Rustic Czech Svíčková with Beef and Carrot Purée

Classic Czech Comfort with a Modern Twist

Svíčková is a traditional Czech dish consisting of marinated beef served with a creamy vegetable sauce. This recipe adds a touch of modernity with a smooth carrot purée.

3 h 45 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Beef Marinade

Beef rump

1 kg (2.2 lbs), cut into large chunks

Onion

1 large, sliced

Carrots

2 large, sliced

Garlic

2 cloves, minced

Black peppercorns

1 tbsp, whole

Bay leaves

Water

500 ml (2 cups)

White vinegar

250 ml (1 cup)

For the Vegetable Sauce

Butter

2 tbsp

Carrot

1 large, chopped

Parsnip

1, chopped

Onion

1, chopped

Salt and pepper

to taste

Beef broth

500 ml (2 cups)

Sour cream

250 ml (1 cup)

For the Carrot Purée

Carrots

500 g (1 lb), peeled and chopped

Butter

50 g (1.7 oz)

Salt

to taste

Preparation

Marinating the Beef

Combine ingredients

Combine beef, onions, carrots, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large bowl.

Add liquids

Pour in water and vinegar, ensuring the beef is submerged.

Refrigerate

Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, preferably overnight.

Preparing the Carrot Purée

Boil carrots

In a pot, boil chopped carrots until tender.

Blend purée

Drain and transfer to a blender. Add butter and blend until smooth.

Avoid over-blending the purée; it should remain smooth yet robust. For a silkier purée texture, pass it through a fine-mesh sieve after blending.

Season

Season with salt to taste.

Cooking Process

Braising the Beef

Remove beef from marinade, pat dry, and sear in a hot pan until browned, then set aside.

Use high heat to sear beef. Marinate Beef: 12-24 h.

Making the Sauce

Sauté additional vegetables in butter, add beef broth, and simmer with the seared beef.

Simmer Sauce: Medium-low heat. Simmer with vegetables: 2 h 30 min.

Finishing the Sauce

Blend sauce with sour cream until smooth and creamy.

Plating & Serving

Rustic Czech Svíčková with Beef and Carrot Purée

FaUtensils

Plating & Serving

Ladle the creamy sauce over slices of the tender beef, and serve alongside a generous dollop of carrot purée for a beautiful contrasting color on the plate.

Sauce Pairings

Sour Cream Sauce

tangy and creamy

Garnishes & Accompaniments

Fresh parsley

Perfect Sides

Czech Bread Dumplings

Pickled vegetables