Polish doughnuts, known as "pączki," are exceptionally popular pastries in Poland. These doughnuts, usually round or oblong in shape, are filled with a wide range of fillings. You can taste rose jam, plum jam, or vanilla cream, but there are dozens of other options. Although they are more expensive than Czech doughnuts, their size, taste, and generous amount of filling make them an irresistible treat.
The St. Martin's croissant, a sweet pastry with a poppy seed filling, is inextricably linked to Poznań and the celebrations of St. Martin's Day. It has gained such popularity that it is now available all year round and has become one of the symbols of Poznań's gastronomy. The name of the pastry is protected by a local certificate and has also been granted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the EU.
Kotlet schabowy, one of the most popular Polish dishes, is a pork schnitzel prepared similarly to the Czech version. The foundation is a high-quality pork chop, tenderized, salted, peppered, and coated in a triple breading. The Polish kotlet schabowy is traditionally served with potatoes sprinkled with dill, sauerkraut, or a vegetable salad.
Szare kluchy are traditional Polish potato dumplings from the Greater Poland region, which get their gray color from the use of raw grated potatoes. The dough made from potatoes, flour, eggs, and salt is shaped into small dumplings that are boiled in water and served with pork cracklings and sauerkraut. This tasty and filling dish remotely resembles Slovak halušky.
Pyry z gzikiem, a traditional Greater Poland dish of baked potatoes with a cottage cheese sauce, is a great example of a simple yet perfectly delicious meal. The foundation of the dish is potatoes baked in their skins, but the real star is gzik - a creamy sauce made from cottage cheese, cream, onion, and herbs.
Chłodnik Litewski is a refreshing cold soup that combines the flavors of red beets and sour milk. This traditional soup, popular in Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus, has a rich history dating back to the period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Its simple preparation without cooking makes it an ideal summer dish that will not only refresh you with its taste and vibrant pink color but also delight your eyes.
Flaki, a traditional Polish soup made from beef tripe, is considered one of the national Polish soups. Preparation requires care and time. Compared to the Czech version, Polish tripe soup contains less paprika and more vegetables, especially carrots. Poles also often use pork or deer tripe.
Zapiekanka, a cult Polish fast-food dish, is a halved baguette baked with cheese and various ingredients such as mushrooms, onions, bacon, sausage, ham, meat, tomatoes, or corn. It became popular in the 1970s as a cheap and filling street food. Today, you can find it all over Poland in different variations, with the best ones allegedly made in Krakow.
Among the most popular Polish gastronomic souvenirs are traditional sausages like kiełbasa and kabanos, renowned for their quality and taste. Sweet temptations include the beloved caramel candies called krówki and the dessert ptasie mleczko (literally "bird's milk"). My personal favorite is suska sechlońska, a smoke-dried plum with a protected geographical indication. I can also never resist the refreshing fruit dessert called kisiel.
Toruń gingerbread is a traditional Polish sweet with a history dating back to the 13th century. These gingerbread cookies are inextricably linked to the city of Toruń, which is promoted at the national level under the slogan "Gingerbread City." Traditional Toruń gingerbread is characterized by a rich taste and aroma, which it acquires thanks to the use of high-quality ingredients such as rye flour, honey, and a special blend of spices. They are made in various shapes and sizes, from small figurines to large decorated sheets. The most popular variety is "katarzynki."
