Poland Cuisine
Europe • Eastern Europe
56 iconic dishes
Signature Poland Dishes
🍽️Main Dishes(14)
Gołąbki (Polish Cabbage Rolls)
Gołąbki, meaning 'little pigeons,' are a beloved Polish comfort food featuring tender cabbage leaves generously filled with a savory mixture of ground meat and rice, then simmered in a rich tomato sauce. This recipe offers a classic take on this hearty dish.
Kapusta Zasmażana (Polish Braised Sauerkraut)
A classic Polish side dish featuring deeply flavorful braised sauerkraut, enriched with crispy bacon and aromatic spices. This dish is a comforting and traditional accompaniment to many Polish meals.
Karp Smażony (Polish Fried Carp)
A classic Polish dish, Karp Smażony, or fried carp, is a quintessential part of Wigilia (Christmas Eve) celebrations. This recipe focuses on achieving a crispy, golden-brown exterior while keeping the fish moist and tender inside. The traditional marination in milk helps to reduce the earthy flavor often associated with carp.
Karp w Galarecie (Carp in Aspic)
A traditional Polish Christmas Eve (Wigilia) delicacy, this dish features tender carp poached and set in a crystal-clear, flavorful aspic, often garnished with decorative elements.
Kaszanka (Polish Blood Sausage with Buckwheat)
A traditional and hearty Polish blood sausage, featuring the earthy flavor of buckwheat groats and savory pork fat, encased and gently cooked. This recipe requires careful preparation and is best served pan-fried.
Kiełbasa (Polish Sausage)
Authentic Polish kiełbasa, a smoked and seasoned pork sausage. This recipe focuses on a traditional, hearty flavor profile. Many regional variations exist, but this provides a solid foundation.
Kiełbasa Biała (Polish White Sausage)
Kiełbasa Biała is a traditional unsmoked Polish white sausage, often prepared for Easter celebrations. It's known for its fresh, garlicky flavor and tender texture. This recipe focuses on achieving the perfect balance of pork, garlic, and herbs, resulting in a delicious sausage that can be enjoyed boiled, pan-fried, or baked.
Kiełbasa z Grilla (Grilled Polish Sausage)
A quintessential Polish summer dish, grilled kielbasa is smoky, savory, and perfectly complemented by the sharp bite of traditional mustard. This recipe focuses on achieving a beautifully charred exterior while ensuring the sausage is cooked through.
Kluski z Makiem (Polish Noodles with Poppy Seeds)
A traditional sweet Polish Christmas Eve (Wigilia) dish featuring tender egg noodles tossed with a rich mixture of ground poppy seeds, honey, raisins, and butter. This dish is often one of the twelve traditional dishes served on Christmas Eve.
Kotlet Mielony (Polish Ground Meat Cutlet)
A classic Polish comfort food, Kotlet Mielony are savory, breaded ground meat patties, perfect for an everyday meal. This recipe uses a traditional blend of pork and beef for a rich flavor.
Kotlet Schabowy
A classic Polish breaded pork cutlet, often served as a hearty Sunday dinner. Similar to Wiener Schnitzel, it features a crispy, golden-brown coating and tender pork.
Pieczeń Cielęca (Polish Veal Roast)
A classic Polish Sunday dinner centerpiece, this tender veal roast is infused with flavor and served with a rich, creamy gravy.
Zrazy (Polish Beef Roulades)
Elegant Polish beef roulades, tender strips of beef rolled around a savory filling of pickles and bacon, then slow-braised to perfection in a rich gravy. Traditionally served with buckwheat kasha.
Zrazy Zawijane
Zrazy Zawijane are classic Polish beef roulades, tender strips of beef rolled around a savory filling of pickles, bacon, and mustard, then slow-braised to perfection. This dish is a hearty and flavorful centerpiece for any meal.
🥟Appetizer Dishes(12)
Barszcz z Uszkami (Polish Beet Soup with Mushroom Dumplings)
A traditional Polish Christmas Eve centerpiece, this clear, ruby-red beet soup is served with delicate mushroom-filled dumplings called 'uszka' (little ears).
Gzik (Polish Farmer's Cheese Spread)
A refreshing and simple Wielkopolska regional cheese spread, perfect as a light meal or appetizer. It features crumbled farmer's cheese mixed with sour cream, fresh chives, and crisp radishes, traditionally served with boiled potatoes.
Kabanosy (Polish Dry Sausage)
Authentic Polish Kabanosy, a thin, smoky, and dry-cured pork sausage perfect as a snack, especially for hiking. This recipe requires specialized equipment and patience for curing and smoking.
