Another classic Czech recipe…Dill Gravy / Koprova omacka

Dill is not a common ingredient in an American kitchen. Yet the Czechs love to cook with it. And it smells sooo good!!! Dill Gravy is probably the most famous dill recipe from the “Czech pot”. So enjoy!!!

PS: the recipe comes from an old Czech cookbook so bear with my awkward translation at times…

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh chopped dill
2 Tbs. of butter
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 cups of cold chicken stock
1/2 cup of sour cream
2 Tbs. of flour
2 Tbs. of vinegar (or lemon juice)
salt, pepper, sugar to taste

Method:

Make “jiska”:
- melt butter on a pan and add chopped onion; cook until bubbly and onion has a translucent look to it.
- while stirring, gradually add flour and stir for about 30 sec. more, until butter stops bubbling
Remove from heat
While stirring, gradually add chicken stock
simmer for about 10 minutes
Add in fresh dill and vinegar
Add sugar and salt to taste
Add sour-cream
Simmer for 5 more minutes

Serve over hard-boiled eggs and slow-cooked beef with dumplings or potatoes. Hmmm……….!!!!:)

By the way if you are looking for a good Czech cookbook yourself, this is a great one:

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Karmyn R July 6, 2009 at 7:57 pm: Thanks for this great recipe in your archives…. I’m married to a Czech and he was wanting some dill gravy so badly – just like his mom made!
Tanja July 6, 2009 at 10:13 pm: Hi Karmyn,
I just posted a comment on your blog. I hope your recipe turned out tasty! Where are you guys located?
Julia December 11, 2009 at 12:57 pm: Hi! I’ve been searching for a certain Czech soup ever since I had a roommate from the Czech republic. She would make this amazing soup that was creamy with lemon, dill, poached eggs, white vinegar and potatoes in it. I’ve done a lot of internet searching and have found some similar recipes (I think koprováá poléévka or koprovka might be it?) but I haven’t found anything with those exact ingredients. Does that sound like a traditional soup, or maybe something she put together herself? Thanks, you have a very nice website!
Tanja December 11, 2009 at 4:23 pm: Hi Julia, yes it is a traditional Czech soup sometimes also called KULAJDA (or Koprova polevka). But the recipes vary quite often as some people like to add their favorite things. I am planning on posting about the soup pretty soon!
Monica May 1, 2011 at 5:50 pm: I had a bunch of fresh dill and was searching for a recipe for a “sauce” for new potatoes when I found this recipe. I made this tonight and it was delicious! Not only did it go well with the potatoes, but we drowned our steaks in it!
Tanja May 1, 2011 at 9:10 pm: Hi Monica!
I am glad it worked out for you – try the same sauce on any fish – you will love it as well
Also, if you like dill you will fall in love with “Kulajda” (Dill soup) which is also listed in my ‘recipes’ category.
judy August 25, 2011 at 10:09 am: What happened to the sour cream you have in the list of ingredients?
Tanja August 25, 2011 at 10:25 am: Ups, sorry! I added that sour cream step in.
Jackie September 8, 2011 at 12:16 pm: Do you use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar and in what step do you add the sour cream. I am Czech/Bohemian and my mother would make dill gravy and I really loved it but never paid attention on how to make it. Thank you for your answer and the recipe, can’t wait to try it.
Tanja September 8, 2011 at 2:19 pm: Hi Jackie, I am sorry! I added the missing sour-cream step. Thanks for pointing that out to me
I use whatever vinegar I have on hand, but I think someone in here commented (don’t remember what post) that apple cider vinegar is the most similar to the Czech one. But really, either type will do. Good luck!