Slovakia

 Welcome to Slovakia!  Did you know that Slovakia has more than 6,000 caves?  And more than 1,300 mineral springs in the country!  It's not a large country, so this is pretty impressive.  From the looks of things, there are castles, mountains, and lots of national parks - seems like an interesting place to go!  According to Google, the population of Slovakia is 5.56 million people and the capital is Bratislava.  Their national dish is...

 

Bryndzové Halušky

It's a potato and flour dumpling that is covered in a cheese sauce.  Almost like a mac and cheese.  To go with the Bryndzové Halušky, we made Zemiakové Placky, which is a potato pancake. (Apparently potatoes are a thing in Slovakia!)  Overall, this was a fairly simple meal - perfect for a cold day!  Here's what I did:

BRYNDZOVE HALUSKY

2 C peeled and finely grated potatoes (do not squeeze out moisture)

2 1/2 C gluten free flour

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

8 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into small cubes

6 ounces sheep feta

1/3 C sour cream

2 tbsp butter blended together until smooth

1/4 C reserved cooking water

Fresh parsley or chives for garnish

1.  Blend the sheep feta, sour cream, and butter together until smooth.
2. In a large bowl, combine the grated potatoes, flour, salt, and egg to form a thick, loose dough. (It should be loose enough to drip through your fingers or a slotted spoon.)
3. Place a large pan over medium heat. 
4. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. 
5. Remove the bacon with grease from the pan and carefully set aside.
6. While the bacon is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 
7. Reduce to a lightly rolling boil, around medium high heat.
8. Drop the dough into the boiling water in batches. (I used my hands and let it drip through my fingers, a little at a time.)
9. Stir the bottom lightly to keep any dumplings from sticking. 
10. Once the dumplings float to the surface, after about 2 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl and repeat with remaining dough.
11. Remove 1/4 cup of the still hot cooking water to the empty pan. 
12. Add the cheese mixture, stirring to melt into a creamy sauce. 
13. Add to the cooked halušky, tossing to coat.
14. Serve immediately topped with the cooked bacon and drizzle a little of the rendered bacon fat over the top. 
15. If desired, add a sprinkling of chopped parsley or chives.

(Source: Bryndzové Halušky)

 

ZEMIAKOVE PLACKY

3 lb white potatoes
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 eggs
4 tbsp flour
2 tbsp marjoram
Salt
Pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

1. Peel the potatoes and grate them with a medium grater.
2. Pour them into a strainer and let them drain well.
3. In a large salad bowl, combine the grated potatoes with garlic, eggs, flour, salt, pepper and marjoram and mix well.
4. Divide the dough into 15 balls of the same size and flatten them.
5. Cook them in a hot oil bath, gently turning them occasionally, until golden brown.
6. Place them on a plate lined with paper towel and serve immediately after frying.

(Source: Zemiakove Placky) 

The verdict?  This was a very comforting meal.  The Bryndzové Halušky was very good.  It had a tangy/sharp taste, but it was very comforting and rich.  They had a very distinct dumpling texture.  The longer it sat, the more gummy it got, so that was a little off-putting.  So eat it before it cools!  The Zemiakove Placky was really good.  It was pretty similar to other potato pancakes that we have made.  Delicious and crispy!  Overall, this is not a meal if you're watching carbs, but a great meal for comfort food!

 

   

 

ME

Taste of Bryndzové Halušky (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Bryndzové Halušky (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 8

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

 

ME

Taste of Zemiakové Placky (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Zemiakové Placky (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

Another one down!  Join us next time in Qatar!