Poland: Must Try Foods you Need to Know

Like Ukraine, I went crazy in Poland, compensating the degrees lost in celsius with calories in fat. Food was also similar to dishes I had growing up (spoiler: I am half-polish practically) and better for winter than summer. Here are some of the star dishes I ate…

Pierogi:

The classic, dumplings. If people know one thing about food in Poland, it is usually this! Similar to the ones I had in Ukraine but a lot cheaper!

Golabki:

This one was weird. It is boiled cabbage that is stuffed (think burrito) with beef, onion, and rice covered with a tomato-based sauce.

Kielbasa/Kaszanka:

Kielbasa = sausage, Kaszanka = blood sausage. Maybe tied with Pierogi for most famous Polish dish. Delicious, but I still think Argentina has the best meat.

Placki:

Extremely greasy and fried potato pancakes, the version I had was atop braised pork an hour walk away from the mountain village I was staying in. I almost cried when I ate it, it was so delicious.

Obwarzanki:

A Krakow classic, this is similar to pretzels you get in the States but a lot more doughy, less salty, and overall more refined. Cheap and plentiful, you found little carts all around the city with hundreds of the bagel-esque snacks.

Zapiekanka:

Sighted at the food carts near the bar district in Krakow, I stumbled upon this between beers. It is Polish pizza, baguette style. Huge, cheap, and delicious.

Zurek:

Officially the national dish of Poland, this is sour rye soup that is very good for when you are sick. With a bit of a yeasty taste it is served in a bread bowl and contains sausage and potato. I liked it and maybe it even helped to curb the cold that was threateningly approaching.

Smalec:

Lard! With bread!

Bigos:

Known as the Hunters Soup, this is a salty soup (more stew-y in my opinion) made of cabbage and sausage (see a trend here?). I actually really liked the taste, although quite strong and hard to eat a large portion.

Food in Europe has been a lot more satisfying in the cold!

T