A popular traditional dish from the Czech Republic is “Svíčková,” which is a marinated beef dish served with a creamy sauce. It’s typically accompanied by bread dumplings and cranberry sauce. Here’s a recipe for Svíčková:

Ingredients:

For the beef marinade:

• 1.5 pounds beef sirloin or top round
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 whole black peppercorns
• 5 allspice berries
• 2 cloves
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

For serving:

• Bread dumplings (recipe below)
• Cranberry sauce
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

For the bread dumplings:

• 4 cups stale white bread, cubed
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, combine the beef, beef broth, chopped carrot, chopped onion, chopped celery, bay leaves, black peppercorns, allspice berries, and cloves. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the beef is tender. Remove the beef from the pot and set it aside.
3. Strain the broth and discard the vegetables and spices. Reserve 2 cups of the strained broth for the sauce.
4. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute to make a roux.
5. Gradually whisk in the reserved beef broth until smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
6. Stir in the sour cream, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to simmer for another 5 minutes.
7. Slice the cooked beef into thin slices.
8. To make the bread dumplings, place the stale white bread cubes in a large bowl. Pour the milk over the bread and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
9. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, and baking powder. Add this mixture to the bread and milk mixture. Gradually add the flour, stirring until the dough comes together.
10. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Using wet hands, shape the dough into oval-shaped dumplings and gently drop them into the boiling water. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through. Remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and let them drain.
11. To serve, place a slice of beef on a plate, spoon the creamy sauce over the beef, and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with bread dumplings and cranberry sauce on the side.

Svíčková is a flavorful and comforting dish that represents Czech cuisine. Enjoy this delicious taste of the Czech Republic!