Wild game has always played an important role in Czech cuisine. Hunting for wild game has been a long tradition and part of Czech cultural heritage.  It is a real shame that we made it disappear from our tables and replaced it with sauces and goulash.  Taking these for traditional Czech meals, despite wild game availability all year round, compared to just a few months in the past!

In addition to its delicious taste, pheasant meat is also high in nutrients.  Is also very low in fat and rich in antioxidants. Moreover, as pheasants spend most of their lives in forests and fields, their meat can be taken for organic!

This recipe came from Bohemian Paradise. It is area where the Hradec Kralove, Liberec, and Central Bohemian regions meet. The Bohemian Paradise Geopark offers romantic rock formations, former volcanoes, caves, river valleys. Its interesting springs spreading across an area among the towns of Mnichovo Hradiste, Zelezny Brod, Jilemnice, Nova Paka, and Jicin.

For more information about the Hradec Kralove Region, Liberec Region and the Central Bohemian Region, from which this recipe comes, click here, here and here.

Ingredients

1 pheasant
1 stick of butter, sliced
1 small stalk of celery
3 carrots
1 handful of parsley
2 onions
1/2 cup sour cream
1 bell pepper
1 bay leaf
1 quart of white wine
sugar (to taste – optional)
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash pheasant, salt and pepper it inside and outside, and put it in the pan. Put slices of butter on the meat and put it into the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Wash and dice the vegetables. Season with herbs and spices and stuff the mixture into the meat. Baste the meat with a cup of white wine, cover with a lid, and continue cooking in oven for another 90 minutes, basting occasionally with the rest of the wine. Remove the pheasant from the oven. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing it. To prepare the sauce, reduce the remaining liquid in the pan and add sour cream. Sweeten sauce with sugar as desired. Pairs well with potato dumpling or croquettes.

This post was created by volunteers. You may help and support by clicking here.

 
This post was created by volunteers. You may help and support Czech-American TV by clicking here.