In Central Europe, Slovakia is encircled by the countries of Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Slovak cuisine is highly inspired by the delicacies of these nearby nations, notably Austria and Hungary, due to its geographic location and historical past.
Pork, poultry, wheat, cabbage, potatoes, sheep's and cow's cheese, garlic, and onions are typical meals. Slovak cuisine is a beautiful fusion of these delicious flavors. Internationally, Slovakian cuisine has mostly slipped people's notice because Slovakian food is some of the healthiest and heartiest in Europe.
Discover with us:
🥘 Salty food
🧁 Sweet food
🍻 Drinks
Salty food
Bryndzové Halušky
The national cuisine of Slovakia is this filling lunch. It is among the most significant meals produced in the nation. It is a filling dish of roasted bacon, sheep's cheese, and potato dumplings. In this recipe, the Slovaks utilize Bryndza, a premium sheep's cheese produced locally. One of Slovakia's most cherished cheeses, Bryndza, is a significant point of national pride. Cheese-filled dumplings are topped with sour cream, fried and spring onions, and crispy bacon. This meal has a tangy and delightful flavor because of the sour cream's savory undertones and the onions' acidity.
Kapustnica
Kapustnica is a delicious cabbage or sauerkraut soup. It is among the coziest and most calming Slovakian foods. A hearty combination of sauerkraut, dried mushrooms, sliced sausage, and onions make up the soup. A spoonful of sour cream is added when serving. Nutmeg, smoked sausage, toasted bread, garlic, and other delectable spices are all combined in this dish. It will tingle your taste buds. It's incredible how frequently soup is served in a bread bowl. It is eaten as an appetizer, but it is also a part of the traditional Christmas dinner.
Bryndzové Pirohy
Unleavened crescent-shaped dumplings filled with various savory and sweet fillings are known as pierogi (Pirohy in Slovak). You can boil, roast, or even fry them; they are well-liked throughout Central and Eastern Europe. This salty variation has Bryndza, a characteristic Slovak sheep cheese, as the filling and fried bacon, onion, and sour cream as the toppings. It is a typical Slovak cuisine typically found in every restaurant in the country, along with a similar dish that uses little gnocchi and Bryndza.
Mäsové Guľky
Meatballs and potatoes make up this substantial Slovak entrée. Mäsové guľky is simple, filling, and inspired by many European meatball dishes. Over steamed cabbage, the meat is folded in potato dough and topped with roasted and spring onions, this Slovak specialty. It is a hearty and tasty dish from Slovakia.
Segedin Goulash
The Slovak equivalent of Hungarian goulash is called Segedin Goulash. It is Slovakia's most cherished comfort dish and the ideal sour and salty mix. Chunks of pork shoulder are stewed with sauerkraut and thickened with heavy cream to make Segedin Goulash. As a result, the food has a rich, creamy texture and a softer, gentler flavor. For a tangier flavor, sour cream is occasionally incorporated. Paprika is used liberally to season the sauerkraut used in the goulash.
Zemiakové Placky
Zemiakové Placky is pancakes made of potatoes. Especially for schoolchildren in Slovakia, they were typically offered as an afternoon snack. They work well as a side dish to many different main dishes or for dipping in soup. In Slovakia, potato pancakes are incredibly popular. They are produced with flour, egg, and grated potato, then cooked in premium oil with garlic. The pancakes have a crispy outside and a gooey within. Because several different spices are employed, each savory bite will have plenty of heat and kick. Warm Zemiakové Placky with kefir, sour cream, or soured milk is a typical serving method.
Sweet food
Slovenske Palacinky
Thin, crepe-like pancakes famous in Slovakia are known as "Slovak pancakes" or "Slovenské Palacinky." Traditionally eaten as a dessert, they are typically filled with sweet ingredients like fruit, chocolate, or Nutella. Savory contents like ham and cheese are also used in some variants.
