Traditional Czech Vepřo Knedlo Zelo
Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Central Europe with "Vepřo Knedlo Zelo," a beloved Czech classic. This hearty dish combines tender roasted pork, fluffy bread dumplings, and savory braised sauerkraut—all flavors traditionally cherished in Czech kitchens. Perfect for a cozy family meal, this dish exemplifies comfort food at its finest.
Ingredients
For the Roasted Pork (Vepřo)
🥩 2 pieces Pork Shoulder, approximately 4-6 lbs total
🧂 Salt
🌶️ Black Pepper
🌿 Herbs, choices include caraway seeds, marjoram, or thyme
🧄 10-12 cloves Garlic, peeled
🧅 2-3 large Onions, quartered
For the Bread Dumplings (Knedlo)
🍞 1-2 cups Day-old Bread, cubed
🌾 Whole Wheat Flour
🚰 Water
🧂 Salt
For the Braised Sauerkraut (Zelo)
🥓 4-6 slices Bacon, sliced
🧅 2-3 large Onions, diced
🥬 Large quantity of Sauerkraut
🌿 Caraway Seeds
🧂 Salt
🌶️ Black Pepper
🛢️ Oil/Fat
For the Gravy
🌾 Thickener, Flour or Cornstarch
Instructions
1- Preheat the Oven:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2- Season the Pork:
- Place the pork shoulders in a large roasting pan.
- Season generously with salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs.
- Insert peeled garlic cloves into the meat.
3- Add Onions:
- Scatter quartered onions around the pork.
4- Roast the Pork:
- Place the roasting pan into the preheated oven and roast until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), checking with an OXO meat thermometer.
- If needed, finish cooking in a Panasonic Inverter Microwave to ensure doneness.
5- Rest the Pork:
- Once cooked, let the pork rest before slicing.
6- Mix the Dough:
- In a Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer, combine whole wheat flour, cubed bread, salt, and water.
- Mix until a dough forms.
7- Let It Rise:
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased container.
- Cover with a towel and allow to rise until doubled in size.
8- Steam the Dumplings:
- Divide the dough into logs and place them in a steamer basket over boiling water.
- Steam until cooked through.
9- Cook the Bacon:
- In a cast iron pan, cook bacon until crisp.
- Set aside or leave it for rendering fat.
10- Sauté the Onions:
- Add onions to the pan and sauté until softened.
11- Braise the Sauerkraut:
- Add sauerkraut, caraway seeds, salt, and pepper.
- Braise until tender and lightly browned.
12- Prepare the Base:
- Pour the liquid and onions from the pork roasting pan into a separate pan.
13- Thicken:
- Add a thickening agent to the liquid and stir until smooth.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 650 kcal
Protein: 38g
Fats: 30g
Carbohydrates: 50g
Equipment: Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer, OXO Meat Thermometer, Panasonic Inverter Microwave, Pyrex Measuring Cup
Cooking Tips
- Start early to manage the timing for all components.
- Use generous amounts of onions for authentic flavor.
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Americans Cook Czech: https://www.youtube.com/@americanscookczech