Bramboračka – Czech Potato Soup
Bramboračka is a hearty Czech potato soup made with root vegetables, dried mushrooms, and aromatic spices. It features a roux-based broth thickened with flour and enriched with butter, creating a comforting and filling dish. The soup balances earthy mushroom flavor with fresh herbs and a mild blend of caraway, marjoram, and black pepper.
Ingredients
- 3 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 large carrot peeled and diced
- 3 and ½ ounces celeriac root peeled and diced
- 1 medium parsley root peeled and diced
- 4 medium potato peeled and cubed
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 handful dried mushrooms ideally European varieties
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ¾ tick butter unsalted
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 5 cups water (or vegetable broth), lukewarm
- 1 Tablespoon parsley chopped, fresh greens
- 1 Tablespoon marjoram dried
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds crushed
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- salt
Instructions
- Make ahead: Clean and peel the vegetables (1 large carrot, 1 medium parsley root, 3 and ½ ounces celeriac root, 4 medium potatoes). Cut them into ½-inch cubes. Peel and mince 3 cloves garlic. Peel and finely chop 3 medium onions. Grind ½ teaspoon caraway seeds coarsely either in a grinder or by hand in a mortar.
- Soak 1 handful dried mushrooms in 1 ¼ cups water, bring to a boil, and gently simmer for about 10 minutes. Reserve the mushroom stock for later.
- Heat a Dutch oven or a thick-bottomed soup pot over medium heat and melt in ¾ stick unsalted butter. Add the root vegetables (carrot, parsley root, celery—not the onion yet).
- Fry the vegetables until lightly golden (5-8 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes while stirring.
- Reduce the heat to one-third and start making the roux. Add ⅓ cup all-purpose flour to the vegetables and fry for about a minute, until the veggies are coated with flour and lightly golden. Stir frequently to prevent the flour from scorching. Add crushed caraway seeds and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper Stir well.
- Add about a cup of lukewarm water or vegetable broth and whisk to prevent lumps. Add the remaining liquid and stir. Salt to taste, turn up the heat, cover and bring to a boil.
- Once the soup starts to boil, add the cubed potatoes and boil gently for 10 minutes. Then add the chopped garlic, soaked mushrooms and about 1 cup of reserved mushroom stock. Reduce heat and let cook covered for about 5-7 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- The last step is to add the 1 Tablespoon dried marjoram. Rub the marjoram with your fingers before adding it to release its essential oils. Cook for another 1 minute, then remove the bramboracka soup from the heat.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary. Stir in 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley greens, chopped.
Notes
- This recipe yields four generous servings of Bramboračka potato soup.
- Serve the soup as a first course for a light lunch or as a main meal with fresh crusty bread.
- Garnish each bowl with chopped fresh parsley for added color and flavor.
- The soup tastes even better the next day after flavors have melded; reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 440
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 440kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 65g | 22% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 46mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 74mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 1333mg | 28% |
| Fiber | 10g | 40% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 3209IU | 64% |
| Vitamin C | 60mg | 67% |
| Calcium | 107mg | 11% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.