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Pierogi ruskie
Pierogi is not a traditional Polish dish – it was introduced from Russia – but it is very popular in Poland. Pierogi look very similar to wontons, with an outer shell made of unleavened wheat flour dough, filled with savory or sweet fillings, and served steamed or fried, often accompanied by butter, sour cream, or fried onions. Common fillings include potatoes, salted fish, minced meat, cheese, and fruit. Pierogi filled with meat, cabbage, and mushrooms are called ruskie. This is a quintessential Polish dish.
Zapiekanka
Zapiekanka is a simple sandwich consisting of half a baguette stuffed with cheese and mushrooms along with some traditional sandwich ingredients (onions, peppers, ham, sausage) and grilled until the cheese melts. Served hot with ketchup, it's a popular street food in Southern Poland.
Bigos
Bigos is considered a Polish specialty, consisting of sliced meat and sausages stewed with sauerkraut, served with a little hot beer, honey, cinnamon, and cloves. Once the ingredients are tender and the stew has a thick, savory sauce, it's enjoyed with a round bread roll to enhance the flavor. This dish is very popular in the daily meals of Poles.
Packzki
Paczki are a very popular traditional fried pastry in Poland. Similar to American donuts, the main ingredients include flour, eggs, and milk, and they are deep-fried. The origin of this pastry stems from the Polish people's desire to use up all the flour, eggs, milk, animal fat, cream, and fruit jam they had at home before the start of Lent. Therefore, the last Thursday before Lent is also Paczki Day in Poland.
A traditional paczki is usually topped with powdered sugar and filled with stewed plum jam and wild rose petal jam. In modern variations, the filling is often replaced with other popular jams and fillings according to personal preference, such as strawberry, apple, raspberry, blueberry, and even custard.
Zurich
Zurek is a sour soup made from rye flour, mushrooms, potatoes, diced sausage, and boiled eggs, fermented to create a unique flavor. Zurek soup is served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread. After enjoying the soup inside, the bread can be eaten as well, as the soup has soaked into it, giving it a rich and savory taste.
Golabki
Golabki is a type of cabbage roll, traditionally filled with pork, onions, barley, and herbs. The cabbage leaves are boiled until tender, stuffed with the filling, then baked or steamed in a sealed pot and served hot, often with tomato sauce or sour cream. It's a popular dish during Christmas and family gatherings.
