Polish cuisine

Polish cuisine(Polish:kuchnia polska[ˈkux.ɲaˈpɔl.ska]) is a style of food preparation originating in and widely popular inPoland.Due toPoland's history,Polish cuisine has evolved over the centuries to be very eclectic, and shares many similarities with other national cuisines. Polish cooking in other cultures is often referred to asà la polonaise.

Complementary traditional Polish farmers food (bigosstew,pierogidumplings,gołąbkicabbage rolls,skwarkicracklings)

Various kinds of Polishkielbasa.From the top down: biała,kabanos,wiejska withmustard

Oscypek,a Polish smoked cheese and traditional food of theGoralpeople in theTatra Mountains

Bagelsoriginated in Poland and became widespread during the migration ofPolish Jews.

Polish cuisine is rich in meat, especially pork, chicken and game, in addition to a wide range of vegetables, spices,fungiand mushrooms, and herbs.It is also characterised by its use of various kinds ofpasta,cereals,kashaand pulses.In general, Polish cuisine makes extensive use of butter, cream, eggs, and seasoning. Traditional dishes often demand lengthy preparation. ManyPolestake time to serve and enjoy their festive meals, especiallyChristmas Evedinner (Wigilia) on December 24, orEasterbreakfast, both of which could take several days to prepare.

Among popular Polish national dishes arebigos[ˈbiɡɔs]^ⓘ,pierogi[pʲɛˈrɔɡʲi]^ⓘ,kiełbasa,kotlet schabowy[ˈkɔtlɛtsxaˈbɔvɨ]^ⓘ(pork loin breaded cutlet),gołąbki[ɡɔˈwɔ̃pkʲi]^ⓘ(stuffed cabbage leaves),zrazy[ˈzrazɨ](roulade),zupa ogórkowa[ˈzupaɔɡurˈkɔva](sourcucumber soup),zupa grzybowa[ˈzupaɡʐɨˈbɔva](mushroom soup),zupa pomidorowa[ˈzupapɔmidɔˈrɔva](tomato soup),rosół[ˈrɔsuw]^ⓘ(meat broth),żurek[ˈʐurɛk]^ⓘ(sour rye soup),flaki[ˈflakʲi]^ⓘ(tripe soup), and red beetroot soupbarszcz[barʂt͡ʂ]^ⓘ.

A traditional Polish dinner is composed of three courses, beginning with a soup like the popularrosółbroth ortomato soup.In restaurants, soups are followed by an appetizer such asherring(prepared with either cream, oil, or inaspic), or other cured meats and chopped raw vegetable salads. The main course usually includes meat, such as aroast,breaded pork cutlet,or chicken, with acoleslaw-likesurówka([suˈrufka]), shredded root vegetables with lemon and sugar (carrot, celeriac,cookedbeetroot),sauerkraut,ormizeriasalad. The side dishes are usually boiledpotatoes,kasza,or less commonly,rice.Meals often conclude with a dessert of either afruit compote,makowiec,apoppy seedpastry,napoleonkamille-feuille,orsernik(cheesecake).

Internationally, if a Polish culinary tradition is used in other cuisines, it is referred to asà la polonaise,from the French, meaning 'Polish-style.' InFrench cuisine,this term is used for techniques like using butter instead of cooking oil; frying vegetables with buttered breadcrumbs; using minced parsley and boiled eggs (Polonaise garnish); and addinghorseradish,lemon juice, or sour cream to sauces likevelouté.

History

Middle Ages

Flaki(orflaczki) is tripe soup, known since theMiddle Agesand favourite dish of kingJogaila.

Polish cuisine in theMiddle Ageswas based on dishes made of agricultural produce andcereal crops(millet,rye,wheat), meats of wild and farm animals, fruits, forest fungi, berries and game, honey, herbs, and local spices. It was known above all for abundant use of salt fromWieliczka Salt Mineand permanent presence ofgroats(kasza). A highcalorific valueof dishes and drinkingbeerormeadas a basic drink was typical of Middle Ages Polish cuisine.

During the Middle Ages Polish cuisine was heavy and spicy. Two main ingredients were meat (bothgameand beef) and cereal. The latter consisted initially ofproso millet,but in the Late Middle Ages other types of cereal became widely used. Most country people did not eat bread but consumed cereals in the form ofkaszaor various types offlatbread.Some of these (for instancekołacz) are considered traditional recipes even in the 21st century. Apart from cereals, a large portion of the daily diet of mediaeval Poles consisted of pulses, mostlybroad beansandpeas.As the territory of Poland was densely forested, usage offungi,forest berries, nuts, and wild honey was also widespread. Among the delicacies of the Polish nobility were honey-braisedbearpaws served withhorseradish-flavoured salad, smoked bear tongue, and bearbacon(bears are now protected in Poland).

Pierniki(Polish gingerbread) fromToruń,14th-century recipe

Owing to close trade relations with Turkey and the countries in the Caucasus, the price ofspices(such asblack pepperandnutmeg) was much lower in Poland than the rest ofEurope,hence spicy sauces became popular. The usage of two basic sauces, thejucha czerwonáandjucha szará(meaning "red" and "gray blood" inOld Polish), remained widespread at least until the 18th century.

Daily beverages included milk,whey,buttermilk,and various herbalinfusions.The most popular alcoholic beverages werebeerandmead;however, in the 16th century, upper classes began to importHungarianandSilesianwines.Mead was so widespread that in the 13th century PrinceLeszek I the Whiteexplained to thePopethat Polish knights could not participate in acrusadeas there was no mead in theHoly Land.Also,vodkabecame popular, possibly among the lower classes first. There is written evidence suggesting that vodka originated in Poland. The word "vodka" was recorded for the first time ever in 1405 inAkta Grodzkie,the court documents from thePalatinate of Sandomierzin Poland.At that time, the wordwódka(vodka) referred to chemical compounds such asmedicinesandcosmeticcleansers, while the popular beverage was calledgorzałka[ɡɔˈʐawka](from theOld Polishgorzeć).

