Ričet (German: Ritschert; barley porridge boiled with beans) is a traditional Slovenian, Croatian, Austrian and Bavarian dish. It is a thick soup. It contains pot barley, beans, potatoes, carrots, parsley, celery, leeks, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. There is typically a substantial amount of cured pork in it. In essence it is a starchy dish, similar to a risotto. By adding more water it can be easily turned into a heavy soup dish.
Etymology
The word ričet is typical of central Slovenia, including Ljubljana, and derives from Styrian German ritschet or ritschert. Etymologists suggest that ričet is a derivation from two German expressions: rutschen, "to slip, slide", and rutschig, "slippery". In fact, ričet is a fairly greasy dish.
It has a historical reputation of being served to prisoners.
See also
- Slovenian cuisine
- Kongbap, the Korean grain and legume dish, also sometimes associated with prison food service