Czech Svickova
The Czech Republic's national dish: braised beef sirloin in a creamy root vegetable sauce, served with bread dumplings, cranberry sauce, and a slice of lemon.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs beef sirloin or top round
- 2 carrots, 1 parsnip, 1 celeriac (all chopped)
- 1 onion
- 6 strips bacon
- Spices: 6 allspice berries, 4 bay leaves, 10 black peppercorns
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Bread dumplings and cranberry sauce for serving
Instructions
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1
Lard the beef with bacon strips. Season with salt and pepper.
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2
Roast root vegetables and onion in a Dutch oven with oil until golden, 15 minutes.
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3
Add beef, spices, 2 cups water, and lemon juice. Cover and braise at 325°F for 2 hours until tender.
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4
Remove beef. Strain or blend vegetables with cooking liquid into a smooth sauce.
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5
Whisk flour into cream, then stir into the sauce. Simmer until thickened. Add sugar.
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6
Slice beef and serve with sauce, bread dumplings, cranberry sauce, and a lemon slice.