Renaissance

The Italian-born QueenBona Sforza(second wife ofSigismund I of Poland), brought Italian cooks with her court to Poland after 1518. Although native vegetable foods were an ancient and intrinsic part of Polish cuisine, there began a period in which vegetables likelettuce,leeks,celeriac,cabbage,carrots, onions (cipolla/cebula) and especially, tomatoes (pomo d'oro/pomidory), were introduced. Even today, some of those vegetables are referred to inPolishaswłoszczyzna,a word derived fromWłochy,the Polish name ofItaly.During this period, the use of spices — which arrived in Poland via Western Asian trade routes was common among those who could afford them, and dishes considered elegant could be very spicy. However, the idea that Queen Bona was the first to introduce vegetables to Poland is false. While her southern cooks may have helped elevate and expand the role of various vegetables in royal Polish cuisine, records show that the court of kingJogaila(Polish:Władysław II Jagiełło,who died in 1434, over 80 years before her reign) enjoyed a variety of vegetables including lettuce, beets, cabbage, turnip, carrots, peas, and cauliflower.

Ogórki kiszone(brine-pickled cucumbers)

Polish-stylepickled cucumber(ogórek kiszony) is a variety developed in the northern part ofCentral Europe.It was exported worldwide and is found in the cuisines of many countries. It is usually preserved in wooden barrels. A cucumber only pickled for a few days is different in taste (less sour) than one pickled for a longer time and is calledogórek małosolny(lit. 'lightly salted gherkin'). Another kind of pickled gherkin popular inPolandisogórek konserwowy(lit. 'preserved gherkin'), which is preserved with vinegar rather than pickled and uses different spices creating a sweet and sour taste, and well-known in Jewish cuisine.

The court of Queen Bona followed the Italian fashion, because she exclusively employed Italian chefs, some of whom were originally hired to prepare parties for aristocratic families but who were soon serving typical Italian dishes as part of the court's daily menu. Court records show that Queen Bona imported large volumes of southern European, American, and Western Asian fruits (oranges, lemons, pomegranates, olives, figs, tomatoes), vegetables (potatoes and corn), nuts (chestnuts, raisins, and almonds, includingmarzipan), along with grains (such as rice), cane sugar, and Italian olive oil. The court also imported various herbs and spices including black pepper, fennel, saffron, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

Compendium ferculorum, albo Zebranie potraw( "Collection of Dishes" ) is the oldest extant Polish cookbook, from 1682.

Until thePartitionsperpetrated by the neighboring empires,Polandwas one of the largest countries in the world, and encompassed many regions with its own, distinctive culinary traditions.Two consecutive Polish kings,Władysław IVandJohn II Casimir(Polish:Jan II Kazimierz Waza) married the same French Duchess,Marie Louise Gonzaga(Polish:Ludwika Maria), daughter ofCharles I, Duke of Mantua;she was persecuted by KingLouis XIII of Francefor her affiance to his opponentGaston, Duke of Orléans.Marie Louise arrived in Warsaw in 1646, was widowed, and married again in 1649.Ludwika brought along with her a court full of Frenchmen including courtiers, secretaries, army officers, physicians, merchants, craftsmen, as well as many cooks.

Records show that her visiting guests were entertained with game, fowl (waxwings,fieldfares,snow bunting,hazel grouse,partridges,black grouse,capercaillies), fish and mollusks (loach,varioustrout,grayling,fresh and smokedsalmon,flounder,saltedherring,lampreysin vinegar,oysters,snails), and Genoesepâté,not to mention fresh fruit andchestnuts.French and Italian wines were served, as well asmeadand local beers. These dishes were made only according to French recipes. The royal court, with all its innovations, exerted a broad influence over the rest of aristocratic residences and noble palaces across Poland. French cuisine was in fashion and many families willingly employed French cooks and patissiers. In the mid-18th century, Frenchchampagneappeared on Polish tables.

Among the most influential regional cuisines under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth wereLithuanian,Jewish,German,andHungarian cuisine,as well asArmenian cuisine,which arrived in Poland before the 17th century along with many settlers, especially in the south-eastern part of theCommonwealth.Signature dishes of Western Asia reached Polish tables thanks to the Armenian trade and cultural exchange with Poland's neighbor: theOttoman Empire.Rare delicacies were brought to royal court as gifts from sultans and royal envoys. The strongest influences were noted in the cities ofLwów,Kraków,Kamieniec Podolski,andZamośćdue to many Armenians living there permanently.Also, because of the close contact with the Ottoman Empire,coffee(kawa) andbozabecame popular.

With the subsequent decline of Poland, and the grain crisis that followedThe Swedish Deluge,potatoes began to replace the traditional use of cereals. The oldest surviving Polish cookbook,Compendium ferculorum, albo Zebranie potraw( "Collection of Dishes" ) byStanisław Czernieckiwas published in Kraków in 1682.Under the Partitions, the cuisine ofPolandbecame heavily influenced by cuisines of surrounding empires. This includedRussianandGermancuisines, but also the culinary traditions of most nations of theAustro-Hungarianempire. The 19th century also saw the creation of many Polish cookbooks, by Jan Szyttler,Anna Ciundziewicka,Wincenta Zawadzka,Lucyna Ćwierczakiewiczowa,and others.

After World War II

Most enduring of Polish culinary traditions arepierogi,a national dish of Poland, originating in the ancient culinary traditions of Poland's former eastern territories (Kresy).

After the end ofWorld War II,Poland became a communist country which joined theWarsaw Pact.Some restaurants werenationalized.The communists envisioned a network oflunch roomscalled "bufet" for the workers at various companies, andmilk barsfor the public. The majority of restaurants that survived the 1940s and 1950s were state-owned. Workplace canteens promoted mostly inexpensive meals, including soups, meatballs and pork chops, and staples such asplacki ziemniaczane/kartoflane(potato pancakes),placki z jablkami(apple pancakes),kopytka(potato gnocchi),leniwe(farmer's cheese gnocchi served as a sweet), andpierogi.A typical second course consisted of meat cutlet served with potatoes or buckwheat andsurówka(raw, julienned vegetables). The popular Polishkotlet schabowyis abreaded cutletsimilar to the AustrianWiener schnitzeland the Italian and SpanishMilanesa.

