Category: Apetizers

Polish Strawberry Jam

Strawberries got much cheaper, as they are in full season. To preserve this deliciousness for Winter, I made Polish strawberry jam, exactly as my Mom used to make in my childhood. With no jelling sugar, simple and short list of ingredients. Sugar and lemon juice are preservatives, they help to preserve jam over Winter. Although I added one magic ingredient, that makes strawberry jam taste exceptional and it was.. butter. Try that trick and you’ll never use the other method:)

My Polish strawberry jam is spreadable, I use it just like butter with bread and butter. It’s great with pancakes, waffles and cakes. And what’s most important it tastes amazing!

Strawberry jam ready
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Young Cabbage Slaw

New Spring cabbage is a deliciousness that I use for many dishes in Spring. I make it stewed, I make soup and lately I made young cabbage slaw in a different way than usual. I loved it, so I decided to share it with you. Recipe is so easy and there is only few ingredients needed to have this fresh and crispy side dish. I served it with kotlety mielone (minced meat patties, by some people called Polish hamburgers) and boiled potatoes. A lot of dill on the top and you get a perfect Spring dish.

Young cabbage slaw with sour cream and mayo
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Half Sour Radish

It’s a great time to make half sour pickles. I love cucumbers this way, lately I tried half sour radish and all my family was happy to try it. It’s great to grill parties, fresh and crispy, with a dill flavor and a bit of garlic. I invite you to experiment a bit and try radishes or other vegetables. Let me know please how you liked it and what kind of vegetables have you tried.

Half sour radish in a jar
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Celeriac Slaw

Celeriac Slaw is one of the slaws you can get in Polish milk bars, canteens and simple food restaurants. It could be one of the ‘bukiet surówek’ – ‘slaw bouquet’ set. Check what can be also included in it here: Polish Slaw Bouquet.

Celeriac is a popular vegetable in Poland. In comparison to celery known in US, which is a a green stick, Polish celeriac is a round root and it may be really big. They both are all the same family of vegetables, but stick celery become popular in Poland relatively not long ago, while celeriac is used commonly in Polish households. Check celeriac slaw, it cannot be compared to any other vegetable, it’s really worth trying.

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Wild Garlic – Ramps recipes

I decided to make a summary on wild garlic and let you know about a range of their names, how they are beneficial to our health and finally I will present few wild garlic – ramps recipes.

Wild garlic - ramps - bear's garlic plant and dishes
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Beef Tartare

Beef Tartare was a very popular appetizer during communistic Poland. It was always served on weddings, first communions, name days and other gatherings. Those days meat was cheap, although not so easy to get. Now meat, specially beef is one of the most expensive here in Poland.

Remember to buy beef from a trustworthy seller, meat needs to be of the best quality and the freshest.

Beef tartare might be a great appetizer on a Valentines dinner, don’t you think that raw meat gives a little bit of wildness? 🙂

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Jellied Pigs Feet

Galareta, Zimne Nogi, Zimne Nóżki, Studzienina, Nóżki w Galarecie, Galert

All of the names above have the same meaning, they describe one Polish dish – Jellied Pigs Feet. In my family house we called it Galareta as it actually is and looks like a meat and veggies jelly. You don’t add extra gelatin as bones and skin has plenty of collagen and makes natural jelly. This is why pigs feet cannot be omitted in this recipe, you wouldn’t get broth set without it, you’ll get a soup instead of Jellied Pigs Feet.

Jellied pigs feet on the plate served with lemon and parsley
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Zucchini pancakes

A season for zucchinis is long, you can get it fresh and full of flavor for the whole Summer and most of Autumn. Some may say that it’s taste might be bland, I say – it’s delicate and once you add favorite seasonings you have your favorite dish <3 . Let’s take for instance Zucchini pancakes – an onion sauteed in butter and garlic sauce on the side add my pancakes a gorgeous twist.

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Cebularze Lubelskie – Onion Rolls

In two weeks we are going to visit Lublin. Each time we are going for holidays we try to get to know as much as possible about the region we go. Kids task was to check Lublin area legends, I am checking regional cuisine and trying to find places to eat the best regional food. One of the most popular regional dishes from Lublin voivodship are Cebularze Lubelskie – Onion Rolls with onion and poppy seeds filling. We are definitely having them once we are on holidays, but first I made them myself. They turned out aromatic, filling and comforting. Very nice for Polish second breakfast 😀 or a perfect snack while Lublin sightseeing.

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Fuczki – Sauerkraut Pancakes

I have lately discovered Fuczki – Sauerkraut Pancakes. I was surprised when I was frying Fuczki – their flavor reminded me of Sauerkraut Croquettes, which I love, but which are quite time consuming at the same time. It is so much easier and quicker to make Fuczki – sauerkraut pancakes!

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Bear’s Garlic Creamy Soup

Bear’s Garlic Creamy Soup is a full of vitamins Spring soup. A season for bear’s garlic (which can be also called wild leek, ramps, wild garlic) is quite short, use it and cook this healthy soup. If you still have some ramps left, you can try out other recipes: Bear’s Garlic Cream Cheese or Bear’s Garlic Pesto.

