Bryndzové Halušky, translatable as “gnocchi with Bryndza,” are the national specialty of Slovakia.
The recipe includes potato-based halušky with flour and eggs, topped with a Bryndza cream, a soft cheese made from sheep’s milk.
This cheese is highly appreciated in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine.
The dish is often accompanied by “žinčica,” a drink similar to Kefir, made from fermented sheep whey, served in a “črpák,” a wooden cup with a pastoral scene carved on the handle.
In Slovakia, a special “halušky tool” is used to prepare the dumplings.
Various models are available on the market, shaped like a sieve or a grater with a sliding compartment.
The tool, with a perforated base, is placed over the pot.
The dough is then poured into the mobile container, and by moving it back and forth, the dough falls into the boiling water through the holes.
This instrument is similar to the tool used for preparing Spätzli.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 2 people
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Eastern European
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 14 oz potatoes
- 1.5 cups flour
- 1 egg
- 3.5 oz Bryndza (or sheep ricotta)
- 3.5 oz smoked bacon (diced)
- to taste milk
- to taste salt
Steps
Grate the potatoes, add the flour, egg, and salt.
Knead with your hands (add extra flour if needed) and form small dumplings about 3/8 inch in size.
Boil them in salted boiling water.
Sauté the bacon in a pan, in its fat.
Mix the cheese with the milk.
Season the halušky with the cheese mixture and add the bacon in the center.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Are there any festivals dedicated to Bryndzové halušky?
Every year in Turecká (Banska Bystrica region), there is a gastronomic festival dedicated to Bryndzové halušky.
During the event, the Slovak and European Bryndzové halušky Championships take place, featuring two team competitions, each consisting of 4 people.
The first round involves cooking and eating 6.6 lbs of Bryndzové halušky in the shortest time possible.
The second, called “Thousands of Flavors in Halušky,” does not consider time but the quality of the Halušky.
During preparation, competitors are allowed to add their chosen ingredients to the main dish, such as eggs, ricotta, cabbage, etc.
The tastiest dish wins.What cheese can substitute Bryndza?
With sheep ricotta or with a soft cheese like feta, goat cheese, roquefort, or others.
