Category: Polish Foods

Garlic Soup with Poached Eggs Garlic Soup with Poached Eggs You can skip the poached eggs and leave this Spanish soup lean (known as sopa de ajo), which makes it almost a tonic, but there is something about the egg yolks melting into the broth that makes the whole concoction especially satisfying. This version contains a lot of fresh marjoram, but a more traditional version would be made with thyme. A Mexican version could be made with oregano. Ingredients – 4 heads garlic. – 1 bunch marjoram or thyme (about…

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Royal Mazurek/Mazurek Królewski The traditional Easter table in a Polish home is laden with a variety of wonderful desserts. Ingredients –        1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened –        1¼ c. sugar; 1 c. finely ground almonds –        1 tsp. vanilla extract –        Grated rind of 1 orange, or about –        2 tbsp. dried grated orange peel –        5 egg whites –        1½ c. all-purpose flour. Icing: –        1 c. powdered sugar –        2 tsp. lemon juice. Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Grease and flour a medium…

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Honey Cake/Piernik Polish hosts and hostesses often offer a slice of this delicious dessert to lucky holiday guests. Ingredients –        8 tbsp. (1 stick) butter –        4 eggs, separated –        1½ c. honey –        3 c. all-purpose flour –        ½ tsp. ground ginger –        ½ tsp. nutmeg –        ½ tsp. ground cloves –        1 tsp. cinnamon –        2 tsp. baking powder. Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter by beating until soft and smooth. Add egg yolks one at a time and beat…

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Noodles with Poppy Seeds/Kluski z Makiem In Poland, this wonderful dish is traditionally eaten only on Christmas Eve. It is just one of up to twelve courses served after a day of fasting. Ingredients –        16 oz. egg noodles –        1 12½-oz. can poppy seed pastry –        filling –        4 tbsp. honey –        1 c. heavy cream or half and half –        ½ c. golden raisins* –        2 tbsp. butter or margarine. *Golden raisins are made from the same kind of grapes as dark raisins but are generally larger and…

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Herring Paste on Bread/Kanapki z Pasty ´Sledziowej This strongly flavored spread is just one of many delicious appetizers that might be served at a typical Polish New Year’s Eve party. Ingredients –        2 eggs –        1 8-oz. jar marinated herring fillets, drained (any kind) –        ¼ c. butter or margarine, softened –        Fresh dill to garnish –        1 loaf rye or pumpernickel bread. Instructions 1. Hard cook eggs by placing in a saucepan and covering with cold water. Place over medium heat until boiling, reduce heat, and simmer for 15…

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Christmas Eve Borscht/Wigilijny Barszcz Borscht is one of the most traditional soups in Polish cuisine, and many cooks serve a meatless borscht such as this one at the Christmas Eve feast. Ingredients –        32 oz. canned red beets, diced; 3 c. water –        1 medium stalk celery, chopped –        2 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces –        1 medium onion, peeled and thickly sliced –        ¼ tsp. whole peppercorns; ¼ tsp. salt –        1 tsp. vinegar; 1 tbsp. lemon juice –        1 tsp. sugar; dash of garlic powder –       …

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Vegetable Bouquet/Bukiet z Jarzyn Fresh green and yellow beans will add flavor and a slight crunch to this dish. If fresh beans are not available, however, you can use 8 oz. each of frozen beans instead. Cook the beans according to package directions and drain well before using. Ingredients –        1 lb. new potatoes –        ½ lb. fresh green beans –        ½ lb. fresh yellow beans –        ½ lb. baby carrots –        ½ medium head cauliflower –        2 slices white bread –        Polish sauce. Instructions  1. Wash all fresh vegetables.…

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Semi-Short Bread with Plums/Placek Półkruchy ze ´Sliwkami Purple plums and a sprinkling of powdered sugar make this dessert a treat for the eyes and for the taste buds. Ingredients Topping: –        1 lb. fresh purple plums –        ¼ c. powdered sugar –        ½ c. sour cream –        1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract Dough: –        2 c. all-purpose flour –        1½ tsp. baking powder –        ½ c. powdered sugar –        ½ tsp. salt –        4 tbsp. (½ stick) butter or margarine, softened –        1 egg, lightly beaten –        1 egg…

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Cabbage Rolls/Golabki Golabki translates literally as “little pigeons.” Once these cabbage rolls are nestled in a casserole dish, it isn’t hard to see where they got their name! Ingredients Filling: –        1/3 c. uncooked white or brown rice or pearl barley –        ½ lb. ground beef; ¼ lb. ground pork –        1 egg, lightly beaten; 1 medium onion, chopped –        ½ tsp. oregano; ½ tsp. dried parsley flakes –        ½ tsp. basil; ½ tsp. salt; ¼ tsp. pepper. Wrapping: 1 small head cabbage Sauce: –        1 6-oz. can tomato paste;…

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Plum and Rhubarb Soup/ Zupa ´Sliwkowo Rabarbarowa This delicious soup can be eaten either hot at the beginning of a meal or cold for dessert. Ingredients –        ½ lb. plums* –        ½ lb. rhubarb* –        6 c. water –        3 or 4 whole cloves –        1 1-inch stick cinnamon –        ¼ c. sugar –        ¼ c. cold water –        2 tbsp. all-purpose flour or cornstarch –        ½ c. sour cream. *Dried, pitted prunes can be used instead of plums in this recipe, and tart green apples can be substituted for…

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