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    Home » Appetizers

    Zelnicky Czech Sauerkraut Crackers

    Published: May 18, 2022 · Modified: Jan 3, 2023 by Petra Kupská

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    Czechs and sauerkraut, it goes together! I'm here with a great recipe for zelnicky, salty crackers made with sauerkraut. Just a few humble ingredients and there's a delicious treat that will catch you by surprise!

    Czech Zelnicky round biscuits.
    Table of Contents hide
    ➜ What is zelnicky
    ➜ Pronunciation
    ➜ Ingredients
    ➜ Instructions with photos
    ➜ Serving
    ➜ How to enhance zelnicky crackers
    ➜ Useful tips
    Zelnicky Czech Sauerkraut Crackers

    ➜ What is zelnicky

    Zelnicky is oven-baked sauerkraut crackers or crunchy biscuits with a nice flaky texture, originating from the Czech Republic. Besides sauerkraut, they include lard and flour and are seasoned with caraway seeds and salt. Making them is ridiculously easy, and you will end up with biscuits that have a little tangy flavor thanks to the sauerkraut.

    Zelnicky crackers are formed in the shape of cut-out circles or strips shortened into squares. Their other Czech names are zelnaky or zelniky.

    MY TIP: Try these biscuits with shredded cheese, too (they are amazing!)

    ➜ Pronunciation

    Wondering how to pronounce the Czech word "zelníčky"? As a native speaker, I've recorded a short audio clip to give you an idea!

    ➜ Ingredients

    Ingredients for zelnicky with captions.

    To make Czech zelnicky sauerkraut cookies, you will need:

    • Sauerkraut; without brine, squeeze the sauerkraut well! If you can't find Czech sauerkraut, try German sauerkraut, which is very similar in taste. It can be bought in European deli stores.
    • All-purpose flour; or plain flour in the UK
    • Pork lard; this is the type of fat most commonly used in the Czech Republic, where lard is commonly available in shops. If you can't find lard in your grocery store, try asking your local butcher. Alternatively, completely replace the lard with any solid shortening.
    • Salt
    • Caraway seeds; crushed

    ✅ You’ll find the exact amount of ingredients below in the recipe card, which you can also print out.

    ➜ Instructions with photos

    STEP 1: Drain and squeeze the sauerkraut. Cut it finely with a sharp knife so that there are no long shreds.

    Cutting drained sauerkraut into pieces.

    STEP 2: Put the chopped sauerkraut, lard, flour, salt, and crushed caraway seeds in a large mixing bowl. Work into a soft dough. If it is too sticky, sprinkle with flour and work it into the dough.

    Ingredients for zelnicky crackers in a bowl.
    Dough for zelnicky bicsuits.

    TIP: Learn three ways how to crush caraway seeds in a breeze!

    STEP 3: On a floured pastry board, roll out the dough to a thickness of about ⅛" (0.4 cm). Using a glass or a cookie cutter of about 3" (7 cm) in diameter, cut out rounds. For a lazy option, cut the dough into strips and then into squares.

    Cutting out the zelnicky shapes.

    STEP 4: Use a flat knife to lift the cut zelnicky and transfer them to a baking tray lined with baking paper. If you don't have baking paper, an ungreased cookie sheet will work too.

    Zelnicky on a baking sheet.

    STEP 5: Bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 392°F / 200°C for 20-25 minutes. Their surface should be golden but not brown.

    Baked zelnicky.

    ➜ Serving

    Zelnicky crackers taste great just like fried chips, salty nuts, or any other snack. Or have a glass of white wine with them. Bake them for a family gathering or if you want to introduce Czech cuisine to your good friends. 

    Arrange the biscuits in a bowl and put them on the table for everyone to take as they like.

    Zelnicky recipe, crackers on a plate.

    ➜ How to enhance zelnicky crackers

    Traditional zelnicky crackers really only need the basic ingredients listed in the recipe.

    If you are tempted to tweak them a little, you can add ground crackling, a little black pepper, or sweet ground paprika. Some people also add bacon or other smoked meat cut into small cubes.

    ➜ Useful tips

    • The crackers have a unique, slightly sour taste thanks to the sauerkraut.
    • Right after baking, the zelnicky biscuits are wonderfully crunchy. If you leave them out overnight, they soften a bit the next day. However, they still taste great.
    • Store covered in an airtight container to keep them crisp for as long as possible.
    • Classic zelniky biscuits are baked in the oven, not fried in fat in a pan!

