The Slovak Christmas Eve Dinner Menu

The Slovak Christmas Eve dinner does not contain dairy or animal products because the day before the Feast of the Nativity is one of strict fast and spiritual preparation. Here are some foods likely to be served. Their appearance depends upon whether the family is Roman Catholic, Byzantine or Orthodox.

Bandurky -- Potatoes, usually boiled, to which onions sauteed in oil have been added. Many families prepare potatoes that are mashed and mixed with peas or prunes.

Bobalky -- Small balls of dough prepared with honey and poppy seeds or sauerkraut

Borscht -- Beet soup sometimes prepared with cabbage

Fasolji -- Prepared brown bean paste spread onto bread

Garlic -- Eaten raw on the Christmas bread dipped in honey, intended to keep away the evil spirits

Holuby -- Cabbage rolls stuffed with ground mushrooms and rice

Hribi -- Mushrooms sauteed with onions in oil

Kapusta i bandurky -- Sauerkraut mixed with grated potatoes

Kasa -- Rice, sometimes served as a separate dish with zapraska or macanka over it as a gravy

Kvasna Kapusta -- Sauerkraut

Loksa (Loksha) -- Unraised biscuits

Med -- Honey, symbolic of the sweetness of being with the Lord.

Mezanec -- An unleavened Christmas bread usually dipped in honey and eaten with a slice of
raw garlic

Orehi -- Nuts

Pagac -- Two layers of dough between which cabbage or potatoes have been spread, then baked

Pirohy (often spelled pierogies) -- Dough packets filled with sauerkraut, potatoes, sweet cabbage or prunes

Riba -- Fish, usually a white fish baked or smoked, which is symbolic of the Christian faith because Christ was the fisher of men

Sol -- Salt

Suseni slivki -- Stewed prunes

Zapraska -- A thick brown sauce used to prepare various soups and gravies. Among the soups prepared with Zapraska base:

Macanka (Machanka)-- A thick mushroom soup

Sauerkraut Soup, with sauerkraut juice added. Usually single ingredients such as green beans, peas, lima beans, mushrooms or butter beans can be added.

Lima Bean Soup

Mushroom-Sauerkraut Soup

Green Split Pea Soup

Caraway Soup

Green Bean Soup

Rice and Mushroom Soup

-- National Slovak Society, Canonsburg