With time, theshortage economyled to scarcity ofmeat,coffee,tea,and other basic ingredients. Many products likechocolate,sugar,and meat were rationed, with a specific limit depending on social class and health requirements. Physical workers and pregnant women were generally entitled to more food products. Imports were restricted, so much of the food supply was domestic. Cuisine became homogeneous, to be a chef was no longer a prestigious profession, and for decades the country became basically disconnected from any foreign cuisine.Tropical fruits (such as citrus,banana,andpineapple) were available during holidays, while local fruits and vegetables were mostly seasonal but were available at private stands. For most of the year, people had to get by with only domestic winter fruit and vegetables: apples, plums, currants, onions, potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables, and frozen products. Other food products (of foreign origins) were seldom available at markets at high prices.

This situation led in turn to gradual replacement of traditional Polish cuisine with food prepared from anything available at the time. Among popular dishes introduced by public restaurants werekotlet mielony(meatballs), a sort ofhamburgeroften served with beetroot puree and raw carrots. The traditional recipes were mostly observed during theWigiliafeast (Christmas Eve), for which many families tried to prepare 12 traditional courses.

A popular form of fish dish was, and still is, thepaprikash(paprykarz szczeciński) from the port city ofSzczecin,usually added to sandwiches as a spread.

Zapiekanka,a long loaf sandwich with melted cheese, meat, mushrooms, onions, and ketchup. A popularstreet foodto this day which originated in the 1970s.

Modern era

With thefall of communism in Polandin 1989, a wave of new restaurants opened, and basic foodstuffs were once again readily obtainable. This led to a gradual return of the rich traditional Polish cuisine, both in home cooking and in restaurants. At the same time, restaurants and supermarkets promoted the use of ingredients typical of other cuisines of the world. Among the most notable foods to become commonplace in Poland werecucurbits,zucchini,and many kinds of fish. During communist times, fresh fish was available essentially only in the seaside towns.

Recent years have seen the advent of theslow foodmovement, and a number of TV programmes devoted to cooking, both traditional and modern, have gained in popularity. In 2011, a nostalgic cookbook (written in English) combining a child's memories growing up in theGierekera with traditional Polish recipes was published inLondon.

American fast food in Poland, oftenMcDonald's,KFC,andPizza Hut,are in decline asPolishpeople prefer their own cuisine, includingfast food.Meanwhile,doner kebabsare gaining popularity. Nonetheless, in most of Poland one can still get traditional and very popular Polish street food such as thezapiekanka,a pizza-like baguette with cheese, mushrooms, onion,ketchup,and sometimes meat. There are also many small-scale, quick-service restaurants which servekebabs,hamburgers, hot dogs, and Polishkiełbasa(sausage). In the southern mountainous region,oscypekserved with cranberry jam is a popular street food.

In a 2023 survey on "100 Best Cuisines in the World" conducted byTasteAtlas,Polish cuisine was ranked 11th.

Holiday meals

Christmas dishes

See also:Wigilia

Barszczzuszkami,one of the traditionalWigiliadishes

TraditionalChristmas Evedinner calledWigiliais meat free, though with fish and usually consists ofbarszcz(borscht) withuszka(small dumplings)—a classic Polish Christmas Eve starter—followed by dishes such as friedcarpor cod with apple, leeks and raw salads. Traditionally, carp (fried or Jewish style) provides a main component of the Christmas Eve meal across Poland. Other popular dishes, eaten on ensuing days, include pickledmatjas herring,rollmops,pierogiwithsauerkrautand forestmushrooms,fish soup,kielbasa,hams,bigos(savory stew of cabbage and meat), and vegetable salads. Among popular desserts aregingerbread,cheesecake, various fruits such asoranges,poppy seed cake,makowiec(makówkiinSilesia), fruitkompot,andkluskiwith poppyseed and gingerbread. Regional dishes includeżurek,siemieniotka(inSilesia), andkołduny,stuffed dumplings with mushrooms or meat from the eastern regions.

Fat Thursday

Pączkiorkreple,filled doughnut

Tłusty Czwartek,or "Fat Thursday", is a Polish culinary custom on the last Thursday beforeLent,equivalent toPancake Day.Traditionally, it is an occasion to enjoy sweets and cakes before the forty days of abstinence expected of Catholics untilEaster Day.

The most popular sweetmeats on 'Fat Thursday' arepączki,Polish doughnuts, andfaworki(sometimes calledchrust), equivalent to the Frenchbeignets.Traditional Polish doughnuts are filled with rose petal jam, plum jam, or stewed apple and covered with icing with orange peel or powdered withicing sugar.Fat Thursday used to mark the beginning of a "Fat Week", a period of great gluttony during which Polish ancestors consumed dishes served withsmalec(lard), bacon, and all kinds of meat.

The original doughnuts, popular until the 16th century, were made of the same dough as bread, and would be filled with pork and fried onsmalec.Only later were they made as patisserie.

Easter breakfast

See also:Święconka

A typicalEasterbreakfast often consists of cold-cuts served with horseradish sauce and beetroot salads, breads,bigos,żurek,kiełbasa,smoked salmonorherring,marinated vegetable salads, Easter salad (chopped boiled eggs,green peas,ćwikła,carrot,apple,potato,parsley,andmayonnaise),coffee,teaand cakes (such as chocolate cake),makowiec,mazurek,andsernik.

Regional cuisines

Poland has a number of unique regional cuisines with differences in preparation and ingredients. For an extensive list of the dishes typical ofGalicia,Kresy,Podlaskie,Masovia(includingWarsaw),Masuria,Pomerania,Silesia,Lesser Poland,theTatra mountains,andGreater Poland,see theList of Polish cuisine dishes.

Greater Poland

Typical for Greater Poland are various dishes using potatoes – especiallypyry z gzikiem(potatoes with quark cheese mixed with sour cream, onions and chieves). Popular are also poultry dishes likekaczka po poznańsku(duck meat with red cabbage and steam-cooked dumplings),czernina(duck blood soup) and goose meat eaten on the Saint Martin's Day.

Other famous specialities includerogale świętomarcińskie(croissants filled with white poppy seeds),fried cheeseand a beerGrodziskie/Grätzer (made from oak-smoked wheat malt and with a low alcohol content).

