05 May What to buy from the Polish shop and what to do with it, part 4

Back to the Polish shop

I’ve quite a long break from the Polish shop series, focussing on sending you a recipe every week instead. Yet, when I went to the Polish shop the other I noticed quite a few things I hadn’t mention in part 1, 2 and 3, so I decided a few more posts were needed those occasions. It turns out that I buy a huge range of things from there, more than I initially realised myself. The thing about Polish shops is that it’s a community and a pleasure to go. In Poland, I go to the local shop daily, in the UK, it’s at least once a fortnight and I don’t buy the same things each time. I originally decided to start this series after this popular Guardian article and this BBC Radio 4 Food Programme.

What I bought and what I did with it

I will start from the sausage and work clockwise. This is “kiełbasa swojska z cielęciną”, yet another type of dried Polish sausage, this time with veal. I will use this one for kanapki (open sandwiches) and scrambled eggs, as well as for giving extra flavour to vegetable dishes, such as lecho (traditionally a Hungarian dish that has gained popularity in Poland). Above that, we have “mak” – poppy seeds, which my daughter picked up and insisted I buy to make poppyseed cake or buns. Next to that, dried mushrooms. You won’t get them cheaper anywhere else. Usually, we get these from my uncle and they last all year, but after around this time of year, they start running out. I will most likely eat them with kasha. Then, we have a huge custard bun, which is self-explanatory. Just down to the left, there is the famous Polish twaróg, used to fill pancakes and pierogi. I will eat mine with radish and chives, as “gzik” or jam or honey, as a sweet snack. On the far right, the rings are “obłażanki”, the snacks that originated in Kraków and are the predecessors of the bagel. These particular ones are covered in poppyseeds. Finally, the makaron. If you are planning on making a broth, then do yourself a favour and go the Polish shop to get some egg noodles. They really don’t compare to the ones you get in the supermarket.

See you in the Polish shop

I hope this encourages you to go find your local Polish shop and have a look around. I would recommend that you just buy a small amount of things that take your fancy the first time and go back at a later date for more. If in doubt, you can always buy cake,

However, this is my fourth post on the Polish shop, so you should have plenty of ideas. At the deli counter, you can always ask about what the lady behind the counter recommends. That’s what we often do in Poland. The whole point is that you get used to going there and they get used to seeing you. After a while, you might even start to enjoy the experience. I always do.