Regular visitors to Cookslovak site are already familiar with Tatratea, the Slovak tea-based alcoholic drink from under the High Tatras. The Tatratea brand is relatively new, but the tradition of fortified tea drinking at the High Tatras chalets is not. It started centuries ago in the homes of hardy mountain folk, who used herbal tea … Continue reading Sunrays – a summer taste of Tatratea
It took longer than expected, but the second book of A Taste of Slovakia series is finally at the printers. Last week we went to see how the work was progressing and if it was up to the standards we'd set. Jana Kollárová, the graphic designer and a photographer, took a few pictures of the raw … Continue reading A Taste of Slovakia 2 is being born
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
June is observed as the month of hunter's guild and nature conservation in Slovakia. However strange it may sound to some ears, the two things are not mutually exclusive. It all depends on what sort of hunters we are talking about, and what we see as nature conservation. As a girl growing up in the … Continue reading Hunters Days
When you are bottling apricots, it's best to use fruit that is ripe but firm. If you find a few softer pieces or even bruised ones, put them aside. Remove the blemished parts, and either make a jam or prepare these yummy apricot balls sprinkled with hot chocolate. That's exactly what I did a few … Continue reading Apricot Filled Cheese Balls
Halushki - traditional Slovak pasta - have already been mentioned in a recipe for Strapatchki. A slightly different version of halushki was used to accompany rabbit thighs in this recipe. Halushki are sometimes used in soups instead of noodles, but the most important role of these small, gnocchi-like dumplings is for our national dish, where … Continue reading Halushki with Bryndza Cheese
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
This recipe is a reminder of the summers we spent at our grandparents' house in the south of Slovakia - a warm, sunny region with rich soil and a long history of farming. There was a farmyard in between the house and a large back garden, where we could watch and help care for pigs, … Continue reading Braised Rabbit Thighs with Bear Garlic and Halushki
This is one of the vegetarian recipes that's still in my cooking repertoire. I first tried it years ago when, right after the Fall of Communism in my country, we were exposed to new, alternative ways of cooking. Even though my family didn't always share my excitement over new food, this particular dish has always … Continue reading Oatflake Patties with Mashed Potatoes
Whenever I happen to be in Levoča, I feel like I've entered a different world. It opens up after crossing the ancient walls surrounding Levoča's historical centre through one of the town's three gates. A short uphill walk or even a shorter drive takes you to the very heart of Levoča's Old Town - a medieval square skirted by … Continue reading What’s cooking in Levoča