Bear's garlic Creamy Soup served on a plate with toasts and double cream
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Homemade Canned Pork

Mięso w Słoiku

I remember eating Homemade Canned Pork made by my Grandma Emilka in our old house. Jars with this delicious meat was stored in a basement where was a pantry with canned food: fermented cucumbers, sauerkraut, red peppers, homemade tomato sauce, canned beets, forest mushrooms in vinegar, jams, fruit compotes and ‘mięso w słoiku’ – a rare delicacy for special occasions:)

Try this garlic flavored delicate meat with one more essential ingredient – a meat jelly, which moisturizes bread and make a sandwich with meat totally perfect 🙂

Make few jars to your pantry, it could help you to stay secure in this crisis times of pandemonium.

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Bear’s Garlic Cream Cheese

Early spring is the only time in the year when you can obtain fresh bear’s garlic (also called ramps or wild leek). In Poland it is a perfect time for it right now. Last year I made delicious Pesto, from this year’s batch I decided to make a bread spread: Bear’s Garlic Cream Cheese and a Bear’s Garlic Soup, which recipe is coming up soon. Stay alert not to miss my next recipe;) You can for example subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook or Instagram. Maybe you prefer Pinterest? Feel invited to choose your favorite way to stay in touch with me:)

Bear's garlic bread spread served on a bread
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Mackerel and Farmers Cheese Salad

During Lent or if you just try to limit meat on your table, you may like to try this easy and healthy bread spread – Smoked Mackerel and Farmers Cheese Salad. Actually you can use any other smoked fish, if mackerel is not available in your area. I am using mackerel, because it is the cheapest and the most popular smoked fish available on Polish market. It have been always widely used by our Grandmas trying to feed large family on budget. Mackerel is a fat fish, soft and delicate.

Try more Polish bread spreads recipes here: http://cookinpolish.com/tag/bread-spread/.

Mackerel and farmers cheese salad.
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Beef Tongues in Aspic

Beef Tongues in Aspic is a dish that in Poland is served for Christmas or New Years Eve. This is an old style food, zero waste cooking and oh so yummy:) The best beef tongues in aspic I remember made our neighbor, Mirka:)

The whole preparing process may be repulsive to some people, but the tongue’s meat is very tasty and quite usual in texture.

Beef tongues served in aspic
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Sauerkraut and Mushrooms Buns

Paszteciki z Kapustą i Grzybami

My Mum used to bake this kind of small Sauerkraut and Mushrooms Buns to accompany beets borscht on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately when I asked her, she did not remember the recipe, what is more interesting, she even didn’t remember that she has been actually baking them:) Eventually I decided to go for Paszteciki recipe I found on Kwestia Smaku, one of my favorite cooking websites.

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Fried Parasol Mushrooms

Last weekend we went to Mazuria Lake district in the North East of Poland. We went mushroom picking twice and they both were successful:) Check more photos from the woods on my Instagram account. I was hunting for parasol mushrooms and I was lucky to find them in one of my places:) I made fried parasol mushrooms for dinner. They were a delicious alternative for a piece of meat. Remember to pick only mushrooms that you are absolutely sure that are edible or ask for expertise someone experienced and trustworthy, who can recognize them.

Check more seasonal recipes under section: Autumn food.

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No baking turkey pate

When I was a child we loved pate – Pasztet bought in stores. Unfortunately this meat bread spread had and still have a long list of low quality ingredients: the worst parts of meat, water, thickeners, preservatives and who knows what else. Nowadays children still love meat pates, so I decided to prepare home made pasztet using good quality ingredients. It worked! My daughter approved it, I’m happy:) I decided to go for no baking version of pate made of turkey leg. I found recipe on Polish culinary website: posmakuj-to.blogspot.com, which I like very much.

If you would like to check more Polish ideas for bread spreads, you may like smoked mackerel Paprykarz and my Grandma’s Smoked Mackerel Bread Spread.

Bread with No baking turkey pate served on rye bread with tomato.
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Kaszanka – Polish black pudding

Polish Kaszanka is a sausage made of pig’s blood and groats (buckwheat or barley). Some cooks add pig’s liver, depending on the region. It’s traditional polish food. Originally it was a dish prepared after pig sticking, to use all the parts of the pig. It has quite high levels of fat and cholesterol, but at the same time it supplements iron and zinc. Use it cautiously and enjoy your Kaszanka – Polish black pudding fried with onion:)

Kaszanka can be served cold, grilled or fried on the pan.

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Young cabbage salad

It is the middle of the Summer, fortunately in Poland you can still buy young spring cabbage. The taste and texture is delicate and sweet, exceptional:) Yesterday I bought one on a local market, I paid 7 PLN, which is about 2 USD. I prepare Young cabbage salad according to the directions of my sister:)

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