The most awesome thing about growing up with Steve is having another person to witness the world with. And shit, we sure have witnessed a lot. Growing up in Queens as a Czech immigrant (my brother) and a child of Czech immigrants (me), the contrast between the local American Irish/Italian townie mentality with a Disney PTA mom lacquer and the beer guzzling, constantly debating, middle earth beard clad dads, moms who invented norm core, political Czech immigrants could not have been clearer. My brother and I lived in a world where most people either couldn't spell Czechoslovakia (to be honest, who can?), didn't know it existed, or confused it with another country (I was often taunted with being "hungry" because I was from Hungary - both untrue). But this story isn't new; just look to the story of any other immigrant (or child of) and you will read the same arc. In fact, Queens is filled with these stories; we just happened to live two neighborhoods away. Similar to many other immigrants, food is both the loving foundation of family memories and the source of much embarrassment during recess at the handball court (damn, did my brother and I love those concrete walls). If memory serves correct, goulash, řízek (scnitzel), and smažený sýr (fried cheese) was the way to my brothers second heart (the stomach). As mentioned in my love letter to my awesome brother, Steve, I am going to do the selfish little sister thing and make MY favorite of the three.
There isn't much to say about smažený sýr, other than it is delicious. Trust me, the proof is in the fried cheese. Typically served with some form of potato and tarter sauce, this recipe gives it a ~slightly~ healthier twist with smaller portions, the addition of a crinkle cut "funfetti" inspired salad, and a yogurt based tarter sauce. I hope you enjoy! Dobrou chuť!
Serves 3 - 4 people
*If serving for a dinner (or dinner party!), tartar sauce can be made a day ahead. Prep salad + smažený sýr a few hours or night before. Dress salad in lemon/oil dressing and fry cheese right before serving. Eat right away!
Ingredients:
for the smažený sýr:
- .5 lbs of Edam Cheese
- .5 cups unbleached flour
- .5 cups breadcrumbs, plain
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp tarragon
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- s+p
- Vegetable Oil (or any oil with high smoke point)
for the salad:
- 1/4 medium red cabbage
- 1 cucumber
- 1 orange bell pepper
- lemon zest + juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- s+p
for the tartar sauce:
- 6 oz. greek yogurt
- 1/2 white onion, minced
- 10 cornichons (or 1 pickle), minced
- 2 tbsp pickle juice
- 1 tsp whole grain dijon mustard
- .5 tspworcestershire sauce
- lemon zest + juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- s+p
- optional - pickled pearl onion
Instructions:
Crinkle Cut Funfetti Salad
- Wash and dry all produce (except red cabbage)
- Quarter the red cabbage. Save 3/4 in plastic bag and refrigerate. Remove core of red cabbage. Wash and dry remaining quarter.
- Using the crinkle cut blade and 1/4" thickness on mandoline. Slice red cabbage. You will get a lovely mixture of smaller shreds with long crinkle cuts!
- Quarter washed cucumber. Using the same mandoline settings as the red cabbage, slice cucumber into ruffles slices.
- Quarter orange pepper into strips and repeat slicing as cucumber.
- Combine lemon zest, juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, and s+p.
- Toss with cabbage, cucumber, pepper salad and let rest.
**Be sure to be extra careful when using mandoline slicer. Use guards!
Harvest dreams
the most psychedelic of vegetables
Mandoline slicer fun time
Funfetti party
Ruffled cucumbers
Topographical view
Party bowl
Yogurt Tartar Sauce
- Measure 6 oz. of greek yogurt and place in mixing bowl (or just use a 5.3 ounce package - whatever floats your boat).
- Finely mince 1/2 white onion.
- Finely mince 10 cornichons. If jar comes with pickled pearl onion, mince one as well.
- Mix yogurt, onions, cornichons, and pearl onion.
- Add zest and juice of lemon, .5 tsp worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp pickle juice, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1 tsp whole grain dijon mustard, and s+p. Mix.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour prior to serving.
Don't forget to sculpt a yogurt flower for yourself
Minced flavor
Yogurt tartar sauce
Smažený Sýr
- Cut .5 lbs of Edam cheese into two 1/2" slices and then quarter each slice. First cut will help peel red wax off.
- In a plate or bowl, combine .5 cup of flour and s+p.
- In bowl, whisk together 2 eggs and 1 tsp worcestershire sauce. Sometimes I like to add a splash of milk to thin out mixture.
- In a plate or bowl, combine .5 cups of breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp each of dried parsley and paprika, 1 tsp each of celery salt, tarragon, and garlic powder, and s+p. You can also buy seasoned bread crumbs, or adjust seasoning to your preference.
- Bread cheese by drenching in flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs. Make sure cheese is fully sealed to prevent oozing delicious cheese. For extra crispy cheese, breadby drenching in flour, then egg, then flour and egg again followed by breadcrumbs. Refrigerate for a few minutes to set. Make sure to take out of fridge 5 minutes prior to frying.
- Preheat oil with a high smoke point (I used vegetable oil). I use then end of a wooden spoon to check temperature. If bubbles form around stick end when placed in oil, it is good to go.
- Place breaded cheese into oil, fry 1 minute on each side to prevent cheese ooze. Place onto paper napkin to absorb excess oil and sprinkle with s+p.
- Serve immediately. Dip into tartar sauce for maximum flavor enjoyment. Cry tears of joy.
Czech out this cheese (pun intended)
The flour
The egg
The bread
*silently prays to not drop equipment into pan of frying oil. Photo totally worth it - ish
Family style plating
Tartar sauce is the magic and heart of this dish
Enjoy!
