Jednohubky – Czech Finger Food

Czechs love jednohubky! Any party wouldn’t be complete without them. Come in and enjoy these tasty little treats with us.

What Are Czech Jednohubky?

Jednohubky are small open-faced sandwiches served as appetizers.

They are created of bread rolls sliced in circles about 1.½ inch (4 cm) in diameter, with a layer of spread on top. Jednohubky are also garnished with pieces of cheese, salami and vegetables.

Jednohubky should be eaten in one bite.

In the middle of the jednohubka is a cocktail stick. If you want to take the jednohubka, you grab the cocktail stick.

Rohlík, a type of Czech white bread roll, is usually used as a base for jednohubky.

Jednohubky are served as appetizers (chuťovka) at any kind of social occasion.

The closest foreign analogue to the jednohubky are probably canapes.

Popular Jednohubky Spread Recipes

• Česneková pomazánka – garlic cheese spread
• Rybí pomazánka – sardines spread

Jednohubky vs. Obložený chlebíček

Jednohubky could be literally translated to English as “one mouthful” – that’s why they are eaten in one bite.

Czechs have another specialty resembling jednohubky, obložené chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches), whose size is ideal to grab in one hand.

Chlebíčky are larger than jednohubky, and use a different type of Czech pastry as a base, called veka.

Chlebíčky are nicely decorated too, usually with:

• hard salami
• ham slices
• cheese
• boiled eggs
• vegetables and picles
• green herbs

Delicatessen salad is first spread on veka slices (the most typical type is called „vlašák“, or „vlašský salát“, a name derives from Vlašsko, an archaic name for Italy), and only then is decorated.

Who prefers a lighter version of the open-faced sandwiches can use butter (in Czech "pomazánkové máslo") or cream cheese instead of the salad.

When Do Czechs Eat Jednohubky?

To make good and perfectly decorated jednohubky takes a bit of time, Czechs prepare these appetizers on special occasions.

Jednohubky are typically eaten as the finger food during these occasions:

• New Year’s Eve party (Silvestr)
• Family gatherings and reunions
• Birthdays (narozeniny)
• Party with friends
• Weddings (svatba)

Serving

Jednohubky are arranged on a large serving plate, and guests take them on their own volition.

A cocktail stick (wooden or plastic) is stuck inside every jednohubka, and is used to grab the jednohubka.

Each guest can also have a small dessert plate where they put each jednohubka before eating them.

This way you can eat jednohubky gracefully while also looking elegant.