5 from 51 votes
Czech Garlic Soup – Česnečka
Czech Garlic Soup, or Česnečka, is a hearty broth-based soup with cubed potatoes, sliced garlic, dried marjoram, bay leaves, and black pepper, simmered in chicken broth. It features sautéed potatoes and garlic in lard, delivering a warm, savory flavor with herbal notes. The soup is served with crispy rye bread croutons buttery roasted for texture contrast.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
234 kcal
Course:
Soup
Cuisine:
Czech
Ingredients
- 4 medium potato peeled and cubed (e.g., Yukon Gold
- 8 cloves garlic peeled and sliced
- 5 cups chicken broth (1.2 l)
- 1 Tablespoon lard (or sunflower/canola oil)
- 1 teaspoon marjoram dried
- 2 bay leaf
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- salt the exact amount depends on the saltiness of the chicken broth - salt the soup to your liking
Rye bread croutons:
- 2 lices bread stale
- 1 Tablespoon butter unsalted
Instructions
- Before you start cooking: Peel 4 medium potatoes, dice them into cubes about ½ inch (1-1.5 cm) thick. Peel 8 cloves garlic thinly slice them.
- In a soup pot, melt the 1 Tablespoon lard over medium heat. Add potato cubes and sauté them until lightly golden brown. It takes about 5 minutes. Stir frequently.
- Add sliced garlic, 2 bay leaves, and sauté for 1 minute (no longer!).
- Pour in5 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, add salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon dried marjoram. Cook for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
- Serve with bread croutons.
Cup of Yum
Bread croutons:
- Grab 2 slices stale bread. Cut it in cubes of about ½ inch (1-1.5 cm).
- Grease a baking dish with 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter.
- Add bread cubes and place the dish into the oven preheated to 340 °F
- Roast for 10 minutes, stirring the bread cubes halfway through to ensure they get crispy on all sides.
Notes
- This recipe makes approximately four servings.
- For stronger garlic flavor, add freshly minced raw garlic just before serving.
- Add rye bread croutons immediately before eating to keep them crisp.
- Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Nutrition Information
Calories
234kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
39g
(13%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
8mg
(3%)
Sodium
89mg
(4%)
Potassium
769mg
(16%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
98IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
36mg
(40%)
Calcium
53mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 234
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 234kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 39g | 13% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 8mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 89mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 769mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 98IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 36mg | 40% |
| Calcium | 53mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.