Polish food - 25 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Polish food - what is it? We list 25 Polish dishes, delicacies and pastries, while sharing our experiences of Polish cuisine. From zurek and pierogi to smoked cheese and gingerbread from Torun. ”Join us on a taste journey to Poland!

What to eat in Poland?

We have previously written about German food and Czech food - Now it's time to immerse ourselves in Polish cuisine! In Poland, food is rustic, filling and full of traditional flavours. Here are some typical examples of what to eat in Poland:

• Soups: Żurek, barszcz and other savoury classics
• Hot dishes: Pierogi, golonka and duck
• Small dishes: Herring and smalec
• Street food: Zapiekanka, krokiety and pasztecik

We have visited Poland many times, and we appreciate the flavoursome soups, the hearty home cooking and the simple but charming street food culture.

Typical Polish food - 25 classic dishes

Here we list Polish dishes that are interesting to try, including small dishes, street food, sweets and drinks.

1. Żurek

A sour soup based on fermented rye flour, often served with pieces of sausage and half an egg. This soup is very popular and you can find it in many restaurants - in some cases served inside a bread. This is one of our favourites. Delicious, rustic and filling!

2. More Polish soups

Apart from zurek soup, which is perhaps the most popular soup in Poland, there are also many other soups to try. Soups are simply at the centre of Polish cuisine. Some examples of soups are:

• Barszcz (beetroot soup)
• Rosół (clear chicken soup with noodles)
• Flaki (triple soup)

3. Śledź (herring)

Herring is an integral part of Polish cuisine and comes in countless varieties. It is often served pickled, for example with onions, apples or mustard. Note that Polish pickled herring is generally less sweet than its Swedish counterpart.

4. Pickled vegetables

Acidifying food is an ancient preservation method that is still very much alive in Poland. Sauerkraut and pickles are the most common, but beetroot and mushrooms are also used. Pickled vegetables are common both as a starter and as a side dish for meat and fish.

5. pasztet (Polish pâté)

An oven-baked pâté made with meat, liver and spices. The pâté can be served both as a sandwich spread and as a starter in a restaurant. We have sometimes had it with bread and pickles - very good!

6. Smalec

Spiced lard served on bread, sometimes with onions and apples. Although this is a food of simple origins, today it is enjoying a renaissance in modern restaurants, symbolising rustic and earthy Polish cuisine. We've also seen different variations at markets.

7. Oscypek

A smoked sheep's cheese from the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland. The cheese is traditionally made by shepherds and has a protected designation of origin. It is often served grilled with cranberry jam.

8. Kiełbasa

Kiełbasa is not and The word ”sausage” simply means 'sausage' and can come in hundreds of different flavours. Sausages can be served cooked, smoked or dried - and you'll find different varieties in different parts of the country. Sausages are very popular and are eaten in everyday life as well as on holidays.

9. pierogi

One thing you won't want to miss is pierogi. These small steamed dumplings are perhaps Poland's most famous dish and you can find them in any restaurant serving Polish food. The dumplings can be filled with meat, potatoes, cheese or mushrooms. A dish that is eaten both in everyday life and at parties!

10. bigos

A slow-cooked stew of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage and several types of sausages and meat. The dish is often considered to be better the next day - a classic with roots in Polish country cuisine.

11 Kotlet schabowy

A breaded pork chop, often compared to schnitzel. It is traditionally served with potatoes and sauerkraut. A simple, filling and popular dish!

12. golonka

Oven-roasted or boiled pork knuckle, often served with mustard and sauerkraut. The meat is tender and fatty, and you can expect a generous portion. We've eaten golonka at ”home” parties, and we've also seen it served in traditional restaurants and at shipping company buffets.

13. duck or goose with red cabbage

When travelling in Central Europe, we often try to order duck or goose - a common dish in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other countries. The meat, which is usually very tender and tasty, is often served with red cabbage and apples. A real favourite for us!

14. Gołąbki

Polish cabbage dumplings stuffed with meat and rice. Served with tomato sauce or mushroom sauce. An obvious home-made classic in Poland!

15. Placki ziemniaczane

A kind of crispy potato pancake. They can be served with a variety of accompaniments, or just with a little sour cream.

16. Ryba panierowana

Breaded fish is a very common dish on the coasts of Poland. Often cod or halibut is used. The fish can be served with any kind of potatoes and cabbage or other vegetables.

17. crocodylia

Breaded crepes filled with mushrooms, sauerkraut or meat. These popular treats can be served on their own or as an accompaniment to beetroot soup.

18. smoked mackerel

Sold along the Baltic coast, often directly from small smokehouses. The mackerel is served whole and eaten hot or cold. With a taste of sea and smoke!

19. Zapiekanka

Perhaps Poland's most classic street food. This is simply a halved baguette with mushrooms, possibly ham, cheese and ketchup. Simple and popular Polish food!

20. pasztecik

Small deep-fried and stuffed dumplings. The dumplings can be filled with mushrooms, meat or cheese. This little treat is particularly popular in north-west Poland, and we tasted it during a visit to Szczecin.

21. Sernik

A Polish cheesecake, made from the fresh cheese twaróg. The pastry is denser and less sweet than many other cheesecakes. You can find it in cafés or as a dessert in restaurants.

22. pierniki

The fine Polish the city of Toruń is known for its pierniki - spicy gingerbread with a long history. In fact, the cookies began to be baked as early as the 14th century. Today, gingerbread is an important part of the city's identity, and there is both a gingerbread museum and a gingerbread shop.

23. paczki

Polish doughnuts filled with jam or cream. These pastries are particularly associated with Fat Tuesday, when they are eaten in extra abundance.

24. Makowiec

A kind of roll cake filled with sweet poppy seed paste - a pastry popular at festive times. We haven't tried this cake in Poland, but we have tasted a similar pastry in Hungary, where it is called ”bejgli”.

25. St Martin croissants

These croissants are made in Poznan and is primarily eaten at St Martin's Day on 11 November. The croissants, filled with poppy seeds and other ingredients, are delicious. If you want, you can learn how to make them at the Poznan Croissant Museum.

READ MORE: Baking St Martin croissants at a museum in Poznan

Polish food in a restaurant

In Poland, it is common to find Polish food in the restaurants, while there is of course also a wide range of both international cuisine and fine dining. Here are some tips on restaurants and dining experiences in Poland:

• 5 restaurants in Sopot that you don't want to miss
• Two great spa hotels in lovely Swieradow-Zdroj
• Wroclaw in Poland - 12 tips on things to see and do

Combining Polish food and drink

So, how do you combine Polish food with drink? Both beer and wine are popular in Poland, as is vodka.

Oil in Poland

Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Poland and there is a long brewing tradition. Light lagers predominate, but in recent years a variety of craft beers have also become popular, in the form of IPAs, porters and regional speciality beers.

Wine in Poland

Wine is not an obvious part of traditional Polish cuisine, but interest is growing rapidly. Domestic wine production is growing, especially in southern and western Poland, with a focus on grapes suitable for cooler climates. In restaurants, imported wines are still most common, often from Italy, France and Hungary. Read more about Poland's thriving wine culture here.

Vodka and other drinks

Vodka has long had a strong cultural role in Poland and is considered a national heritage. Vodka is traditionally drunk neat and ice cold, often with food, perhaps with herring or pickles. In addition to vodka, herbal liqueurs, fruit brandies and various non-alcoholic drinks are common.

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• Czech food - 20 Czech specialities
• Finnish food - 20 dishes to try
• German food - 25 German dishes
• Hungarian food - 25 Hungarian specialities
• Estonian food – 17 Estonian dishes