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  Pyry z gzikiem
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  Rogal świętomarciński
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  Grodziskiebeer

Lesser Poland

The city ofKrakówis famous for its sausagekiełbasa krakowskaand meat sandwichmaczanka krakowska.Typical are also some Austrian influences due to the fact, that the city belonged in the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century toAustria-Hungary.They includePischingercake and pork cutletkotlet schabowy(today popular in the whole Poland). Popular street foods are bagelsobwarzankiand baked sandwicheszapiekankisold on the Plac Nowy square.

The area nearNowy SączandLimanowais rich in quality plums; popular are prunes calledsuska sechlońskaand plum brandyslivovitz.

The mountain areas of Lesser Poland, especially Podhale, are famous for its sheep milk cheeses likebundz,creamybryndzaor smokedoscypek.Other popular dishes include a milk drinkżętyca,a sauerkraut soupkwaśnica,placek po zbójnicku(potato pancakes with goulash on top) and a góral tea (tea with alcohol).

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  Kiełbasa krakowska
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  Obwarzanek krakowski
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  Oscypekcheese

Lubelszczyzna

Many dishes inLublincuisine have Jewish roots, likecebularz(flatbread topped with onion and poppy seeds) andforszmak(soup with various types of meat).

Important local ingredient is groat – typical dish consisting of it is a pie calledpieróg biłgorajski.

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  Cebularz

Kashubia and Pomerania

Because of the proximity to the sea, typical for the region are various forms of fish dishes likeśledź po kaszubsku(herring in tomato marinade with onion) and fried cod or flounder.

Other famous specialties include kashubian strawberry (kaszëbskô malëna), gingerbreads fromToruńand alcohol beverages from Gdańsk:Goldwasser(herbal liqueur with flakes of gold leaf) andmachandel(juniper vodka).

InSzczecin,typical regional products arepaszteciki(pastries with meat or vegetarian filling) and fish spreadpaprykarz szczeciński.Besides, in the resort towns along theWest PomeranianBaltic coast, popular street foods are sandwiches with herring, similar to GermanFischbrötchen.

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  Toruń gingerbread
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  Goldwasser
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  Szczecin pasztecikserved with borscht

Masovia

ModernWarsaw,as a capital, has a very cosmopolitan cuisine combining various international foods. However, there are also some typical traditional dishes like Warsaw tripe,pyzy z mięsem(potato dumpling with meat) and pork knuckles in jelly (popular as a vodka chaser).

Famous are many desserts of Warsaw origin, like chocolate cream cakewuzetka(probably named after theWarsaw W-Z Route),ptasie mleczko(chocolate covered marshmallows) andpańska skórka(candies sold traditionally at cemeteries during the All Saints' Day).

Out of Warsaw, typical regional products include apples fromGrójecandpiwo kozicowefromKurpieregion (low-alcohol juniper beverage).

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  Pyzy z mięsem
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  Wuzetkacake
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  Ptasie mleczko

Podlaskie

Podlaskie cuisine has many Lithuanian, Belarusian and Tatar influences. Popular dishes, also known from the aforementioned cuisines, includekartacze(potato dumplings with meat),babka ziemniaczana(potato pie) andpierekaczewnik(meat pie).

In addition, famous are the cold beetroot or cucumber soupchłodnik,cheesekorycińskiand desserts:sękacz(simnal cake) andmarcinek(layered cake with cream).

Podlaskie is also known from high-quality alcoholic beverages like vodka with bison grassżubrówkaand home-made strong vodkaduch puszczy.

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  Babka ziemniaczana
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  Chłodnik
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  Żubrówka

Silesia

Silesian cuisine combines Polish, German, Czech and Austrian influences. The most iconic dish isrolada– rolled beef patty usually served withSilesian dumplingsand red cabbage. Other popular foods are sourdough soupżur śląski,meatballskarminadleand blood sausagekrupniok.

Typical desserts are cakes like thekołocz śląski,candieskopalniokiand wafersoblaty śląskie.

Traditional dishes from Lower Silesia includeśląskie niebo(pork with dried fruits and spices), gingerbread cakelegnicka bomba,herbal liqueurEcht Stonsdorfer(today produced in Germany, but similar product known asLikier Karkonoskiis produced in Poland) and modern fast-food fromWrocław–knysza.

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  Roladawithsilesian dumplingsand red cabbage
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  Karminadle
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  Kołocz śląskicake

Warmia–Masuria

The cuisine of Warmia–Masuria connects German and Eastern influences (especially from the formerEastern Borderlands;thus it has some similarities to the Podlaskie cuisine). Due to many lakes and forests, it is also rich in fishes, mushrooms, and honey. Typical traditional dishes includekartacze(potato dumplings with meat),dzyndzałki(dumplings filled with buckwheat groats),klopsy królewieckie(meatballs with caper sauce),sękacz(spit cake) and a honey liqueurniedźwiedziówka.

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  Kartacze
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  Klopsy królewieckie
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  Sękaczcake

Soups

All soups have fresh stock—made from chicken, beef, pork ribs, vegetables, or a combination of several root vegetables. Meat is either chopped and eaten with soup, used to make the next dish, or eaten with bread. It is common to eat two dishes during dinner: (1) a soup, and (2) a side dish (potato, rice, groats, pasta) with meat, stews, or sweet dishes. Although cream or purée soups are not common or traditional in Poland, they are still prepared because of the influence of other countries' cuisine. Often soups are whitened by adding a splash of sour or double cream.

Zupa pomidorowa(tomato soup) with rice or pasta is a popular dish as part of a Polish dinner.

Botwinkayoung beetroot leaf soup with hard-boiled egg, popular in late spring season.

Żurek,a sour rye soup withbiała kiełbasaand egg

Dried apples, pears and plums – a traditional product of Poland, used, for example, to prepare Christmas compote.

