Slovak Cuisine

There is nothing like world known Slovak cuisine; however, there are unique dishes that give identity to the Slovak cuisine and that you are more likely to find in Slovakia or only in Slovakia than in other parts of the world.

Slovak cuisine was influenced by the traditional cuisine neighbouring countries especially Hungary and Austria and it varies from region to region. It specialises in dishes based mainly on pork, poultry, cabbage, wheat flour, cow and sheep cheese, potatoes, onions and garlic. Although rice is not grown in Slovakia, it is imported and widely used in Slovak households and restaurants. Beans, corn, lentils, parsley, carrot and other vegetables are especially used in Slovak soups. Fruits such as apples, pears, plums, apricots, peaches, cherries, are often used on the side. Pork, beef and chicken are the most popular meat. Wild animal meats, especially rabbit and venison, are used in many restaurants and you can find them in some Slovak households. Lamb, duck or goose are less popular in Slovak cuisine, but you can find restaurants offering goose feasts (husacie hody). SLovensky Grob is one of the most famous restaurants offering goose feasts. Bread is favourite meal in Slovakia. Many Slovak people eat bread for breakfast, for lunch with soup and many times also for dinner.

Eating habits in Slovakia

Gulash Soup Skalicky Trdelnik Slanina, Klobasa

Most Slovak people have breakfast very early and eat different types of Slovak bread with butter, ham, cheese, salami, eggs, vegetables, sausages, jam or honey. Some people prefer corn flakes or other cereals or yoghurt. The main meal of the day is lunch, eaten around noon. Many restaurants in Slovakia offer daily menu where you can choose from of a couple of dishes served usually from 11.00 till 2.30 pm. Typical Slovak lunch consist of soup and main meal. Main mail is typically either meat, pasta or a sweet dish.

Traditional dishes in Slovakia

Slovak traditional cuisine includes especially the following dishes:

• Bryndzove halusky: potato dumplings with sheep cheese (bryndza) and roasted bacon
• Zemiakové placky: potato pancakes fried in oil with garlic and flour
• Granadír: pasta with potato
• Fried cheese: cheese fried in bread crumbs
• Schnitzel: Vienna schnitzel
• Lokše: potato pancake

Sweet dishes

Sweet dishes in Slovak cuisne include especially the following dishes:

• Pancakes
• Dolky: smaller size thicker pancakes
• Ryžový nàkyp: sweet baked rise
• Žemľovka: white bread with baked with fruit and eggs
• Parené buchty: steamed dumplings filled with jam with sweet toping
• Široké rezance: pasta
• Perky: pasta filled jam with sweet topping
• Šišky: fried dumplings

Slovak soups

Slovak traditional soups include:

• Kapustnica: soup made of sour cabbage and smoked pork sausage, variations also include adding mushrooms or plums
• Bean soup: made of beans and root vegetables such as carrots and parsley
• Garlic soup: usually cooked in chicken broth
• Goulash soup: made of beef, paprika, Marjoram and potatoes

Specialities

When visiting Slovakia, do not forget to try our specialities:

• Bryndza: special type of traditional Slovak cheese
• Cheeses: Parenica, ostiepok, korbacik
• Treska is a salad that contains codfish, mayonnaise and various vegetables.
• Valašsky Trdelnik : wives hollow cake
• Jaternica - a blood sausage containing parts of a butchered pig and rice
• Klobása – a sausage made of pork meat, salt, garlic and pepper
• Fish dishes: trout fish, carp fish

Drinks in Slovakia

Slovak people have a few popular drinks including beer, wine and traditional slivovica.

Beers is very popular drink in Slovakia with old as well as young people. There is a great variety of Slovak beers coming from different regions. The most popular Slovak beers include Zlatý Bažant, Corgoň, Šariš, Smädný mních or Topvar bottled or draught.

Wine is also very popular drink in Slovakia. Slovak wine comes mostly from the southern areas of Slovakia. Tokaj wine from the Tokaj region is probably the best-known.

Slivovica (made of plums) and borovička (made of juniper berries) are traditional alcoholic drinks.

Vinea is a traditional soft drink made from grape juice with no aromatic or synthetic colouring additives, stabilized by pasteurization. Kofola is a traditional Slovak cola drink and is also very popular among Slovak people. In the past kofola was only available draught. Nowadays you can buy both drinks bottled or draught in bars, pubs and some restaurants.

Slovakia is rich in mineral water springs. There are a lot of mineral water springs in Slovakia. Bottled mineral water is sold in different bottle sizes; available sparkling or non sparkling mineral water. Mineral water is a popular soft drink in Slovakia.

Coffee is a very popular drink in Slovakia. Slovak people drink different types of coffee including Turkish style coffee, Nescafe, espresso or cappuccino. Drinking coffee is also a cultural event. Slovak people go out for coffee just as they go out for beer.