There are lots and lots of popular dishes in Poland. International dishes are very much liked. I won’t talk about them because they are probably the same favourites as in other parts of Europe.
We still have a strong tradition of cooking familiar food at home. Here is a list of some of the most popular Polish dishes, although I haven’t included regional favourites and favourites which are home made specialities.
Soups are a big thing in Poland, both at home and in restaurants. People usually refer to them as ‘zupka’ - a diminutive form of the noun ‘zupa’. It doesn’t reflect the size of the portion, it reflects a loving relationship with it.
The first is żurek. Though distantly related to the bread and garlic soups of Spain and Italy, its base is not meat or vegetable broth, but zakwas. Zakwas is made from rye bread and water and is, in turn, distantly related both to sourdough and to Russian kvass.
A lighter variety with white sausage:
Next comes ‘flaki’ (diminutive form - flaczki) - white tripe soup, a meal in itself:
Barszcz (d. barszczyk) – beetroot soup, there are a few varieties, this one is a fairly straightforward one usually served with tortellini-like mini ‘pierogi’:
Another favourite – ogórkowa or cucumber soup - a vegetable soup on a meat stock and with chunks of meat, with some soured cucumbers grated into it:
The cucumbers used in it are not pickled in vinegar, they are fermented in brine.
Kapuśniak (d. kapuśniaczek) – cabbage soup. There are a few versions, this one is made with sauerkraut:
Tomato soup is very popular, it’s never from a tin, usually comes with pasta or rice on the same soup plate.
Krupniak is another substantial soup dish with chunks of meat, vegetables and barley groats:
In the summer fruit soups are popular. There are MANY different ones, they can be eaten cold or hot, they usually come with pasta:
Above: Morello cherry soup.
Above: Mixed berry soup.
Some popular second course dishes:
Golonka (diminutive form is ‘ goloneczka’) - roasted ham hock, or pork knuckle, traditionally served with potatoes garnished with dill, grated cooked beetroots, grated raw horseradish and a type of mixed salad which includes sauerkraut, grated carrot and chickory. Cooked sauerkraut is its alternative bedmate.
Surówka (d. suróweczka) - mixed sald:
Red is always welcome on the plate:
Grated carrot and seleriac salad;
Like other savoury dishes Golonka can be accompanied by soured cucumbers and pickled mushrooms, which are very very popular, if not ubiquitous. In my parents’ house they even turn up at breakfast.
Pickled mushrooms:
Spicy horseradish garnish (sometimes mixed with grated beetroot):
Another dish is Schabowy – a variety of pork breaded cutlet coated with breadcrumbs similar to Viennese schnitzel, but made of pork tenderloin. Served in a similar way to golonka. Meats come in portions perfect for people with cholesterol deficiency.
Kotlety mielone (d. kotleciki) are a large version of meatballs. Everyone likes them.
Gołąbki (it’s a diminutive form by default) are parcels of pork and beef mincemeat mixed with some cooked rice, wrapped in cabbage leaves, tightly packed in an oven dish, with home made tomato sauce poured over them and baked. Everyone loves them. The word literally means ‘little doves’, which one might also use for one’s loved one:
Pierogi (d. pierożki) also feature in every self respecting restaurant. The most popular fillings are: spiced minced meat, cream cheese, sauerkraut and mushrooms or cheese and potatoes. It’s often possible to ask for one of each variety when eating out.
Pierogi sometimes come with sweet fillings and even then are considered a dinner dish.
It’s similar with pancakes filled with curd cheese and, optionally, seasonal berries. If you have a decent meaty soup then pancakes are part of dinner.
My favourite anarchic dinner dish are knedle ze śliwkami – dumplings with whole plums inside.
I can’t think of any dish which has no diminutive form, which confirms that they are all loved.
The last one is not exactly a dish, more of a snack. Over the years t has been losing popularity. I’ll still include it here in the hope of giving it the glory it deserves: bread (it has to be decent bread) with finely chopped onion and salt.
A saviour when there is not much in the fridge or in the pocket. Delicious.
I hope this is helpful,
Image Source Google
Thanks for reading
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