The word has it that Czech cuisine is not particularly healthy from the point of view of a rational diet. Despite this, there are many specialties that will pleasantly surprise you - and they are worth trying.
Let’s take it one by one:
Soup – the essential courseSoups are an inseparable part of Czech cuisine and are mostly made from vegetable or meat broths with various garnishes, sometimes thickened and served with bread as the main dish.
- Noodle soup with liver dumplings – one of the most popular soups traditionally served as a festive first course, for example at weddings.
- Kulajda – thick soup from mushrooms, potatoes and sour cream, served with cooked egg.
- Garlic soup – soup of a very distinctive taste, always served with bread croutons. It is especially popular among those who have partied through the night.
Main courseMain courses are usually meat-based meals. They often consist of a sauce prepared from cream, which is usually very thick and nourishing. The traditional side dishes are Czech dumplings (bread dumplings, leavened dumplings or potato dumplings) and, of course, any variety of potatoes.
- Roast sirloin with cream sauce– one of the favourite Czech meals and a symbol of Czech cuisine. Roast beef (sirloin) larded with bacon and topped with a cream sauce prepared from root vegetables. It is served with bread dumplings. It is a regular component of festive menus.
- Pork roast with dumplings and sauerkraut (known as “vepřo-knedlo-zelo”) – considered to be the Czech national meal. Roast pork meat with stewed red or white sauerkraut and dumplings.
- Fried schnitzel– a slice of triple-breaded (flour, egg, breadcrumbs) pork, veal or chicken meat, served with mashed potatoes or potato salad. Even though it is not a traditional Czech meal, it has always been always extremely popular and eaten very often.
- Goulash– originally a Hungarian meal that became established in the Czech Republic and belongs to the most popular dishes in restaurants and pubs. It is served with bread or dumplings.
- Roast duck or goose – is a well known Czech speciality served with sauerkraut and dumplings. The duck or the goose is glazed with honey to give it a golden colour when done. It is often prepared for festive occasions.
- Potato pancake – thin fried pancakes from dough made of finely grated fresh potatoes. They are served warm, either as a side dish with meat, or as a full meal. They are often on the menus in fast-food restaurants.
- Fried cheese – a Czech specialty, popular especially among children. It is prepared from a slice of triple-breaded (flour, egg, breadcrumbs) cheese and fried. It is served with mashed potatoes or French fries and Tatar sauce. It is one of the cheaper meals in restaurants.
For other Czech specialties that you might like to try and a list of restaurants where they are prepared, click
here.
Beer and wine with a variety of bar snacks form another inseparable part of Czech cuisine. They are a usual part of the menu in Czech restaurants. You can find more detailed information about this in the next part of the text “Meals you should not miss in the Czech Republic”. In addition, you will also get to know the most popular sweet meals in Bohemia and Moravia.