Polish Cuisine

The most traditional Polish recipes are passed down from generation to generation. These recipes are especially popular during Easter and Christmas and are an important aspect of the seasonal holiday calendar. Every Pole remembers the smell of żurek, borsch and dumplings with mushrooms prepared in the family home. The main thing which Poles living abroad are truly missing is Polish cuisine.

Many people in the West are unaware of the richness of Polish cuisine and its long history. There is no time in today’s life for preparing complicated, time consuming dishes. It is easier to buy ready made bread rather then bake it at home on cabbage and horseradish leaves. Poles miss bigos, tripe and other dishes, which they recall from their childhood or know only from the tales of older people.

> Culinary customs

> Did you know that...
Beer was through the ages the Poles’ favourite everyday beverage. It was even served at breakfast in form of a beer soup called “gramatka”. The beer soup today is unfortunately not as popular as the beer on its own.

Queen Bona Sforza, who came to Poland in 1518 and brought with her Italian cooks, had a tremendous impact on Polish cuisine. It is thanks to her that Poles eat carrots, parsley and celeriac – the crucial ingredients of almost every Polish soup.

Popular in Polish cuisine bigos was actually brought by Polish king Władysław Jagiełło from Lithuania.

> Traditional Polish seasonings and accompaniments

> Polish tips how to stay slim