• Zupa pomidorowa– Thintomato soupmade with tomato purée, root vegetables, and stock, usually served with pasta or rice; sour cream is often added.
• Kartoflanka– Potato soup with root vegetables.
• Czarnina(orczernina) – Duck soup made with duck broth or duck blood, the latter giving the soup a dark, almost black, colour. Recipes vary widely, but often sweet and sour ingredients are added, typically vinegar and often sugar, fruit juice, or fruit such as prunes or pears. It is usually served with the duck meat andKluski-style noodles. Nowadays, it is not commonly eaten.
• Chłodnik litewski– Cold soup made of soured milk or sour cream, young beet leaves, cucumbers, and chopped fresh dill. Sometimes chives and radishes are added.
• Botwinka– Beet leaves soup with potatoes and root vegetables, served hot.
• Barszcz czerwony(red borscht) – Clear beetroot soup made out of stock,beetroots,and beetroot sourdough; served withuszka,krokietmade fromnaleśniki,pasztecik,pierogi,and rarely with white beans, red kidney beans, or mashed potatoes. It is a very important dish during Christmas Eve.
• Zupa buraczkowa– Beetroot soup with grated beetroots, cubed potatoes, and root vegetables. Sometimes it is called "red borscht", like the one cooked during Christmas Eve, even though it does not contain beetroot sourdough. It is slightly sweet but not sour.
• Barszcz ukraiński(Ukrainian borscht) – Beetroot soup with addition of sliced white cabbage, white or red kidney beans, and diced or puréed tomatoes. In Ukraine, beans are not used in this dish.
• Zupa szczawiowa–Sorrel soupmade of sorrel leaves and rice, served with hard-boiled egg.
• Flaki(orflaczki) – Beef or porktripestew withmarjoramand spices. Vegetarians make this soup with oyster mushrooms.
• Rosół– Clear chicken soup served with noodles, usually short vermicelli. The stock is made of root vegetables and whole chicken, beef, or both.
• Zupa grzybowa / pieczarkowa–Mushroomsoup made of white or wild mushrooms with potatoes or pasta. During Christmas Eve it is instead served withłazanki pastaoruszka.
• Zupa ogórkowa– Asour cucumber soupmade ofsour, salted cucumbers.
• Żur– Fermented cereal soup made of wholemeal rye sourdough, although oat sourdough is used inLesser PolandandPodlachia,and buckwheat sourdough is used inLublin Voivodeship.Likeżurekandzalewajka,it is served with mashed potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, cooked and smoked bacon, andbiała kiełbasa(white kielbasa).
• Żurek– Fermented cereal soup, more delicate thanżurbecause it is made of wheat flour sourdough. Colloquially (but improperly) it is often calledbarszcz biały(white bortscht).
• Zalewajka(rye soup) – Fermented cereal soup made with sour rye. Served with sliced smoked pork sausage, cooked and smoked bacon, and separately cooked and diced potatoes.
• Barszcz biały– Fermented cereal soup made with wheat flour. Traditionally, cabbage sourdough (sauerkraut juice) or cucumber sourdough (sour pickled cucumbers juice) is used. Still, they can be replaced by using citric acid.
• Grochówka–Pea soupwith split peas, potato, carrot, parsley root, kielbasa or fried bacon, and marjoram.
• Kapuśniak–Sauerkrautsoup with potatoes, root vegetables (parsley root, carrots, celery root), bacon, and pork ribs.
• Kwaśnica– Sauerkraut soup with potatoes and ribs. Similar tokapuśniak,but omits other vegetables and tastes sourer.
• Forszmak lubelski– Pork or beef, smoked bacon, white mushrooms, sour pickled cucumbers, red bell pepper, tomato puree, spices, onion, and garlic.
• Chłodnik– Cold soup made of raw, partially blended, or cooked and chilled vegetables with yoghurt or sour cream (such as cucumberchłodnikor tomatochłodnik). Often served with cooked potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, or both.
• Zupa fasolowa(bean soup) – Made with white beans, root vegetables, smoked sausage (kielbasa), fried bacon, and marjoram.
• Zupa kapuściana(cabbage soup) – Made with stock, chopped white cabbage, root vegetables, tomato puree and potatoes.
• Zupa jarzynowa(vegetable soup) – Made with potatoes, green beans, root vegetables, cauliflower, peas, and sometimes brussels sprouts.
• Zupa ryżowa(rice soup) – Made with rice, potatoes, and root vegetables with chicken.
• Zupa koperkowa(dill soup) – Made with chicken stock, root vegetables, a big amount of dill, spring onion, potatoes or baby potatoes, and sometimes with sour or double cream.
• Zupa chrzanowa(horseradish soup) – Made with white kielbasa, smoked bacon or pork ribs, sour cream, horseradish, garlic, potatoes, and root vegetables for stock; can be served with hard-boiled eggs.
• Zupa gołąbkowa– Soup with minced meat, cabbage, tomato puree, tomatoes, rice, and spices.
• Zupa kalafiorowa(cauliflower soup) – Made with stock, potatoes,cauliflowerflorets, and root vegetables.
• Zupa brokułowa(broccoli soup) – Made with stock, potatoes,broccoliflorets, and root vegetables.
• Zupa gulaszowa(goulash soup) – Made with pork, beef, potatoes, onion or leek, passata, tomato puree, paprika, and red bell pepper. It is similar to Hungarian goulash, whilst Polish goulash is similar topörkölt.
• Zupa soczewicowa(orsoczewicy) (lentil soup) – Made with green or red lentils, garlic, tomatoes, tomato puree, onion, and double or sour cream. May be served with pasta or potatoes.
• Zupa owocowa(fruit soup) – Served cold with different fruits and pasta during hot summer.

Meat and fish

A typical Polish meal:kotlety mielone(minced pork cutlet), potatoes, beets and tea with lemon

Rolmopsy(rollmops), rolled pickled herring fillets, served during Christmas. Traditional to Polish,GermanandJewishcuisines.