Kluski Śląskie (Silesian Dumplings)
Kluski Śląskie, meaning 'Silesian dumplings', are a traditional Polish potato dumpling from the Silesia region. Characterized by a distinctive thumbprint indentation, they are perfect for soaking up rich gravies and sauces. This recipe provides a simple yet authentic way to create these delightful dumplings.
Kopytka
Kopytka, meaning 'little hooves', are traditional Polish potato dumplings. Similar to Italian gnocchi, they are simple, comforting, and incredibly versatile, perfect as a main dish or a side.
Krokiety (Polish Crêpe Croquettes)
Crispy, golden-fried crêpes filled with a savory mushroom and cabbage mixture, then coated in breadcrumbs. A beloved Polish comfort food, often served as a side to clear borscht.
Pierogi (Polish Dumplings)
Classic Polish dumplings with a tender dough, filled with a savory mixture of mashed potatoes and farmer's cheese, then pan-fried in butter until golden brown. This recipe focuses on the traditional 'Ruskie' filling.
Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes)
Authentic Polish potato pancakes, known as Placki Ziemniaczane, are a beloved comfort food. These pancakes are pan-fried until wonderfully crispy and golden brown on the outside, with a tender interior. They are a versatile dish, perfect as a simple snack or a hearty side.
Pyzy Z Mięsem (Polish Potato Dumplings with Meat Filling)
Fluffy, tender steamed potato dumplings filled with a savory ground pork and onion mixture. These are a comforting and traditional Polish dish, often served with crispy pork cracklings.
Śledź w Śmietanie (Herring in Sour Cream)
A classic Polish Christmas Eve (Wigilia) appetizer featuring tender salt herring fillets marinated in a creamy sour cream sauce with fresh onions and crisp apples. This dish is a staple for a reason – it's simple, refreshing, and utterly delicious.
Śledzie w Śmietanie (Herring in Sour Cream)
A classic Polish appetizer, Śledzie w Śmietanie features salt herring fillets marinated in a creamy, slightly sweet, and tangy sauce with onions and apples. It's a traditional and beloved dish, especially for Christmas Eve (Wigilia) and other celebrations.
Uszka (Polish Mushroom Dumplings)
Uszka, meaning 'little ears' in Polish, are traditional tiny dumplings often filled with a savory mushroom and onion mixture. They are a quintessential part of Polish Christmas Eve supper (Wigilia), typically served floating in clear borscht (barszcz).
🍲Soup Dishes(14)
Barszcz Biały (White Borscht)
Barszcz Biały, or White Borscht, is a traditional Polish soup often enjoyed during Easter. It's similar to Żurek but typically has a milder, less sour flavor profile. This recipe focuses on a fermented base for a complex yet delicate taste.
Barszcz Czerwony (Polish Red Borscht)
A traditional, crystal-clear Polish beetroot soup, often served on Christmas Eve. Its vibrant color and earthy flavor make it a festive and comforting starter.
Bigos (Hunter's Stew)
Bigos, often called Hunter's Stew, is Poland's beloved national dish. This hearty and complex stew features a rich blend of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and a variety of meats, slow-simmered to perfection. It's a dish that truly improves with time, making it ideal for making ahead and reheating over several days.
Bigos (Hunter's Stew)
Poland's national dish - a legendary hunter's stew featuring sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and a medley of meats, traditionally simmered for days. Its flavor deepens and improves with each reheating, making it even better the next day.
Chłodnik Litewski (Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup)
A vibrant and refreshing Polish cold beet soup, perfect for hot summer days. Its striking pink color and cool, tangy flavor make it a delightful starter or light meal.
Flaczki (Polish Tripe Soup)
A hearty and traditional Polish tripe soup, featuring tender beef tripe simmered in a rich, savory broth infused with paprika and vegetables. This soup is known for its distinctive flavor and comforting warmth.
Flaki (Polish Tripe Soup)
A deeply flavorful and hearty Polish tripe soup, traditionally simmered for hours to achieve a rich broth and tender tripe. This dish is a comforting classic, perfect for cold weather.
Grochówka (Polish Pea Soup)
A deeply satisfying and hearty Polish pea soup, often considered a military classic due to its robust flavor and filling nature. This recipe yields a thick, comforting soup perfect for cold days.
Kapuśniak (Polish Sauerkraut Soup)
A hearty and traditional Polish sauerkraut soup, perfect for a cold winter day. This soup features tender pork, smoky kielbasa, tangy sauerkraut, and wholesome vegetables, simmered to perfection. It's a comforting dish with centuries of history.
Kompot (Polish Stewed Fruit Drink)
A traditional Polish beverage made by gently stewing a variety of fruits in sweetened water, often infused with spices. It's a refreshing drink served chilled, with the tender stewed fruits enjoyed as a light dessert.
