Utopenets (Shpikachka)
Description
Perfect for the table and with drinks. Perhaps the most important step in making this simple dish is preparation—specifically, buying the meat products themselves. It is very important to choose tasty, high-quality saveloys (or frankfurters) from the start. The final result of the appetizer depends on that initial flavor. Serve with herbs and sauce.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
To prepare this Czech dish, we need špekáčky. Špekáčky are frankfurters with bits of fat embedded inside. It is important to choose good-quality špekáčky in natural casings. If you have a lot of trouble buying this type of sausage product, buy decent frankfurters instead. It is important that their flavor is good—the final result depends on it. The frankfurter option will also suit those who find špekáčky too fatty.
- 2
Step 2
Remove the casing from the cocktail sausages.
- 3
Step 3
On one side, use a knife to cut a slit along the entire length of the shpikachka.
- 4
Step 4
Place several pieces of salted pickle into the pocket that has formed.
- 5
Step 5
Take a 1-liter jar. Wash it well and dry it. Place sliced onion rings on the bottom of the jar. The layer of onion in the jar should be at least 1 cm high.
- 6
Step 6
Pack the filled shpikachki tightly into the jar, alternating them with onion rings.
- 7
Step 7
Again, put the onion rings in the jar.
- 8
Step 8
Again, shpikachki.
- 9
Step 9
And so all the way to the top of the container. Place 5 cloves in the jar.
- 10
Step 10
Prepare the marinade. For the marinade you will need: 1 tbsp salt (regular, not extra), 1 tbsp granulated sugar, 2-3 bay leaves, 6-7 black or white peppercorns, 5-6 allspice berries, and 700 ml drinking water. Mix the marinade ingredients. Place over heat and boil for 5 minutes.
- 11
Step 11
Add 1.5 tablespoons of wine vinegar to the marinade. Stir and turn off the heat. Pour the marinade over the špekáčky in the jar. Screw the lid on the jar. Let the marinade in the jar cool. Then place the jar in the refrigerator for 10 days. After this period, remove the špekáčky and serve them without the marinade. These utopenec-style špekáčky are served with beer. They are considered an excellent snack in the Czech Republic.
- 12
Step 12
Serve the appetizer at the table without the marinade, together with the onion that was marinated with the little sausages. To be honest, I made the dish for the first time. I thought nothing particularly good would come of it, but it really turned out very tasty. It’s great to serve with both beer and stronger drinks. The flavor really delighted me!