• Baranina– Roasted, stewed, or grilled mutton.
• Bigos– Stew of mainlysauerkraut,cabbage, and meats such as smokedkielbasaand bacon. Also contains mushrooms, onions, and sometimes tomato puree. It is known as a "hunter's stew" due to the addition of game and scraps of other meats.
• Bitki wołowe z pieczarkami / grzybami– Thin slices of beef braised with mushrooms.
• Bitki wieprzowe w sosie własnym– Thin slices of pork in gravy, braised with onions.
• Golonka– Stewed pork knuckle or hock.
• Gołąbki– Cabbage rolls with ground meat and rice or groats, served with mushroom, dill, or tomato sauce. For Christmas Eve, meat may be substituted with mushrooms. A variety with mushroom and potato filling is mostly found in Eastern Poland due to influence from Ukraine. Cabbage leaves used are fromsavoy cabbageorwhite cabbage.Rarely, it can be made withred cabbageor sauerkraut leaves. Modern versions include use ofchinese cabbageor filling wrapped in zucchini slices. This dish is either cooked or baked.
• Gołąbki bez zawijania(gołąbkiwithout wrapping) – Large meatballs filled with chopped cabbage, onion and rice.
• Gulasz– Meat stew originated from Hungarianpörköltwith onions, tomatoes, red bell peppers, and paprika.
• Karkówka– Pork neck, roasted, grilled, or braised with onions.
• Kiełbasa– Sausage, smoked or boiled, usually made with pork. It is a staple of Polish cuisine and comes in dozens of varieties.
• Kotlet mielony– Minced meat (pork, pork-beef, or turkey) patty made with egg, breadcrumbs, chopped onions, wet bread, and spices, often rolled in breadcrumbs. Sometimes filled with cheese, mushrooms, or both.
• Kotlet schabowy– Thinly pounded pork loin cutlet coated in breadcrumbs. It is a variation ofschnitzel.
• Kurczak Pieczony– Roasted chicken.
• Pieczeń cielęca– Roasted veal.
• Pieczeń wieprzowa z winem– Roasted pork in wine gravy.
• Polędwiczki wołowe– Braised beef sirloin slices.
• Pulpety or Klopsiki w sosie– Polish stylemeatballsin tomato, mushroom, or dill sauce.
• Rolada z mięsa mielonego z pieczarkami– Minced meatrouladewith mushrooms.
• Schab Faszerowany– Stuffed pork loin.
• Wołowina Pieczona– Roasted beef.
• Zrazyzawijane– Thin beef fillets rolled and filled with bacon, mushrooms, mustard, gherkins, and onions.
• Roladkischabowe/z kurczaka– Thin pork/chicken fillets rolled with filling including version with cheese.
• Żeberka wędzone– Smokedspare ribs.
• Filet z dorsza– Cod fillet with or without batter. Can be steam cooked or baked.
• Łosoś– Steamed or baked salmon fillet.
• Pstrąg– Poached or baked trout.
• Rolmopsy– Rolled pickled herring fillets stuffed with pickled onion or cucumbers.
• Ryba Smażona– Fried breadedfish fillet.
• Śledzie–Herringmarinated in oil or vinegar with onions.
• Śledzie w śmietanie– Herring marinated in sour cream with onions. Sour pickled cucumbers, apples, and mushrooms can also be added.
• Zimne nogi– Polish savoury jelly based on bone broth made from pork legs and served with chopped meat and vegetables, like peas or carrots. Served with a drizzle of vinegar or lemon juice. Dish originates from Jewish cuisine. If using meat other than pork leg, it is calledgalareta.

Flour or potato-based

• Pierogi– Half-moon-shaped dumplings with various fillings. Savoury pierogi may be filled with sauerkraut and mushrooms, potato,quarkand fried onion (pierogi ruskie,Ruthenianpierogi), minced meat, or buckwheat groats and quark or mushrooms. Sweet pierogi can be made with sweet quark or with fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, cherries, plums, raspberries, apples, or even chocolate.
• Uszka– Tiny dumplings traditionally filled only with mushrooms and onions. Other fillings used are mushrooms with sauerkraut or rarely cookedand minced meat with onions. When filled with meat, they are served with clearborscht,clear mushroom soup,orbroth.
• Kołduny– Stuffed dumplings with raw minced beef and mutton, beef dripping, fried onions, and spices. Potatokaldunyis a different dish fromSubcarpathiamade from potato dough filled withtwaróg(quark), potatoes, and onions.
• Placki ziemniaczane / kartoflane– Potato pancakes with grated potatoes, onions, eggs, wheat flour, and marjoram.
• Pyzy– Potato dumplings made with raw, grated potatoes, egg, flour, and sometimes filled with minced meat; then cooked.
• Knedle– Potato dumplings made with cooked potatoes and starch. Usually filled with fruits, most popular being plums and strawberries.
• Kopytka– Hoof-shaped potato dumplings made of cooked potatoes, egg, and flour. Often served with breadcrumbs, sugar, and melted butter or fried bacon.
• Pierogi / kluski leniwe– Hoof-shaped dumplings made of flour or potatoes, eggs, and quark.
• Kluski śląskie– Dumplings in small donut-like shape made with boiled potatoes and potato starch. Often served with gravy or meat stew.
• Czarne / szare kluski– Dumplings black or gray in colour, made of raw grated potatoes and potato starch.
• Pampuchy / kluski na parze / pyzy drozdżowe– Steamed yeast wheat flour dumplings served with fruit yoghurt or jam. They can be also served savoury with gravy or filled with chocolate.
• Kluski kładzione(laid dumplings) – Dumplings made of thick batter with flour and eggs laid in boiling water.
• Lane Kluski(poured dumplings) – Dumplings made of thin batter with flour, milk, and eggs, usually poured straight into soup.
• Zacierki(grated dumplings) – Grated or chopped dough into tiny balls and cooked.
• Naleśniki– Thicker and plumper version ofcrêpes,served with sweet or savoury filling.
• Krokiety(croquettes) – In Poland, they are made ofnaleśniki,often filled with either sauerkraut and mushrooms or ham and cheese, then folded like a burrito, breaded, and fried. Commonly served with clearborscht.
• Racuchy– Yeast pancakes often stuffed with apples and served withpowdered sugarorjam.
• Łazanki– Pasta shaped like small squares. This Polish version is served with sauerkraut, onion, and friedkielbasaor fried bacon.
• Zapiekanka– Open faced sandwich made from aveka rollsliced in half and topped with tomato sauce, mushrooms, and cheese.Zapiekankacan also be anything baked in casserole dish with added egg and cream mixture, so it holds together when removed. It usually involves meats, vegetables with potatoes or pasta, and melted cheese on top. A baked Polish fast food.
• Knysza– Polish fast food with yeast bread roll filled with red and white cabbage, tomato, cucumber, pickled cucumber, onion, fried onion, corn, and sometimes fried chicken with garlic mayonnaise sauce. It originated inWrocław.
• Smażone ziemniaki / bratkartofle– Fried slices of potatoes (often previously cooked) usually (1) eaten with a fried egg, (2) mixed in scrambled eggs, onions, and grilled, or (3) mixed with fried, slicedkielbasa.Whole dish and serving with eggs (German:bratkartoffeln mit ei) or sausage (bratkartoffeln mit wurst) comes from Germany. In Poland, it is often eaten with a glass of sourbuttermilkorkefir.
• Makaron z jajkiem– Fried (cooked) pasta with fried onions, scrambled eggs, and butter; sometimes cheese, bacon, or ham can be added. It is a version of Italianspaghetti carbonara(Italian:spaghetti con uova e cipolla).

