Cesnecka: Garlic Soup – The Czech Hangover Cure

After our gig in Šumperk, we had lunch just outside of town at a place called Pod Tramky.

We’d heard about cesnecka (garlic soup) being the number one hangover cure and were curious since we both love garlic. This particular version came with bits of ham in the broth. We asked them to leave out the ham and dove into a comforting, deceivingly hearty, garlic wonderland. It’s quite a simple soup that offers many variations on the theme. We created our own version, using margarine instead of butter and vegetable stock instead of meat stock.

• 2 tablespoons soy margarine
• 6 cloves minced garlic
• 6 cups hot vegetable stock or water
• 2 large peeled and cubed potatoes
• 1 teaspoon of red paprika
• 1 teaspoon crushed caraway seeds
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Croutons

Preparation:

Mash together the garlic and salt, either with a mortar and pestle, or use a garlic press to crush the garlic and then mix in the salt. Place the garlic and salt in a large pot and add the water or broth. Slowly bring the water to a boil, reduce heat and keep on a simmer. Add the caraway seeds, marjoram, red paprika, butter, and potatoes. Simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add freshly ground black pepper. For a stronger garlic taste, add 3 cloves crushed garlic (not minced). Serve immediately with croutons.