Written by Dana Odvarkova
The recipe comes from the Hradec Kralove Region. Manufacturing is the largest source of employment for inhabitants of this region, but tourism is also important. The biggest draw for tourists is the natural environment. Part of the Bohemian Paradise, including the Prachov Rocks – unique sandstone formations – can be found in the Hradec Kralove Region. The region is also home to Snezka, part of the Krkonose National Park and the highest peak in the Czech Republic. The Krkonose Mountains, from which the park gets its name, are popular for skiing and hiking, among both Czechs and visitors from abroad. The mountains are also the origin of the legend of Krakonos, a character depicted in folk tales as a kindly old man with a walking stick, who acts as the protector of poor people and the guardian of the mountains and their flora and fauna. The recipe presented here, for Krakonos potato “thumbs,” is known mostly to locals. It is a meatless meal that is useful whenever we don’t want to eat meat. The preparation is quite easy and doesn’t take that much time.
For more information about the Hradec Kralove Region, from which this recipe comes, click here.
4 cups smoked pork or ham broth
1 lb potatoes
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 Tbs semolina durum wheat flour
1 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
a pinch ground nutmeg
salt to taste
butter
Peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters. After that, boil them in a pot for about 25 minutes in salted water. Drain the water. Mash the potatoes in the pot, add warm milk and a slice of butter, then whisk until smooth. Next, mix the mashed potatoes with eggs, semolina durum wheat flour, and plain breadcrumbs. Salt the resulting dough, add about half a teaspoon of ground nutmeg to it, and let it sit for 15 minutes. After that, take a tablespoon and cut out shapes similar to fingers, which will be cooked in smoked pork or smoked ham broth.
Grease a plate with melted butter and serve.
