1 Views

Fried cheese in a bun would possibly sound easy at first look, but in Prague, this crispy Czech basic is virtually a culinary ceremony of passage. Identified domestically as smažený sýr, this golden, crispy slab of melted cheese isn’t only a greasy late-night snack. It’s a nostalgic consolation meals deserving of a second within the solar on a Prague meals tour.  

Vacationers usually come across it at road meals stands, market stalls, or tavern menus with out realizing they’re biting into an iconic piece of Czech culinary tradition. On this information, you’ll uncover the place to strive the very best variations of fried cheese in Prague, the historical past behind it, and recommendations on easy methods to eat it like a real native.

What Is Smažený Sýr? A Deep-Fried Native Obsession

Picture credit score: Wikimedia Commons licensed below CC0 1.0 Common (no adjustments made)

Smažený Sýr is pronounced “smah-zheh-nee seer, which interprets as “fried cheese.” It’s a Czech consolation meals that’s so simple as it’s addictive.

At its core, it’s a thick slice of semi-hard cheese, like domestically sourced Edam or Eidam, that’s coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried till golden and gooey. The result’s this semi-amorphous patty of cheese with a wonderfully crispy shell that provides method to a wealthy, molten, stretchy heart that oozes taste with each chew.

In Prague, you usually discover smažený sýr served with a aspect of tatarská omáčka (tartar sauce) and fries. Markets will usually promote it in a smooth bun, to be eaten as a road meals sandwich. It’s my favourite method to seize a fast chew whereas perusing markets like Wenceslas Sq., Jiřák Market.

Traditionally, smažený sýr’s roots will be traced again to high school cafeterias, smoky pubs, and no-frills lunch menus. This broad availability has lengthy made it a staple for staff and college students alike.

On the streets of Prague, you’ll additionally discover vegetarian-friendly variations and artistic takes that embody particular fillings. It’s in every single place and reasonably priced, supplying you with a number of alternatives to strive it as a part of the native taste.  

The place to Discover the Greatest Fried Cheese in Prague

You could find smažený sýr throughout Prague, and with so many delicate takes, it’s price it to do that fried cheese consolation meals at a couple of completely different spots.

Road Meals Stalls at Wenceslas Sq. or Jiřák Market

Picture credit score: Jiřák Market

I really like the fast‑serve stands in Wenceslas Sq. and Jiřák market, which let me seize a fast chew of consolation meals cheese whereas doing a little bit of purchasing. A lot of the distributors supply fried Edam or Hermelín breaded cheese in a bun or with fries and tartar sauce. Nevertheless, I’m usually content material to only take pleasure in a slice of fried cheese in a smooth bread bun.  

Informal Quick Meals Chains

There are a number of well-known Czech quick meals chains like Lokál, Bageterie Boulevard that serve a barely elevated tackle smažený sýr. I like that they usually use natural Eidam, which is aged for max stretchiness, after which fried in clarified butter, for next-level richness. 

Beer Halls & Pubs

Picture credit score: Lokál Dlouhááá

Native beer halls and pubs normally supply crispy fried cheese sandwiches with fries or potatoes, tartar sauce, and robust Pilsner. A few of my favorites for smažený sýr are U Glaubiců, Lokál Dlouhááá, which have an informal vibe and hearty parts.  

Eating places and Bistros

Picture credit score: Cafe Velryba

Prague has a number of fashionable eating places and bistros that supply a barely upscale model of smažený sýr. One in every of my favorites is Masaryčka, close to Masaryk Station, which is an unpretentious spot identified for making smažený sýr with Gouda fried to an ideal crisp in clarified butter. They even use selfmade breadcrumbs that form of jogs my memory that the breading is greater than only a case for the cheese.  

Cafe Velryba is one other one among my favourite secret gems for smažený sýr, the place it’s constructed from Gouda and served on a carefully smooth bun. Full with home tartar sauce and veggies, to go well with vegetarian tastes.

How Locals Eat It (And How You Ought to Too)

Picture credit score: Wikimedia Commons licensed below CC0 1.0 Common (no adjustments made)

In Prague, there’s no single “proper” method to deal with smažený sýr. As an alternative, it’s greatest to eat it primarily based on the venue and the temper of the place you’re getting your fried cheese.

Should you’re having fun with it at a road meals stall or open-air market, locals fortunately seize the fried cheese and eat it like a standalone sandwich. Typically letting the gooey inside stretch with each chew.

In a pub or restaurant, smažený sýr is normally eaten with a fork and knife, paired with crispy fries or typically a easy, refreshing salad. The true sidekick is tatarská omáčka is the Czech tackle a creamy tartar sauce that’s vivid and completely cuts by means of the richness.

Most Czechs wash smažený sýr down with an ice-cold Pilsner, which is a pleasant method to begin or finish a protracted evening out. Regardless of the way you eat it, count on a molten cheese heart, a crunchy breadcrumb crust, and the form of hearty satisfaction which may simply ship you into a cheerful meals coma.

Ultimate Ideas: Why Fried Cheese Is Peak Czech Consolation Meals

Smažený sýr won’t be fancy, however its fundamental, consolation meals goodness is a little bit little bit of what makes it one of many greatest Czech meals. This crispy, gooey slab of fried cheese embodies every thing Prague is about. It makes use of easy components to ship massive taste and a contact of nostalgia.

Whether or not you seize it from a bustling market stall or savor an upgraded model in a contemporary bistro, it’s a dish that delivers pure satisfaction on a Prague meals tour.

Sources:

Kavárna Velryba. (n.d.). Kavárna Velryba. http://www.kavarnavelryba.cz/

Ambiente. (n.d.). Lokál Dlouhááá. http://lokal-dlouha.ambi.cz/

Masaryčka restaurace. (n.d.). Masaryčka restaurace. http://www.masaryckarestaurace.cz/

U Glaubiců. (n.d.). U Glaubiců. https://uglaubicu.com/

Trhy Jiřák. (n.d.). Trhy Jiřák. https://trhyjirak.cz/

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Czech meals: 17 conventional dishes to eat in Prague. Consuming Europe. https://www.eatingeurope.com/weblog/czech-foods/

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Prague meals excursions. Consuming Europe. https://www.eatingeurope.com/prague/