Respect for traditions remains alive in South Bohemian gastronomy until today. Thanks to this, you can taste “litina” (yeast-raised potato cake) which is a hearty potato cake with smoked meat and pork greaves, generously sprinkled with poppy seed. The Good Soldier Sweik used to enjoy it on his anabasis to Budějovice.
We need:
3 large grated raw potatoes, 1 l milk, 750 g coarse flour, 3 eggs, a pack of yeast, marjoram, cumin, garlic, salt, lard, poppy seed (we can also add pork greaves or chopped smoked meat. You can also use the option without meat).
Method:
Let the yeast grow in lukewarm milk. Add flour into the dish, grated potatoes, eggs, salt, pressed garlic, marjoram, grown yeast and the remaining milk and then depending on the option – pork greaves, smoked meat. Simply, it all depends on your taste. Mix it all well and let it rise. In the meantime, grease the baking sheet with lard and richly sprinkle with poppy seed. Once the dough is risen in the dish, pour it onto the baking sheet and leave it to rise for a while. Before baking, sprinkle it with poppy seed. Bake in the oven at 180˚C for about half an hour. “Litina” must have a golden crust. After baking, cut into squares. The aforementioned recipe is for about two bake sheets.