Food on the Move Tips | Page 28 of 66
Kotlet Schabowy: Polish Pork Schnitzel
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: Polish Potato Dumplings
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: Potatoes with Cottage Cheese
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: Cold Beet Soup
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: Polish Tripe Soup
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.
Zapiekanki: Typical Polish Fast Food
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.
What to Bring Back from Poland?
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.
Pierniki Toruńskie: Toruń Gingerbread
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."
Bagel: a Typical Polish Bread Roll
The bagel is a typical Polish bread roll with a history dating back to the 17th century. Its circular shape symbolizes eternity and brings good luck, while the unique preparation method, which involves boiling the dough in water before baking, gives it an unmistakable texture - a crispy crust and a soft, fluffy interior. Although bagels nearly disappeared from Poland after World War II, they made a triumphant return after the fall of communism, and today you can enjoy them in specialized bakeries and cafes throughout the country.
Babka Ziemniaczana: Polish Savory Potato Pie
Babka ziemniaczana is a traditional Polish baked potato pie. It is prepared with grated potatoes, eggs, flour, salt, pepper, and often includes bacon or smoked meat. This tasty and filling dish originated as a way to utilize cheap and readily available ingredients, and it has become popular not only in Poland but also in neighboring countries. It is served as a side dish to meat dishes or on its own, sometimes with a creamy mushroom sauce.