Located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern Europe, Poland It is a country that has served for centuries as a bridge between both cultures. It is considered one of the cheapest countries in Europe, and has colorful cities, dream towns, natural landscapes, delicious cuisine and wonderful people.
Due to its history and location, its gastronomy is made up of local products influenced with own Russian, Turkish, Jewish and German traditions. This resulted in a rich and surprisingly varied cuisine with authentic flavors.
If you are going to visit this beautiful country on your next trip, we invite you to discover the following list of typical Polish dishes you can’t stop eating.
10 typical Polish dishes
Poland It is located in the geographic center of Europe, being one of the largest in terms of surface area. It shares borders with countries like Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltic Sea.
Thanks to its central location, it has numerous trade routes through Europe and a varied cuisine influenced by neighboring countries. Motivated by this, the food in poland is a combination of gastronomies of West Slavic, German origin and autochthonous culinary traditions from the country.
His cuisine stands out for the use of various types of meat such as pork, chicken, and beef, being famous for its delicious sausages. Among the basic ingredients used in their recipes is beets, sauerkraut, cucumbers, mushrooms, kohlrabi, sour cream, as well as different herbs and spices.
Due to his great influence on slavic gastronomy, the use of the oats and other cereals in their recipes it is very common. For this reason, Poland is famous for the excellence of its bread, being the bagel one of the most internationally known products.
The typical Polish food consists of three dishes, starting with a succulent soup and then an appetizer made with different meats, vegetables or fish. Next, the delicious main course is served, and if you wish, you can finish with a dessert to enjoy the sweetness of the country.
Explore the flavors of this rich and substantial gastronomy, and take note of the 10 typical Polish dishes impossible to miss that we detail below.
bigos
The bigos is also known as the hunter’s stewone of the most beloved national dishes in Poland. Serve hot and add vegetables, spices or even wineand as with all stews, if it is made the day before it tastes much better.
The basic ingredients for its preparation are grated sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, different types of meat and sausages, dried mushrooms, prunes, onions and spices. The secret of its flavor is based on the cooking time, the longer it takes to cook, the more delicious it is.
with this irresistible stew you can enjoy the traditional flavors of Poland in one bite.
pierogi
Is typical polish food, is a wonderful pasta made with a finely rolled dough and filled with different ingredients. Its consumption is more common during the Christmas season, and it can be eaten as main course or sweet dessertaccording to its filling.
The pierogi dough It is made from egg, butter, flour and salt. The most popular used fillings are meat, sauerkraut, mushrooms, buckwheat, sweet cottage cheese and boiled potatoes with fried onions. And for an irresistibly sweet taste, it can also be filled with seasonal fruits like blueberries, strawberries and cherries.
The pierogi It is highly recognized worldwide traditional Polish gastronomyso you should try it at least once in your life.
golabki
The gołąbki It is one of the favorite dishes of the traditional polish food. These rolls are made with cabbage leaves, stuffed with meat and other ingredients which are often served in the christmas season.
His recipe is made from minced pork, combined with some rice, onion, and mushrooms, all wrapped in white cabbage leaves. You can also use other variations of fillings such as poultry, lamb or even without adding meat. The secret is to simmer the filling before serving the cabbage.
A typical recipe from the kitchens of Polish grandmothers to enjoy not only at Christmas, but at any time of the year.
Kopytka
This traditional recipe is one Polish potato dumplings, very easy to make and with an irresistible flavor. It is considered the Polish equivalent of gnocchi, and is perfect for eat with breads, dips, and other garnishes.
For the elaboration of the kopytka, you should prepare the mashed potatoes on the day and do not use the leftovers from other recipes. Its main ingredients are boiled potatoes, flour and it can also contain eggs and salt. It is usually served as a side dish, as well as a main dish, accompanied by cheese, bacon, onions or various types of sauce.
This wonderful classic bar de lecho dish can also be served as a dessert by adding melted butter and sugar, cinnamon, cottage cheese or fruit jam.
Rosol
Due to the cold weather, in Poland The consumption of soups plays an important role in its gastronomy. The rosol, is a chicken soup very traditional cuisine in Polandwhich is usually served at family meals after church on Sunday.
In this simple but delicious almost transparent broth, all the ingredients swim inside. His recipe is made up of chicken pieces, carrot slices, onion, leek, green celery, parsley, cabbage, salt and pepper. It is usually served with homemade noodles, dumplings, or potatoes.
The rosoł is the most traditional soup served in Polandideal to try on cold days and warm up.
kotlet schabowy
The kotlet schabowy It is one of the most delicious and ancient recipes in the country. This classic of Polandis a breaded pork chop which is usually served with buttered potatoes and coleslaw.