Side dishes and salads

• Kasza– Cookedgroats;most popular are groats of buckwheat, barley, millet, and wheat.
• Mizeria– Traditional Polish salad made with sliced cucumbers, sour cream, and spices; served as a side.
• Surówka z jabłka i marchewki– Carrot salad made with peeled and grated carrots, apples, oil, and lemon juice.
• Surówka z ogórków i pomidorów– Salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and oil or sour cream.
• Ziemniaki gotowane– Simple boiled potatoes sprinkled with dill.
• Tłuczone ziemniaki– Mashed potatoes.
• Surówka z białej kapusty– Salad with shredded cabbage, carrots, and spices, often with grated apples.
• Surówka z kiszonej kapusty– Salad with sauerkraut, carrots, parsley, apples, and lemon juice.
• Sałatka warzywnaorJarzynowa– Salad of cooked vegetables such as parsley root, carrot, potatoes, celery root, pickled cucumbers in brine, and hard-cooked eggs in mayonnaise and mustard. Also often contains corn, peas, apple, onion, leek, or even red kidney beans. A traditional Polish side dish.
• Kapusta zasmażana– Sauerkraut or white cabbage pan-fried with onions and spices, often with fried bacon.
• Kapusta na gęsto– Braised white cabbage with onions, dill, and double cream.
• Surówka– Any salad made of raw vegetables with drizzle of vinegar, oil, sour cream, or yoghurt.
• Sałatka– Any salad made of cooked vegetables, usually with mayonnaise.
• Sałatka burakowa / buraczki tarte– Cooked and grated beetroot salad; can be made warm or cold.
• Ćwikła– Cooked and grated beetroots with horseradish paste and lemon juice.
• Fasolka szparagowa z czosnkiem– Green beans with garlic and butter or oil; originated in Italy.
• Kalafior / fasolka szparagowa / brukselka z bułką tartą– Cooked cauliflower, green beans, or Brussels sprouts with apolonaise saucemade of fried breadcrumbs in butter.
• Brokuł / kalafior z sosem czosnkowym– Cooked broccoli or cauliflower with agarlic sauce.
• Ogórek kiszony– Polishpickled cucumber,fermented in brine consisting of dill and dill flower, garlic, salt, and spices.
• Ogórek konserwowy– Pickled cucumber in vinegar, which is rather sweet and vinegary in taste.
• Grzyby marynowane– Marinatedmushrooms.
• Sałatka szwedzka– Preserved salad made with cucumbers, onions, carrots, vinegar, and spices.
• Sałatka ziemniaczana– Potato salad made with cooked potatoes, onions, pickled cucumbers, dill, and mayonnaise; sometimes with added smoked bacon or herring fillets marinated in oil or vinegar. Originally from Germany.
• Sałatka śledziowa– Marinated herring salad with pickled cucumbers, onions, and sour cream; sometimes eggs and apples are added.

Bread

Bread stand inSanok,Poland

Bread (chleb) and bread rolls (bułka(bread roll),bajgiel,rogal,bułka paryska) have been an essential part of Polish cuisine and tradition for centuries. Today, bread remains one of the most important foods in the Polish cuisine. The main ingredient for Polish bread isryeorwheat.Traditional bread has a crunchy crust, a soft interior, and an unforgettable aroma. Such bread is made withsourdough,which lends it a distinctive taste. It can be stored for a week or so without getting too hard and is not crumbly when cut.

In Poland, welcoming with bread and salt ( "chlebem i solą") is often associated with the traditional hospitality ("staropolska gościnność") of the Polish nobility (szlachta), who prided themselves on their hospitality. A 17th-centuryPolish poet,Wespazjan Kochowski,wrote in 1674: "O good bread, when it is given to guests with salt and good will!" Another poet,Wacław Potocki,mentioned this custom. The custom was, however, not limited to the nobility, as Polish people of all classes observed this tradition, reflected in old Polishproverbs.Nowadays, the tradition is mainly observed on wedding days, when newlyweds are greeted with bread and salt by their parents on returning from the churchwedding.

Desserts and sweets

Main article:List of Polish desserts

Makowiec(poppy seed roll)

Makowiec,szarlotka(apple pie) andsernik(cheesecake) with raisins

Sernik(cheesecake)

