuisine of the Czech Republic is pretty straightforward, with heavy gravy-based dishes based on meat and potatoes. The best time to eat Czech food is in the winters when the heavy soupy dishes warm you up and fill your stomach. The food is bound to make one feel satiated owing to the rich gravy, chicken, and potatoes.
People often overlook the Czech cuisine behind the curtain of the country’s marvellous architecture and beer culture. The beer culture is so intense that the nation has the highest per capita consumption of beer in the world. But, there is much more to the Czech republic than just architecture and beer.
While the ingredients used in the cuisine are not complex, Czech food’s flavour palette is extensive due to the influence of various other countries. Therefore, this cuisine is perfect for meat lovers and soup lovers alike. Most of the traditional Czech dishes are covered in the list, from sweet Czech Kolache to soupy Goulash.
- Bread Knedliky
These are Czech dumplings, a staple in every household. This wholesome bread Knedliky pairs perfectly with soupy and meaty dishes. This bread is served as a side to almost every other dish. It is like the garlic bread of the Czech people.
However, Czech people have some rules when it comes to their bread. For example, they do not ever apply butter to their bread but prefer to eat it with juicy meats or gravy only. This is the unwritten rule about Knedliky bread.
The modern version of the bread is made with relatively fresh ingredients, but traditionally they are made with stale bread. This gives them their savoury flavour. This bread is a must-try. Just remember not to eat them dry or with butter.
- Svickova
This dish is reserved for special occasions as it is not an easy dish to make. To make a Svickova, you need at least three hours. But the preparation time will be worth it as this dish is considered one of the best sauce-based dishes in Czech cuisine.
This dish contains a blend of beef slowly roasted with vegetable puree. The vegetables are cooked slowly together with the meat only, but once the vegetables start to turn into a puree, they are removed, and the remaining puree is blended with the meat. Svickova is usually served with Knedliky dumplings.
- Goulash
Another classic dish that is a must-try, especially in the cold winter months. Goulash is a flavorful, thick, and meaty stew. While the dish is generally made with beef, in some seasons, especially in fall, making Goulash with pork or wild boar is common.
The rich meaty chunks of beef in a thick meat sauce are seasoned with spicy paprika and some shredded onion for texture. This is not a spicy dish, but it sure packs a tangy punch owing to paprika.
- Kuřecí kapsa
The name translates to stuffed pieces of chicken breast. This dish is inspired by german cuisine with a touch of Czech cuisine. This is a dish for all the meat lovers, as the chicken breasts are stuffed with a cheesy and meaty filling of ham, mushroom, parsley, and cheese.
It is a flavorful Czech dish with a combination of flavours paired with the crispy texture of the juicy surface of grilled chicken.
- Kulajda
It is a flavorful cream soup made with mushrooms and potatoes. It is a sweet and savoury soup as it is a blend of mushrooms and sour cream. The soup is very filling, especially those variations that have generous amounts of diced potatoes in them.
Moreover, while serving, it is topped with a poached quail’s egg and drizzled with sunflower oil.
- Bramboraky
Bramboraky is made from crushed garlic, potatoes, milk, cumin, marjoram, eggs, salt, and pepper. This is a traditional potato pancake in the Czech Republic. It is very popular as street food, as it can be served easily and does not take much time to make.
The ingredients are all mixed well into a dough. Then ladles of that dough are pan-fried until they are crisp on both sides. The locals love Bramboraky, and they enjoy eating it with a cold pint of beer.
- Kolache
These are cookies that are easily found in Slovak bakeries and are eaten as comfort food. The Czech Kolache contains fruit encased in circular sweet dough. However, there is no single recipe for a Kolache etched in stone as every family has their own recipe. Some use cream cheese as a filling, while others use fruits.
Czech food is very flavorful, meaty, and satisfying all at once. Pair these food items with any of the popular beers in the Czech Republic for a nice, filling Czech meal.