Svíčková

Svíčková na smetaně
Svíčková na smetaně served with dumplings, whipped cream, and cranberries
Alternative namesSvíčková
TypeStew
CourseMain
Place of originCzech Republic
Region or stateCentral Europe
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsMeat (beef), vegetables (especially root vegetables), dumplings

Svíčková, or svíčková na smetaně (pronounced [ˈsviːt͡ʃkɔvaː na smɛ.ta.ɲɛ]), is a Czech meat dish and one of the most popular Czech and Slovak meals. Svíčková is the Czech word for tenderloin, but this dish is traditionally beef topside (falešná svíčková, 'false tenderloin') prepared with vegetables (carrots, parsley root, celeriac and onion), spiced with black pepper, allspice, bay leaf and thyme, and boiled with double cream, though in practice other cuts of beef may sometimes be used, which is a cut from the front shoulder equivalent to jumeau à bifteck in French, or girello di spalla in Italian, cuisine. It is generally served with houskové knedlíky (bread dumplings).