Name: Orzeszki
Pronunciation: ɔˈʒɛʃci
Translation: diminutivr and plural of nut
Energy: approx. 100 kcal per nut
Ingredients: pastry: wheat flour, butter, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla; cream: butter, sugar, milk powder, cocoa.
Orzeszki are shortcrust cookies in the shape of a walnut shell. Inside there is cocoa and milk cream.
Name: Pani Walewska (Pychotka)
Pronunciation: ˈpãɲi vaˈlɛfska (pɨˈxɔtka)
Translation: Mrs. Walewska (something scrumptious)
Energy: approx. 230 kcal per serving
Ingredients: pastry: wheat flour, butter, egg yolks, sugar, baking powder, vanilla; milk cream: milk, butter, potato starch, egg yolk, wheat flour, sugar, vanilla; sugar, black currant jam, egg whites, potato starch, walnuts
Pani Walewska is a lush cake, consisting of two layers of shortcrust pastry spread with black currant jam, walnuts and meringue, in between which there’s a layer of milk cream. Its name drives from a famous figure – Maria Walewska, who was a Polish lover of Napoleon.
Name: Kluski (makaron) z truskawkami
Pronunciation: ˈklusci (maˈkarɔ̃n) struskaˈfkamʲi
Translation: dumplings (pasta) with strawberries
Energy: approx. 600 kcal per serving
Ingredients: pasta (wheat flour, water), strawberries, sour cream, sugar.
Kluski (or makaron) z truskawkami is a typical Polish simple “sweet dinner”, consisting of pasta (of various shapes) with sweetened strawberries (whole or mashed), topped with sour cream. It can be served cold or hot.
Name: Pieróg gryczany
Pronunciation: jaɡɔˈʥ̑ãnka
Translation: buckwheat pie
Energy: approx. 200 kcal per slice
Ingredients: buckwheat groats, wheat flour, cottage cheese (quark), sour cream, eggs, butter, pork fat, yeast, sugar, pepper, salt, mint.
Pieróg gryczany (aka piróg) is a very popular regional snack in the Lublin area. It’s a savoury yeast shortcrust cake with buckwheat and cottage cheese filling, seasoned with mint. It might be topped with crumble, contain potatoes in the filling (pieróg biłgorajski – pie from Biłgoraj) or be baked without pastry whatsoever.
Name: Murzynek
Pronunciation: muˈʒɨ̃nɛk
Translation: diminutive form of Black person
Energy: approx. 120 kcal per serving
Ingredients: butter, wheat flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa, baking powder.
Murzynek is a typical Polish dry cocoa cake. It’s ideal with a cup of tea or coffee. It might be topped with chocolate glazing or enriched with fruit (e.g. apples, cherries, raspberries).
Name: Placek drożdżowy z owocami
Pronunciation: ˈplaʦ̑ɛk drɔˈʒʤ̑ɔvɨ zɔvɔˈʦ̑amʲi
Translation: yeast cake with fruit
Energy: approx. 150 kcal per serving
Ingredients: wheat flour, fruit (plums), milk, eggs, butter, sugar, yeast.
Placek drożdżowy z owocami is a very popular Polish fruit cake. It’s a yeast cake topped with seasonal fruit (most frequently apples, pears, rhubarb, plums, strawberries, cherries, or raspberries). Ideal for afternoon tea or as second breakfast with a cup of milk.
Name: Pleśniak
Pronunciation: ˈplɛɕɲak
Translation: mould cake
Energy: approx. 130 kcal per serving
Ingredients: wheat flour, plums, butter, sugar, eggs, cocoa, baking powder, salt.
Pleśniak is a very popular shortcrust fruit cake. It consists of a bottom layer of shortcrust pastry, topped with fruit or jam (e.g. apples, pears, plums, rhubarb, berries), a layer of cocoa shortcrust, beaten egg whites and a top layer of crumble.
Name: Jagodzianka
Pronunciation: jaɡɔˈʥ̑ãnka
Translation: bilberry bun (Polish jagoda + diminutive/feminine suffix -anka)
Energy: approx. 220 kcal per bun
Ingredients: wheat flour, bilberries, milk, butter, sugar, egg yolk, yeast, salt.
Jagodzianka is an aromatic yeast bun with fresh bilberry filling (or frozen bilberries/jam in winter). It’s usually served with milk for breakfast or second breakfast. It might be topped with crumble or icing.
Name: Zupa “nic”
Pronunciation: ˈzupa ‘ɲiʦ̑
Translation: “nothing” soup
Energy: approx. 220 kcal per serving
Ingredients: milk, eggs, sugar, fruit, vanilla.
Zupa “nic” is a popular Polish dish made of milk and egg yolks garnished with egg white noodles and fruit. It’s served hot or cold as the first course or dessert.
Name: Ciasteczka orkiszowe
Pronunciation: ʨ̑aˈstɛʧ̑ka ɔrciˈʃɔvɛ
Translation: spelt cookies/biscuits
Energy: approx. 55 kcal per cookie
Ingredients: spelt flour, butter, eggs, almonds, dark chocolate, raisins, sugar, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla.
Ciasteczka orkiszowe have very recently started to gain in popularity, especially in eastern Poland (the Lublin region). They have nutty flavour (thanks to spelt and almonds) and smell of the spices. They’re said to have calming properties.
