Soups are rarely missing from a Slovak table, no matter what time of year it is. Sometimes they are clear meat or vegetable stocks with pasta added towards the end of cooking. These are usually served as starters or appetizers. At other times, they can be filling enough to stand as the main course, like … Continue reading Creamy Kohlrabi Soup
It's been a while since I last posted here, but the reasons were sound and many. First, I've been working on the third book of A Taste of Slovakia series and wanted to get the first chapter ready for Jana - the graphic designer. I'm planning to publish the Winter Book towards the end of … Continue reading Natasha’s Borscht
The last weekend in October is all about remembering the dead. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, All Saints' Day or All Souls Day (Dušičky in Slovak) was the busiest time for travel in Slovakia, with people crossing the country to visit cemeteries, bring flowers and light candles on the graves of their deceased relatives. Back from … Continue reading Comforting Carrot and Yellow Pea Soup
Summer is coming to a close, and with the temperatures dropping down we are more likely to think of a bowl of warm soup than a salad. Our gardens still provide enough fresh ingredients for that nourishing bowl, and there are many more to be found in our forests. With its damp, foggy mornings and … Continue reading Autumn Soup with Wild Chanterelles
Who wouldn't appreciate a bowl of hearty, comforting soup in the middle of another lockdown? As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage around the world, and we are more or less forced to stay at home, the warmth and energy in any form is indispensable. Instead of consuming the bleak news, let's get creative in … Continue reading Broccoli Soup with Bacon Breadballs
When I was a child growing up in the socialistic Czechoslovakia, there were no fresh vegetables available during December, January and February. Our fields and gardens were covered in snow and the temperatures stayed below zero for the better part of winter. There were no imported or indoor-grown vegetables in the winter months either. Instead, … Continue reading Chickpea Soup with Root Vegetables
The book that provided inspiration for this recipe is very old. It was, in fact, the first cookbook written in the Slovak language. The author Ján Babilon published it in 1870 in Pest (today's Budapest), where he owned a restaurant and worked as a chef. There are 90 different soup recipes in Babilon's cookbook, and … Continue reading Creamy Walnut and Leek Soup
When it comes to meat, pork is definitely the most popular in Slovakia, followed by chicken and other poultry like turkey, duck and geese. Although few Slovaks would call themselves vegetarians, we consume half as much meat per capita than in the USA, and less than two thirds of that in the UK. Slovak cooking … Continue reading Pork Stew with Spiralled Pasta
First things first. When I started researching material for the first book about Slovak cuisine in English, the first source I reached for was The First Cookbook in the Slovak Language by Ján Babilon. Despite the obvious contradiction, the reason was, in fact, very simple. I was curious what the first Slovak recipes looked like. … Continue reading What the first Slovak recipes looked like
It's snowing right now. The real winter has arrived at last, and while we could do with a little sunshine, we certainly can't complain about the lack of snow this year. Good for children and skiers, not so good for drivers. Windswept after a cross-country run or tired after frolicking in the snow, it's always … Continue reading Smoked Pork with Sauerkraut
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