Introduction

Bryndzové Halušky is a traditional Slovak dish that is considered the national dish of Slovakia. It consists of potato dumplings called "halušky" typically made from a batter of grated potatoes and flour, which are then mixed with a special type of sheep cheese called "bryndza". The dish is usually topped with rendered bacon pieces.

Ingredients

For the Halušky (Potato Dumplings):

• 500g potatoes (peeled and finely grated)
• 500g all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 large egg (optional, some traditional recipes might not include it)
• Water (as needed to make a thick but pourable batter)

For the Bryndza Cheese Sauce:

• 200g bryndza cheese (sheep cheese, substitute with feta if bryndza is unavailable)
• 100ml sour cream (optional, for a creamier texture)
• Another teaspoon of salt (to taste, bryndza can be quite salty, so adjust as needed)

For the Bacon Topping:

• 200g bacon (diced)

Instructions

Step 1: Making the Halušky Batter

1. Peel and finely grate the potatoes.
2. Place the grated potatoes in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the all-purpose flour and salt to the grated potatoes.
4. If using an egg, add it to the mixture.
5. Mix until a thick but pourable batter is formed. If the batter is too thick to pour easily, add a little bit of water until you reach a suitable consistency.

Step 2: Cooking the Halušky

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Using a halušky maker (a special grater-like tool with large holes) or a spaetzle press, press portions of the batter through the holes directly into the boiling water. Alternatively, if you do not have a halušky maker, you can use a colander with holes large enough that the batter can be pressed through into the boiling water.
3. Allow the dumplings to cook until they float to the surface of the water (usually about 2-3 minutes once they float).
4. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked halušky dumplings from the water and place them in a colander to drain any excess water.
5. Repeat until all the batter is used.

Step 3: Preparing the Bryndza Cheese Sauce

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the bryndza cheese with sour cream (if using) until well blended.
2. Add salt if necessary (taste the bryndza first as it can be quite salty).

Step 4: Combining Halušky with Bryndza Cheese Sauce

1. Place the drained halušky dumplings into a large mixing bowl.
2. Pour the bryndza cheese sauce over the halušky dumplings and stir gently until the dumplings are well coated with the cheese sauce.

Step 5: Cooking the Bacon

1. In a frying pan over medium heat, cook the diced bacon until it is crispy and nicely browned.
2. Remove the bacon from the pan and set aside, making sure to keep the rendered fat.

Step 6: Serving Bryndzové Halušky

1. Transfer the bryndzové halušky to serving plates or a large serving dish.
2. Sprinkle the crispy bacon pieces and the rendered bacon fat over the top of the bryndzové halušky.
3. Serve immediately while hot.

Tips

• Bryndzové Halušky is traditionally served with a glass of buttermilk or sour milk.
• If bryndza cheese is not available, a substitute could be a mixture of feta cheese blended with a little sour cream until smooth.