Why go
Houbový kuba bakes barley with mushrooms, onion and garlic, traditionally appearing at Christmas. Smaženice cooks mushrooms with onion and spices, while peas or lentils may arrive as a mash with pickles and fried onion. Žemlovka layers bread and apples into a baked sweet dish. These options reveal more of Czech cooking than the familiar roast-and-dumpling combination.
The full story
Mushrooms have a substantial place on Czech menus. Smaženice fries them with onion and spices; houbový kuba bakes mushrooms with barley, garlic and onion and is associated with Christmas. A breaded and fried cauliflower can make a vegetable main, while cooked peas or lentils may come as a mash with pickles and fried onion. Some dishes blur the line between savoury meal and sweet course. Nudle s mákem pairs noodles with ground poppy seeds, butter and sugar. Žemlovka layers bread, apples and an egg or milk mixture before baking. Palačinky are larger pancakes, usually rolled around a filling, whereas the yeast-raised lívance are smaller. Reading the Czech dish name helps distinguish a filling mushroom or pulse dish from a sweet plate that may be served as a meal.