Vegetables are usually boiled, mashed or turned into sauces that make the dishes extra hearty. Dumplings, a staple in many meals, are steamed rather than baked, giving them a soft, spongy texture that soaks up all the sauce. Even dishes that might seem simple, like fried cheese, are prepared carefully so they’re crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside.
Czech food is closely connected to the country’s land and climate. Since the Czech Republic has cold winters, many traditional dishes are hearty and warming, perfect for staying full and cozy. Local farms provide fresh meat, potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables, which means most meals are made from ingredients grown nearby. Even the use of bread in dumplings reflects a long tradition of using local grains. In a way, eating Czech food is like taking a bite out of the countryside, where every dish shows how people here use what’s around them to create meals that are comforting, filling and full of flavor.
