Language/Slovak/Culture/Slovak-Food-and-Drink

Slovak Culture → Unit 3: Slovak Culture and Society → Slovak Food and Drink

Slovak cuisine is a delightful mix of different flavors and influences. It is heavily influenced by neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary, and Austria, as well as by traditional Slovak farming culture. The food is typically hearty and filling, perfect for cold winter evenings. In this lesson, we'll take a closer look at traditional Slovak dishes and drinks.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Slovak Folk Tales and Legends & Regions of Slovakia.

Traditional Slovak dishes

Slovak traditional cuisine is based on simple ingredients such as potatoes, cabbage, onions, and meat. The dishes are often seasoned with paprika, which gives them a distinctive taste. Here are some of the most popular traditional dishes:

Halušky

Halušky is a traditional Slovak pasta dish made from grated raw potatoes and flour. It's similar to gnocchi, but without the cheese. The dough is cut into small pieces and boiled until cooked. It is typically served with bryndza cheese and bacon.

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Halušky	ha-loosh-ki	dumplings made from grated raw potatoes and flour.

Bryndzové halušky

Bryndzové halušky is a famous Slovak dish made from potato dumplings and bryndza cheese. Bryndza is a type of sheep cheese that is particular to Slovakia. The cheese is melted and mixed with bacon and served with halušky.

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Bryndzové halušky	brin-dzoh-veh ha-loosh-ki	potato dumplings with melted bryndza cheese and bacon.

Kapustnica

Kapustnica is a traditional Slovak sauerkraut soup made with smoked sausage, dried mushrooms, and sour cream. It's traditionally served during the Christmas season.

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Kapustnica	kah-poosht-nee-tsah	sauerkraut soup with smoked sausage, dried mushrooms, and sour cream.

Strapačky

Strapačky is a dish made from boiled potatoes, sliced cabbage, and smoked bacon. It is typically seasoned with paprika and served with sour cream.

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Strapačky	strap-ach-ki	boiled potatoes with sliced cabbage and smoked bacon, typically seasoned with paprika and served with sour cream.

Slovak drinks

In addition to its hearty cuisine, Slovakia is also known for its alcoholic beverages. The two most famous Slovak drinks are slivovica and borovička.

Slivovica

Slivovica is a plum brandy that is made from fermented plums. It's a strong drink with an alcohol content of around 50%, and it's typically served as an aperitif before a meal.

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Slivovica	slee-voh-vee-tsah	plum brandy made from fermented plums.

Borovička

Borovička is a type of gin that is made from juniper berries. It's typically served as a digestif after a meal, and it's said to aid digestion.

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Borovička	bo-roh-vee-chka	gin made from juniper berries.

Learning about traditional Slovak dishes and drinks is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and get a taste of what Slovakia has to offer. I hope you enjoyed this lesson and feel inspired to try some of these delicious foods and drinks.

Table of Contents - Slovak Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Unit 1: Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions
• Nationalities and Languages

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Unit 2: Nouns, Pronouns, and Verbs in the Present Tense

• Nouns and Pronouns
• The Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• The Verbs 'To Be' and 'To Have'
• Basic Sentence Structure

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Unit 3: Slovak Culture and Society

• Slovak History
• Slovak Traditions and Customs
• Slovak Food and Drink

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Unit 4: Daily Activities and Routine

• Daily Routine
• Free Time
• Chores and Errands

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Unit 5: Cases and Prepositions

• The Genitive Case
• The Locative Case
• Prepositions

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Unit 6: Slovak Geography and Nature

• Regions of Slovakia
• Slovak Nature
• Slovak Folk Tales and Legends

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Unit 7: Travel and Transportation

• Transportation
• Travel and Accommodation
• Directions

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Unit 8: Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
• The Imperfective and Perfective

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Unit 9: Slovak Art and Music

• Slovak Art
• Slovak Music
• Slovak Film and Literature

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Unit 10: Time and Dates

• Telling Time
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Holidays and Celebrations

Other Lessons

• Slovakia Timeline
• Slovak Film and Literature
• Slovak Folk Tales and Legends
• Slovak Music
• Slovak Nature
• Slovak History
• Slovak Traditions and Customs
• Regions of Slovakia
• Slovak Art

Sources

• Traditional Slovak Dishes You Must Try
• Culture of Slovakia - history, people, clothing, traditions, women ...
• ACSCC American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club – Welcome to the ...