Fried breaded cheese (Smažený sýr)

Smažený sýr is the beloved Czech fried cheese — a thick slab of Edam in a crisp golden crust, served with tartar sauce; pure comfort in 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• Edam cheese400 g
• eggs2 pcs
• breadcrumbs120 g
• plain flour80 g
• oil200 ml
• tartar sauce4 tbsp

Method

1. Slice the cheese. Cut the Edam into four slices, each roughly 1.5–2 cm thick. Thinner slices risk melting through the crust before it's golden, so don't be tempted to go too slim.
2. Set up your breading station. Put the flour in one shallow bowl, beat the eggs in a second, and spread the breadcrumbs in a third. Season the flour lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Bread each slice. Coat a cheese slice in flour, shake off the excess, dip it fully in beaten egg, then press it firmly into the breadcrumbs on all sides — including the edges. Double-coat each slice by passing it through the egg and breadcrumbs a second time; this seals the cheese so it doesn't leak during frying.
4. Heat the oil. Pour the oil into a wide frying pan to a depth of about 1 cm and heat over a medium-high flame. The oil is ready when a pinch of breadcrumbs sizzles immediately on contact — around 170–180 °C.
5. Fry until golden. Lower two breaded slices carefully into the hot oil and fry for 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden brown. Don't move them too early — they'll release naturally once the crust has set. Fry the remaining two slices in the same way.
6. Drain and plate. Lift the fried cheese out with a slotted spatula and rest on kitchen paper for 30 seconds to blot excess oil. Serve two slices per person straight away with a generous spoonful of tartar sauce alongside.

Safety & hygiene Important

• Hot oil — stay alert. 200 ml of oil in a shallow pan can spit if wet breadcrumbs or condensation hit the surface. Lower the cheese in away from you and keep a lid nearby in case of flare-up — never leave the pan unattended.
• Melting cheese can burn. If the crust cracks during frying, molten cheese can bubble into the oil and cause sudden spitting. A thorough double-coat in step 3 greatly reduces this risk.