    More tasty recipes:

    • Szegedin goulash – made with sauerkraut
    • Sauerkraut soup – Czech zelnacka
    • Dumplings and sauerkraut – Czech strapacky

    Tried this recipe?

    Leave a review down in the comments! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest. Subscribe to my newsletter. Send me any question about Czech cuisine to my e-mail. I love hearing your feedback!

    Zelnicky recipe, crackers on a plate.

    Zelnicky Czech Sauerkraut Crackers

    Czechs and sauerkraut, it goes together! I'm here with a great recipe for zelnicky, salty crackers made with sauerkraut. Just a few humble ingredients and there's a delicious treat that will catch you by surprise!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 30 pieces
    Calories: 70kcal
    Author: Petra Kupská
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: Czech
    Keyword: Recipes with sauerkraut

    Ingredients

    • 9 ounces sauerkraut (255 g) without brine, squeezed
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour (260 g)
    • 4 and ½ ounces pork lard (130 g) or any solid shortening
    • 1 and ½ teaspoons salt
    • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds crushed

    Instructions

    • Drain and squeeze the sauerkraut. Cut it finely with a sharp knife so that there are no long shreds.
    • Put the chopped sauerkraut, lard, flour, salt, and crushed caraway seeds in a large mixing bowl. Work into a soft dough. If it is too sticky, sprinkle with flour and work it into the dough.
    • On a floured pastry board, roll out the dough to a thickness of about ⅛" (0.4 cm). Using a glass or a cookie cutter of about 3" (7 cm) in diameter, cut out rounds. For a lazy option, cut the dough into strips and then into squares.
    • Use a flat knife to lift the cut zelnicky and transfer them to a baking tray lined with baking paper. If you don't have baking paper, an ungreased cookie sheet will work too.
    • Bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 392°F / 200°C for 20-25 minutes. Their surface should be golden but not brown.

    Notes

    • Makes about 30 pieces of zelnicky.
    • SERVING: These crackers taste great just like fried chips, salty nuts, or any other snack. Or have a glass of white wine with them. Bake them for a family gathering or if you want to introduce Czech cuisine to your good friends. Arrange the biscuits in a bowl and put them on the table for everyone to take as they like.
    • Tweak the recipe by adding ground crackling, a little black pepper, or sweet ground paprika. Some people also add bacon or other smoked meat cut into small cubes.
    • The crackers have a unique, slightly sour taste thanks to the sauerkraut. Right after baking, the zelnicky biscuits are wonderfully crunchy. If you leave them out overnight, they soften a bit the next day. However, they still taste great.

    DISCLAIMER: Because I come from Central Europe, my recipes are based on metric units such as grams or milliliters. Check out how I convert metric units to the U.S. system:

    Conversion chart

    Nutritional Estimate pro portion

    Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    Do you like the recipe?I would be happy for your feedback! Please, rate the recipe and share your opinion or questions in comments bellow. Thank you very much.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ellen Myftari

      September 22, 2022 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      Ahoj, Petra ~
      These crackers are unique and delicious - and so different! We are fans of sauerkraut and found this recipe most enjoyable and it is a welcome addition to our cheese board - so simple to prepare or as Czech's say: "Za malo penez hodne muziky!"
      BLAHOPRANI !!!
      Ellen

      Reply
      • Petra Kupská

        September 25, 2022 at 9:42 am

        Ahoj Ellen, thank you for such a nice comment! Usually, simple recipes with a few basic ingredients work best. I am also a big fan of sauerkraut; I like to cook with it not only tried-and-tested dishes but also to give a chance to new recipes. This one is also one of our favorites! Moc te zdravim 🙂 Petra

        Reply
        • Amy

          December 15, 2022 at 6:19 pm

          my.mom used to make what we called sauerkraut pie. It was just sauerkraut and flour. she was a weight watcher so she may have omitted fat. My dad's mom was Czech and German. it was just rolled out thin into random shapes... this is thr closest I've found to it...

          Reply
          • Petra Kupská

            December 16, 2022 at 5:01 pm

            Thank you, Amy, for your comment! You may have made a dish called "báč", which was a savory potato cake baked in the oven. I'm going to make it too!

            Reply

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    Hi there, I’m Petra, a self-taught home cook and a Czech mom of two teen boys with more than 20 years of cooking experience. I am here to share traditional recipes from the Czech Republic, a small country in the very heart of Europe.

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