Another classic Czech recipe: Bramboracka (Potato soup)

Bramboracka is the Queen of all the Czech soups. It’s amazing what a little potato can do when mixed with some vegetables and herbs! I tried to look up the history of Bramboracka but with no luck:-(. There are zillions of styles of bramboracka, this recipe seems to be the most authentic one.

BRAMBORACKA

Ingredients:

• 3 large potatoes, diced into cubes
• 6 cups of water
• 1 onion
• 1 root of celery
  
• 8 oz of fresh mushrooms (or use dried mushrooms and soak them 1 hour before using)
• 4 Tbs of butter
• 2 Tbs of flour
  
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  
• salt, marjoram, caraway seed
• fresh parsley,chopped
  
• 1/2 cup of diced, fried bacon

Method:

1. Saute finely chopped celery, onion and mushrooms in butter
2. While stirring, gradually sprinkle the vegetable mixture with flour
3. Keep stiring until all of the flour blends in with all of the vegetables
4. Add 1 cup of water and keep stirring for about 30 seconds
5. Add the rest of the water, diced potatoes, caraway seeds and salt
6. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
7. Add marjoram, crushed garlic, parsley and simmer the soup for 5 more minutes
8. Dish the soup up and sprinkle it with bacon and fresh parsley
9. Serve!

PS: Some people also add more root vegetables in such as cauliflower, carrots and/or sauerkraut