Rosół (Polish Chicken Noodle Soup)
A cornerstone of Polish Sunday dinners, Rosół is a deeply flavorful and crystal-clear chicken broth, traditionally served with fine noodles and tender vegetables. This recipe focuses on extracting maximum flavor through slow simmering.
Zupa Ogórkowa (Polish Dill Pickle Soup)
A beloved Polish comfort food, Zupa Ogórkowa is a hearty and tangy soup made with dill pickles, potatoes, and carrots. Its unique flavor profile comes from the briny pickles and their juice, balanced by the creaminess of sour cream.
Żurek (Polish Sour Rye Soup)
A traditional Polish Easter soup, Żurek is characterized by its unique tangy flavor derived from a fermented rye starter (żur). This recipe guides you through making the starter from scratch, resulting in a deeply flavorful and comforting soup, often served with sausage, bacon, and hard-boiled eggs.
Żurek (Sour Rye Soup)
Poland's most distinctive soup, Żurek, is a hearty and flavorful dish characterized by its unique sour taste derived from a fermented rye starter. Traditionally served with white sausage and hard-boiled eggs, it's an essential part of Polish Easter celebrations.
🍰Dessert Dishes(11)
Baba Piaskowa (Polish Sand Cake)
A classic Polish pound cake, known for its dense, moist crumb and slightly sandy texture thanks to the potato starch. This rich butter cake is a delightful treat for any occasion.
Faworki (Angel Wings)
Faworki, also known as Angel Wings, are delicate, crispy, and airy fried pastries traditionally enjoyed in Poland, especially during Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek). They are made from a simple dough, rolled incredibly thin, fried until golden, and then dusted generously with powdered sugar.
Faworki (Chruściki)
Faworki, also known as Chruściki or Polish angel wings, are delicate, crispy fried pastry ribbons, traditionally enjoyed during carnival season. They are incredibly light and airy, dusted generously with powdered sugar.
Karpatka (Polish Mountain Cake)
Karpatka, meaning 'Carpathian Mountain Cake', is a beloved Polish dessert featuring two layers of light and airy choux pastry filled with a rich, luscious vanilla pastry cream. It's often dusted with powdered sugar, resembling a snow-capped mountain range.
Kutia
A traditional Polish Christmas Eve (Wigilia) first course, Kutia is a sweet and hearty pudding made from cooked wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, nuts, and dried fruits. It symbolizes prosperity and is often prepared with great care.
Makowiec (Polish Poppy Seed Roll)
A traditional Polish poppy seed roll, often made for Christmas. This dense and sweet cake features a rich poppy seed filling swirled within a soft yeast dough, creating a beautiful spiral pattern when sliced. It's a labor of love that's well worth the effort.
Naleśniki (Polish Crepes)
Naleśniki are thin Polish crepes, similar to French crêpes, that can be filled with a variety of sweet or savory ingredients. They are a versatile and beloved dish in Polish cuisine.
Pączki (Polish Filled Doughnuts)
Authentic Polish Pączki, a rich, yeasted doughnut traditionally enjoyed on Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek) before Lent. This recipe features a classic rose jam filling, resulting in a decadent and slightly sweet treat.
Racuchy (Polish Apple Fritters)
Light and fluffy yeast-leavened pancakes studded with grated apple, fried to a golden crisp and dusted with powdered sugar. A beloved Polish treat, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Sernik (Polish Cheesecake)
A classic Polish cheesecake, Sernik, made with twaróg (farmer's cheese) for a dense, rich, and uniquely satisfying texture. This recipe focuses on the traditional, crustless style.
Szarlotka (Polish Apple Cake)
A classic Polish apple cake featuring a tender shortcrust pastry base and a warmly spiced apple filling, topped with a grated pastry layer for delightful texture.
🧀Cheese Dishes(3)
Oscypek (Smoked Polish Sheep Cheese)
Oscypek is a traditional, smoked cheese made from sheep's milk, originating from the Tatra Mountains region of Poland. It is a protected designation of origin (PDO) product, known for its distinctive spindle shape and firm texture. This recipe outlines the traditional process, which is complex and time-consuming, often requiring specialized equipment and knowledge passed down through generations.
Pierogi Ruskie (Authentic)
The most beloved pierogi - filled with potato and farmer's cheese (twaróg), named for the Ruthenian region. These tender dumplings are a staple of Polish cuisine, perfect served with a dollop of sour cream and crispy fried onions.
Pierogi Ruskie (Ruthenian Pierogi)
The beloved Polish classic, Pierogi Ruskie, are tender dumplings filled with a savory mixture of mashed potatoes and farmer's cheese, often enhanced with sweet, caramelized onions.