Author Archives: In Zofia's Kitchen

Vegetable Salad (Sałatka Jarzynowa)

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salatka

Ahhh, sałatka.  When I heard the word sałatka (salad) as a kid, I did not think of a plate of greens.  Instead, my mouth would start watering at the thought of my mom’s delicious cubed vegetable salad.  For someone who has never had this type of dish before, it might seem like some sort of a potato salad.  Potatoes are a big component, but it shares space with other vegetables so it isn’t truly a potato salad.

In many countries, this type of dish is called Russian or Olivier salad. Its popularity extends from Eastern Europe all the way to Iran and Central Asia. This isn’t surprising when you consider the size and influence of Russia, and it shows just how cuisines around the world are influenced by one another. Continue reading →

Mushroom Soup

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mushroom soup

After going mushroom picking with my family, my great aunt made the most incredible mushroom soup. It smelled so warm and earthy and completely transformed mushroom soup for me! This is my attempt to recreate that meal and bring back some memories while utilizing some of those wild forest mushrooms.  Dried porcini mushrooms (or any dried wild mushrooms) that you find in most grocery stores have a deep, earthy flavor and should be the star of this dish.  You don’t need much to enhance the flavor!

Ingredients:

  • 1 package crimini mushrooms
  • 1 package white mushrooms
  • Small handful of dried mushrooms

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Mushroom Picking! Grzybobranie!

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forest

Mushroom picking, or grzybobranie in Polish, is a popular family activity throughout many Slavic cultures.  On a much larger and industrial scale, Poland is also the largest exporter of mushrooms in the world.  Needless to say, mushrooms are an important part of Polish cuisine and culture. Continue reading →

Farmer’s Cheese and Raisin Pancakes (Syrniki)

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 Syrniki

Batter Ingredients (makes about 12 pancakes):

  • 15oz of farmer’s cheese or 2 packages (twarog)
  • 4 eggs
  • ¾ cup of unbleached flour (+ another ⅓ cup for dusting the pancakes)
  • 2 tbsp of sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • zest of 1 lemon or half and orange
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 4 tbsp of olive oil or sunflower oil or butter (coconut oil could be a good substitute)

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Pickle Soup (Zupa Ogórkowa)

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Pickle soup?!? WHAAAT? Yes. Pickle soup. It has been a thing in Poland for quite some time! It is delicious, savory, and surprisingly doesn’t taste like a jar of pickles, but does have a bit of tang to it. Just try it!

As with all soups, this will taste better the next day, or after it has a chance to sit for a while. The ingredients an amounts below are a base, but add and taste and add and taste until you love it! The ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THIS RECIPE IS YOU MUST USE GOOD PICKLES IN BRINE WITH LOTS OF GARLIC AND GOOD SEASONINGS AND NOTTTTT PICKLES IN VINEGAR!!!
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