Czech Chicken Paprikash

A delicious variation of a classic chicken favourite with dumplings

Dec 30, 2008 Carrie Prefontaine

Served on a bed of dumplings, rice, egg noodles, or gnocchi, this warm and creamy chicken dish makes an excellent winter meal.

Chicken is the basis for many easy and economical meals, but can often seem mundane or quotidian. Made to a traditional Czech recipe like this one, chicken instantly becomes an exotic comfort food. There are many recipes for the various ethnic variations of chicken paprika (including Hungarian and Israeli); this version is easy to make, but it does take a little time.

What gives this dish its warmth and delicious flavour is the paprika, so be sure to get the best available. This recipe calls for sweet paprika, but for a rich alternative, try using smoked paprika. For those who like their food spicy, hot paprika works very well too.

This dish is also known as chicken paprika, or in the Czech language, Kure Na Paprice.

Chicken Paprikash

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 tbsp of sweet paprika (or more, as you like)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/8 cup of flour mixed with 1/4 cup water
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Slice onion and saute in olive oil over medium-high heat until translucent.
  2. Add paprika and mix until onions are coated.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add chicken breasts and lightly brown.
  4. Add wine and chicken stock. Simmer covered until chicken is tender, usually about 30 minutes.
  5. Take out the chicken. Add flour mixture (making sure to mix it very well leaving no lumps) and simmer 10 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from burner and let cool for about 2 minutes.
  6. Slowly add sour cream to pan and mix well. Return to the burner on low heat. Do not boil or the sauce will curdle.
  7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve chicken on a bed of dumplings (see recipe below), rice, egg noodles, or gnocchi. Spoon sauce over top of chicken.

For a more savoury flavour, try substituting tomato juice or sauce for the white wine.

Traditional Dumplings

Ingredients

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup milk

1 cup flour

1/8 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 slices white bread, cubed

Directions

1. Mix egg, milk, flour, baking powder, and salt until smooth.

2. Add bread cubes to batter. Mix well.

3. Make 2 small balls from the dough.

4. Fill a large pot about half full with water and bring to a boil.

5. Drop the dough balls into the pot of boiling water and cook 10 minutes, then roll dumplings over and cook an additional 10 minutes.

6. Remove immediately from the water and cut in half.

This recipe makes four servings of Czech-style chicken paprikash and dumplings.

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