• Beza– Type of sweetmeringuein biscuit form, occasionally with topping.
• Makowiec– Sweet poppy-seedswiss roll,with raisins, dried fruits, and walnuts.
• Pączek– Closed donuts filled with rose petal jam, other fruit conserves,custard,chocolate, orquarkwith sugar.
• Pierniki– Soft gingerbread biscuit forms ofpryanik,unfilled or filled with marmalade of different fruit flavours, and sometimes covered with chocolate.
• Sernik(cheesecake) – One of the most popular desserts in Poland. It is a cake made primarily oftwaróg,a type of fresh cheese similar to quark. It can be baked or refrigerated. It might be flavoured with vanilla, lemon peel, or orange peel. Sometimes raisins or various fresh fruits are added. Commonly topped with a chocolate topping or sprinkled with coconut-flakes or nuts. It is very popular to garnish it with a sweet jelly topping with a variety of fresh fruits when it is unbaked.
• Mazurek–Piebaked particularly atChristmas EveandEaster,made withshortcrust pastry.There are variations with different fillings, such as walnut paste,dulce de lecheorganachewithdried fruits,candied fruit,andnuts.
• Chałka– Sweet white wheat bread of Jewish origin (challah).
• Kogel mogel(eggnog) – Made from egg yolks, sugar, and flavourings such as honey, vanilla, or cocoa. Traditional for Polish Jews.
• Krówki– Polishfudge;soft milktoffeecandies.
• Napoleonka– Polish type ofcream piemade of two layers ofpuff pastry,filled with vanilla pastry cream, usually sprinkled withpowdered sugar.A close relative of the Frenchmillefeuille.An alternative but less popular version iskremówka,often filled with whipped cream instead of custard cream.
• Keks– Cake with candied and dried fruit.
• Babka– Polish version of apound cake,made with or without yeast. It is served with powdered sugar or icing. Can be made as amarble cake.
• Miodownik– Layered honey cake filled with vanilla pastry cream andganacheon top.
• Orzechowiec– Layered nut cake filled with vanilla pastry cream andkajmak,topped with chopped nuts.
• Ciasto marchewkowe– Carrot cake with added nuts and honey, sometimes layered with whipped cream.
• Ciasto bez pieczenia / na zimno– Various types of unbaked and refrigerated cakes made of biscuits,ladyfingers,crackers, or sponge cake with vanilla, whipped cream, coconut, jelly, mascarpone, semolina, or poppy seed filling. Often topped with ganache.
• Karpatka– Cream pie made of two layers of choux pastry filled with vanilla pastry cream.
• Wuzetka– Layered chocolate sponge cake filled with jam and whipped cream, associated withWarsaw.
• Ptasie mleczko– Chocolate-covered candy filled with softmeringue(or milksoufflé).
• Kisiel– Clear, jelly-like sweet fruit liquid, made with starch, sugar, and fruits or fruit juice.
• Budyń– Pudding that usually comes in many different flavours, such as sweet cream, vanilla, chocolate, cherry, and more.
• Faworki– Light fried pastry covered with powdered sugar.
• Pańska Skórka,Miodek– Hardtaffysold at cemeteries duringZaduszkiand atStare Miasto(Old Town) inWarsaw.
• Kutia– Grain dish made with wheat, poppy seeds, nuts, raisins, and honey. Not traditionally Polish, but served during Christmas in the eastern regions likeBiałystokandPodlachia.
• Prince Polo- Polish chocolate bar.
• Mieszanka Wedlowska– Assorted chocolate covered candy.
• Torcik Wedlowski– Large, circular, chocolate covered wafer with hand-made decorations.
• Pawełek– Chocolate bar with a flavoured filling, most popular containsadvocaat.
• Śliwka w czekoladzie–Chocolate-covered prune.
• Ryż z jabłkami– Type of a rice pudding baked or cooked with apples and cinnamon.

Beverages

See also:Beer in PolandandPolmos

Alcohol

Żywiec BreweryBaltic porter beer. Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer, producing 36.9 millionhectolitres.

MeadPółtorak,made from naturalhoneyand grape fruit, 16% alc. 750 ml (26 imp fl oz; 25 US fl oz).

Traditional Polish alcoholic beverages includemead,beer,vodka(Old Polish:okowita,gorzała), and to a lesser extent,wine.In recent decades,beerhas become very common: popular are both traditional Polish beer styles likeBaltic porterand oak-smokedGrodziskieand also many other styles brewed by many small craft breweries.Wineis less frequently drunk, however, in recent years, the consumption of wine has risen along with increasing production of local grape wines in small vineyards inLesser Poland,Subcarpathia,Silesia,andWest Pomeraniaregions.

Among alcoholic beverages, Polish vodka—traditionally prepared from grain or potatoes—has essentially displaced the formerly widespreadmead.

Polishcider

Some sources suggest that the first production of vodka took place in Poland as early as the 8th century, becoming more widespread in the 11th century.The world's first written mention of the drink and of the word "vodka" was in 1405 fromAkta Grodzkierecorder of deeds,the court documents from thePalatinate of Sandomierzin Poland.

Vodka production on a much larger scale began in Poland at the end of the 16th century. By the 17th and 18th centuries, Polish vodka was known in the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the Black Sea basin.Vodka was the most popular alcoholic drink in Poland until 1998, when it was surpassed by beer.

Beside clear vodkas, flavoured vodka (known asnalewka) and liqueurs are also popular. The most important areŻubrówka(vodka withbison grassfromPodlaskie), herbalŻołądkowa Gorzka,agedstarka,plum brandyśliwowica(especially fromŁącko), honey liqueurkrupnik,as well asGoldwasser(herbal liqueur with flakes of gold leaf) and juniper vodkamachandel,both originating fromGdańsk.

Non-alcoholic drinks

See also:Kvass § Poland,andKefir

Traditionally,kvass(kwas chlebowy) was afermented beveragefirst popular among the peasantry, but it later spread to theszlachtaand became a universal Polish drink by the 14th-15th centuries.It is typically made from rye bread, usually known asblack bread,and is not classified as an alcoholic beverage in Poland, as itsalcohol contentusually ranges from 0% to 2%.There are many commercial and family variations of the beverage; however, traditional Polish recipes still exist.Despite its production on an industrial scale in Poland during theinterbellum,it began to lose popularity to mass-producedsoft drinksand carbonated water in the 20th century.It remained known primarily in rural areas of eastern Poland.However, kvass started making a comeback in the 21st century, with many new Polish brands being started.

Since the turn of the century,teais perhaps the most popular beverage, usually served with a slice of lemon and sweetened with either sugar or honey. Tea came to Poland from England shortly after its appearance inWestern Europe,mainly due to the Dutch merchants. However, its prevalence is attributed to the Russians in the 19th century – at this timesamovarsimported from Russia become commonplace in Polish homes. Tea with milk is calledbawarka(lit. 'Bavarian style').

Coffeehas been widely drunk since the 18th century, when Poland bordered theOttoman Empire.

Other frequently consumed beverages includebuttermilk,kefir,soured milk,instant coffee,variousmineral waters,juices,and numerous brands ofsoft drinks.A considerable number of Poles enjoycarbonated water,and customers in restaurants are always offered both still and sparkling (carbonated) water to drink.

Lists of common Polish dishes found on a national level

• List of common Polish soups
• Common main courses
• Common desserts
• Common beverages
• Common folk medicine

See also

• List of Polish desserts
• List of Polish dishes

External links

• Polish traditional meals with video recipes
• Short summary of the Polish Cuisine
• Polish Cuisineon Culture.pl