Easy and delicious Czech strawberry recipes for summer

Strawberry season is short but sweet in Czechia. Here's where to pick, buy or source your berries and what to make when you get them home.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 07.06.2022 17:06:00 (updated on 07.06.2022) Reading time: 3 minutes

Strawberry season in the Czech Republic is short but sweet, beginning in the early weeks of June and ending in July. The beginning of the season varies due to the weather and readiness of individual harvests, but one thing appears to be consistent this year: the cost of a kilo of strawberries.

Despite recent price jumps in numerous other food items under today's sticky economic situation, strawberries will roughly cost the same as last year -- good news for anyone who wants to enjoy a taste of summer sunshine while it lasts!

The first rule of making these classic Czech strawberry recipes is to pick your own (or buy them from a local grower). Here in Prague, the village of Kunratice is synonymous with strawberries, thanks to the Jakoubek family. The family has been growing its prize-winning varieties in the fertile soil of the Průhonické Basin since 1993.

Kunratice is a great place to pick for first-timers but here are a handful of other spots where you can fill or buy a basket in and around Prague.

Where to pick strawberries in Prague

  • Kunratice strawberries. Self-collection is 62 CZK/kg (self-pick over 20 kg and get a 10% discount). Pick on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7 am to 6 pm or buy Kunratice strawberries in the village of Kunratice (U kostela, Golčova 1) from 7 am to 6 pm for 108 CZK/kg.
  • Prague farmers' markets. Kubánské náměstí and Náplavka are now selling pre-picked Kunratice strawberries for 138 CZK/kg.
  • Schwenk strawberries. Self-pick for 80 CZK/kg (or buy pre-picked for 140 CZK/kg). Dates and locations for self-pick are updated regularly on their site.

Where to pick Strawberries outside of Prague

  • Farm Vraňany. Self-pick at this farm near Mělník for 70 CZK/kg. The schedule for collection dates is listed on the website. The farm has opened a new bistro.
  • Jahodárna Sedlčánky. Self-pick is 60 CZK/kg at his farm due east of Prague and takes place every day from 7 am to 7 pm. More details on the website.

Classic Czech strawberry recipes

Strawberry quark dumplings

  • 250 g soft quark (tvaroh)
  • 1 egg
  • Pinch of salt
  • 150 g coarse flour (hrubá mouka)
  • 200 g strawberries
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 50 g powdered sugar
  • 1.In a large bowl combine cottage cheese egg, and a pinch of salt. Add the coarse flour, mix gently and let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
  • 2.In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Dry the cleaned strawberries, and cut the larger ones as needed.
  • 3.Place the dough on a floured work surface. Do not knead the dough unnecessarily, just roll it out into a 5- to 6-cm log with a little flour.
  • 4.Slice off a circle of the dough and press it into the palm of your hand. Add the strawberry to the center, carefully wrap it in and press it into the shape of a round dumpling.
  • 5.Carefully submerge the dumplings in boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes. Then carefully remove the cooked dumplings, drying the ladle before placing it on a plate. Serve with melted butter and icing sugar.

No-bake strawberry cake

Photo via https://www.mlsnej.cz/
Photo via www.mlsnej.cz

Ingredients

  • 1 240 g bag of piškoty (you will have leftovers)
  • 4 cups (950 g) of sour cream
  • 3–3 ½ heaping tbsp powdered sugar, to taste
  • 1 punnet of fresh strawberries (apricot slice also work well)

Instructions

  • 1.Line the bottom of a 23-cm (9-in) springform pan with tin foil. Cover the foil with a layer of piškoty, rounded side up. You may need to break the cookies in order to fill in any holes as the entire bottom of the pan should be completely covered.
  • 2.In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and powdered sugar. Mix well.
  • 3.Slice the strawberries approximately ½-cm thick. Place half of the berries over the bottom layer of piškoty.
  • 4.Spread a layer of sour cream over the fruit and cookie layers; the piškoty and strawberries should not be visible.
  • 5.5. Repeat until you run out of ingredients (you should have enough for 1–2 additional layers) making sure that the top layer is sour cream.
  • 6.6. Cover with tin foil and refrigerate overnight. Carefully remove from the pan, slice, garnish with more berries or a sprig of mint and serve.

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