Višňová štrúdľa
This delicious Slovakian dessert is a sour cherry strudel. It incorporates poppy seeds, sour cherries, and strudel dough, three of the most popular ingredients in Central European cooking. A thin pastry is filled with sour cherry compote, poppy seeds, butter, and brown sugar. After that, the pastry is rolled up to create a strudel.
Ryžový Nákyp
Ryžový nákyp is a sweet rice cake and one of Slovakia's favorite desserts. It is well known for its flavor, ease of preparation, and affordability. Before making Ryžový nákyp, milk is first boiled with the rice. After that, it is cooked with eggs, cream, compote, dried fruit, canned fruit (cherries, plums, apples), and raisins. Finally, egg-white foam is used to coat the cake. It is served with fresh fruit on the side and cut into square pieces. One of the most popular meals in Slovakian cuisine is Ryžový nákyp. It is a nutritious, sweet, and flavorful Slovakian dish.
Laskonky
Laskonky is a traditional Slovak cookie. Two meringues are layered between a buttercream filling in each scrumptious cookie. Frequently, ground walnuts and coconut are used in the meringue mixture. The bases of the thin, oval cookies are then cooked from the meringue. Caramel buttercream is the most common filling to make these delicious, crunchy delights. Modern variations, nevertheless, allow for the addition of flavors like chocolate or coffee. The traditional accompaniment to Laskonky is a cup of hot tea or coffee. It is undoubtedly one of the sweetest and tastiest Slovakian dishes.
Drinks
Along with a rich culinary heritage, Slovakia is also home to a variety of locally produced alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are all highly well-liked by the inhabitants. Everyone has a distinctive flavor; occasionally, it is so potent that not everyone truly likes them. There is, however, a wide range of things to pick from, so there is something for everyone.
Slivovica
Probably Slovakia's most well-known distillate is this one. Slivovica is a potent, elegant distillate of plums. Fermenting plums creates them, distills them, and treats them with water. It is either clear or softly yellow and smells like fruit. Four production phases comprise the technology: ripening, fermentation, distillation, and fruit processing and harvesting. During yeast fermentation, fermentable carbohydrates are converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide. Distillation separates the fermented raw material from the alcohol and aromatics.
Vinea
This grape-based carbonated beverage is sweet and carbonated. A white, a red, and a delicate pink or rosé are the three varieties made. The red Vinea is made from red grapes, the white from white grapes, and the rosé from a blend of the two. Since the 19th century, non-alcoholic grape and soda drinks have been created. Vinea is a beverage that has won honorable awards both domestically and abroad. It is a favorite beverage in many households and restaurants in Slovakia. Children can also enjoy it because it isn't alcoholic.
Kofola
Slovakia and the Czech Republic manufacture Kofola, a kind of Coke. Because of its enormous popularity and striking resemblance to Coca-Cola and Pepsi, it competes directly with those two well-known international brands. In the 1960s and 1970s, while communism was in power, it rose considerably and still enjoys a strong following today. The Kofola brand was viewed as more of an all-encompassing term for that kind of beverage than a specific product because the trademark at the time was nonexistent, and the recipe was made publicly available.
Borovička
Borovicka is One of those beverages that, even without tasting it, you either adore or detest for its aroma. It's an acquired taste, so trying it for the first time is only sometimes the most enjoyable. But those who fall into the "love it" group are common in Slovakia. It is a distillate with a distinctive juniper scent prepared from the ripe fruit of the well-known pine tree. Several Borovika brands are exclusive to Slovakia in the European Union and are not made anywhere else in the world. These include, among others, Liptovská borovika, Inovecká borovika, and Spi'ská borovika.
TatraTea
TatraTea is a brand of tea that is popular in Slovakia. In addition to black, green, and herbal teas, the company also sells fruit, floral infusions, and various tea blends. The company is renowned for its premium goods and classic Slovak packaging. In Slovakia, TatraTea is commonly accessible in grocery stores and supermarkets.
We hope the article about the food from Slovakia made you consider visiting this beautiful country and trying out its cuisine! Follow us on Instagram @thewalkingparrot to be alerted when new articles are published!