Czech Svíčková na Smetaně - Short Chicken Version
This beloved Czech dish, has a name that sparks curiosity. While *svíčka* means "candle" in Czech, one theory links it to medieval feasts held by candlelight. This classic dish features tenderloin, cooked with vegetables, seasoned with juniper and allspice. The vegetables are blended with gravy and cream into a velvety sauce. Served with cream, dumplings, and cranberry sauce, Svíčková perfectly balances savory and sweet flavors, earning its place as a true Czech fall favorite.This recipe works well with beef, pork, chicken, or a plant-based tenderloin.
Ingredients
Protein
- 1 lb chicken pieces of your choice [1]
Fresh Produce
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 small carrots [2]
- 2 medium parsnips [2]
- 3 celery stalks [2]
- 1 lemon for juice
Dairy and Packaged Goods/Staples
- 1/2-1 cup sour cream [3]
- 1-2 cup whipped cream optional
- butter or oil
- salt & pepper
Culinary Spice Kit
- 1 pouch Onion, allspice, juniper, black peppercorn, marjoram, thyme, bay leaves, celery
Suggested Sides
- cranberry sauce [4] or dried cranberries
- bread or potato dumplings, or gnocchi
- potatoes, boiled or mashed
Instructions
Prepare
- Roughly chop the vegetables.
Cooking the Vegetables and Chicken
- In a POT, cook onions in 2 tbsp of butter over medium heat until translucent.
- Add vegetables and cook for 5 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Add 5 cups water, the chicken, Svíčková spices, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil.
- Cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender.
- Take the chicken out and keep it warm.
Cook the Gravy
- Use a hand blender to purée the vegetables into a smooth sauce.
- Stir in ½ cup of sour cream (or more to taste).
- To thicken the gravy, add a flour slurry [5] if desired.
- Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve
- Serve the creamy gravy over the chicken, topped with whipped cream, cranberry sauce, and your favorite side dish.
- Finish with a sprinkle of lemon juice to taste.
Notes
[1] Find the authentic recipe with beef here.
[2] Alternative Vegetables:
- for carrots: Jerusalem artichoke, pumpkin, sweet potato
- for parsnip: turnip, rutabaga, kohlrabi
- for celery stalks: celery root