Vyprážaný syr s tatárskou omáčkou

The story

Vyprážaný syr, fried cheese, is everyday food in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic, where it is called smažený sýr. A thick slice of semi-hard cheese, most often Edam, is coated in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fried until the crust is golden and the inside has started to run. It is sold as street food, it is an inexpensive standby of school canteens popular with students, and it is a regular on restaurant menus and at home. It nearly always comes with tartar sauce, which Slovaks call tatárska omáčka, and with fries or boiled potatoes. Some cooks tuck a thin slice of ham between two slices of cheese, and fast-food stands in the Czech Republic serve it in a bun. Slovak cooks recommend Edam or Gouda with 30 to 45 percent fat in dry matter, a slice about a centimeter thick, a double coat of egg and crumbs, and a short spell in the freezer before frying so the crust sets and the cheese stays inside. As a starter for two it is fun to share straight from the pan. With potatoes and a cucumber salad, it also works as a casual main course.