Its recipe is very easy, it is based on a pork chop breaded with breadcrumbs, and later fried, which is served with cabbage and potatoes. In case you don’t like pork, it can also be prepared with chicken cutlet, offering the same delicious flavor.
Although its flavor is not peculiar, this rich traditional dish It is a hit to please empty stomachs.
kielbasa
They are some smoked sausages traditional and very popular cuisine in Poland. They can be served as a main dish, accompanied by mashed potatoes, French fries, salad, and are also found as a garnish in soups.
In Poland there is a wide variety of sausages kielbasa to choose. The wiejska, is the most typical of the country, and is seasoned with garlic and marjoram. The krakowska She is originally from the city of Krakowwhere they are filleted and eaten cold in slices as if they were ham.
On the other hand, the mysliwska or hunter’s sausage, are made with pork, salt, pepper and juniper. as well as sausages kabanos, long, thin and dry, which are one of the favorite appetizers and snacks for its inhabitants.
Are smoked sausages They can be found in any corner of the country, they are delicious and perfect to add to a sandwich, whether they are cold or grilled.
Kolaczki
One of the typical Polish dessert is kolaczki. Traditionally, these delicious cookies are served at Christmas and other holidays, but now they make a delicious treat that you can enjoy all year long.
Are Polish Cream Cheese Cookies, are filled with fruit jam such as apricot, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry and other fruits, lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Other fillings such as poppy seeds, almonds, walnuts and others of your choice are also used.
Flaky, buttery and rich, the kolaczki They are a delight to eat fresh, whether they are homemade or from one of the stores that sell them throughout the country.
Mazurek Krolewski
The mazurek is not only a Polish folk dance, but also the name of one of the most delicious typical Polish dishes.
The elaboration of this dessert varies according to the region, and from one family to another. It can be made with yeast doughs, crumbly shortbread doughs known as ciasto kruche, puff pastry, doughy doughs, or layered with tart wafers.
For the topping, there are amazing varieties such as almond paste, dried or fresh fruits, nuts, meringues, poppy seed paste, and custard. Also at the top, pussy willow branches are placed as a popular sign of spring in Poland made of marzipan, mini chocolate chips and almonds.
Although it is very traditional to serve it at Easter, thanks to its delicious flavor and easy preparation, it is very common to find it on the tables throughout the year.
Golonka
The golonka It is a previously marinated and cooked pork knuckle, being one of the national dishes of Poland. It can be prepared in many ways and each cook has his own particular recipe, although the most traditional way is glazed with beer and honey.
For its preparation it is recommended to first boil the fresh hocks, and then cook them in the oven with the glaze of beer and honey. This recipe is usually accompanied with boiled potatoes or dumplings, rye bread, spicy mustard and a refreshing beer.
A dish not suitable for vegetarians, ideal to please the palate of the most demanding diners.
Now that you know more about the gastronomy of Poland, you can see that they are real calorie bombs. However, once you try them you won’t be able to resist the temptation to eat more and more.
Enjoy on your next visit to this majestic destination, the exotic flavors that the gastronomy of Poland has to pamper your palate.
Frequent questions
Next, we are going to clarify the most frequent doubts made by users when looking for the typical Polish dishes.
What are the traditional dishes of Poland?
Being located in the center of the European continent, Poland It has a very diverse gastronomy, with a mixture of authentic and exotic flavors. His recipes are composed of a variety of ingredients such as potatoes, vegetables, meat, spices and others.
Between the typical Polish dishes highlights the golonka, goulash, bigos, pierogi, kielbasa sausage, kotlet schabowy and the bagel bread product. For their part, desserts are not far behind with their delicious recipes for cakes, tarts and cookiesto enjoy at any time of the year.
What is typical in Poland?
Poland It has a rich gastronomy that stands out for its meats, sausages, breads, cheeses, and other smoked products typical of the region. One of the most famous products of the country is the bagela bread roll originating from the Jewish communities of Poland, very popular worldwide.
The kielbasa sausages They are another product that stands out for their irresistible flavor, and since they are smoked they can be eaten cold, roasted or as a companion to other dishes. For their part, among Polish cheeses is the Oscypek made with salted sheep’s milk, produced in the southern part of the country.
What is the most consumed in Poland?
Due to its cold climate, Poland owns a gastronomy rich in soups. This is why, in order to stay warm, what they consume the most are broth recipes.
Among these dishes, chicken soup, fermented rye flour, beetroot, wild mushrooms, cabbage, and other delicacies stand out.
It is important to highlight that due to its geographical location, Poland have a high consumption of products related to Mediterranean cuisine highlighting the fish and pasta.