The 20 most famous dishes of Poland
Polish cooking is warm country food built on potatoes, cabbage, beetroot, mushrooms and grains, led by pierogi, sour soups and baked sweets.
1Pierogi Ruskie
Half-moon dumplings filled with potato, twaróg cheese and onion, boiled then fried in butter — the symbol of…
2Bigos (Hunter's Stew)
Poland's hunter's stew of sauerkraut and fresh cabbage with mixed meats, sausage, dried mushrooms and prunes…
3Żurek
A sour soup of fermented rye with white sausage, boiled egg and potatoes, sometimes served in a bread bowl at…
4Gołąbki
Cabbage leaves rolled around minced meat and rice, cooked in tomato sauce — "little pigeons".
5Barszcz Czerwony
A clear, slightly sour beetroot broth served on Christmas Eve with tiny mushroom dumplings (uszka).
6Kotlet Schabowy
A pounded, breaded and fried cutlet served with potatoes and cabbage — Poland's Sunday lunch. For halal, use…
7Placki Ziemniaczane
Crisp grated-potato pancakes, eaten with sour cream, sugar or goulash.
8Grilled Kiełbasa
Polish smoked sausage with garlic and marjoram, grilled and served with mustard, bread and onions (beef or…
9Rosół
A clear golden chicken broth simmered for hours with vegetables, served with fine noodles — Poland's Sunday…
10Pączki
Polish doughnuts filled with rose or plum jam and glazed — eaten by the thousand on Fat Thursday.
11Sernik
Polish cheesecake made with smooth twaróg cheese, vanilla and raisins, with or without a pastry base.
12Makowiec
A sweet yeast roll with a thick filling of ground poppy seeds with honey, walnuts and raisins — a Christmas…
13Kopytka
Little potato dumplings shaped like "hooves", served with butter and onions or with goulash.
14Zapiekanka
A half baguette baked with mushrooms and melted cheese and drizzled with ketchup — Kraków's famous street…
15Flaki
Polish tripe soup in broth with vegetables, marjoram and paprika — thick and warming.
16Grilled Oscypek
Smoked sheep's cheese from the Tatra mountains in a decorated spindle shape, grilled and served with…
17Mizeria
Thinly sliced cucumber salad in sour cream with dill, the classic partner of schabowy.
18Naleśniki z Serem
Thin crêpes filled with sweet vanilla twaróg cheese, folded and browned in butter.
19Pierniki Toruńskie
Gingerbread from Toruń, made since the Middle Ages with honey and spices and coated in chocolate.
20Chłodnik
A cold, pink summer soup of beetroot, kefir, cucumber and dill, served with boiled eggs.