Polish Cooking – Zuza Zak https://zuzazak.com/ Author of bestselling cookbooks shares recipes and stories Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:47:14 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 Broccoli and tahini salad for a late season bbq and perimenopause https://zuzazak.com/2026/08/broccoli-and-tahini-salad-for-a-late-season-bbq-and-perimenopause/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=broccoli-and-tahini-salad-for-a-late-season-bbq-and-perimenopause Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:47:11 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3334 Why for perimenopause? Since I’ve been premenopausal, I’ve craved raw broccoli and tahini. This salad is the result, but I do hope it also tastes good to un-perimenopausal people. Broccoli is full of fibre, folate, vitamins C and K, as well as glucosinlates that react...

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]]> Elderberry cordial for a tasty immunity boost https://zuzazak.com/2026/08/elderberry-cordial/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=elderberry-cordial Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:47:27 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3326 Elderberries everywhere The drought has not been kind to my food forest, yet the elders are thriving and heaving with elderberries. Only the fruit trees and shrubs seem fine, everything else has dried up and wilted away, even though Y promised that he was watering...

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]]> The iconic Polish pasta with strawberries https://zuzazak.com/2026/08/the-iconic-polish-pasta-with-strawberries/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-iconic-polish-pasta-with-strawberries Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:47:22 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3312 Makaron z truskawkami made famous Pasta with strawberries is one of those dishes that everyone outside of Easter Europe fails to understand. However, it’s become a bit iconic since Iga Swiatek made it famous. saying that it’s her absolute favourite dish. Shock and outrage followed...

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]]> Three citrus ginger beer for a heatwave https://zuzazak.com/2026/07/three-citrus-ginger-beer-for-a-heatwave/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=three-citrus-ginger-beer-for-a-heatwave Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:15:24 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3304 The most refreshing of fermented drinks The school field looked like the Savanna yesterday when we were there for Sports Day, so it’s fair to say the summers are getting hotter in the UK. And for hotter summers, we need more refreshing drinks, like this...

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]]> Super quick fermented beet summer soup – Chłodnik https://zuzazak.com/2026/07/super-quick-fermented-beet-summer-soup-chlodnik/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=super-quick-fermented-beet-summer-soup-chlodnik Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:39:00 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3293 The best soup for hot days Chłodnik is a cold soup we eat in all the East European countries during the summertime, as it’s the most refreshing of soups. Both the fermented beetroot juice (kvass) and the kefir are full of probiotics. The sour kick...

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]]> Summer veggies with kefir and crispy sweet potato https://zuzazak.com/2026/06/summer-veggies-kefir-and-crispy-sweet-potato/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=summer-veggies-kefir-and-crispy-sweet-potato Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:35:18 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3282 It’s been hot here in the UK and when it’s hot, I crave kefir. My mind immediately goes to childhood memories of fresh milk going sour on my Babcia’s hot windowsill. We don’t do that ritual anymore, but kefir hits that sour, dairy taste spot....

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]]> Kohlrabi slaw for a Midsummer night’s meal https://zuzazak.com/2026/06/kohlrabi-slaw-for-a-midsummer-nights-meal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kohlrabi-slaw-for-a-midsummer-nights-meal Sun, 21 Jun 2026 21:03:13 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3268 Slaws slaws slaws As a Pole, I feel somewhat of an expert in slaws. On average, I make them twice weekly. This kohlrabi slaw is light and slightly sweet with a refreshing tang from the salty kefir dressing. Perfect for sticking on top of blackened...

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]]> Pre and probiotic Polish placki https://zuzazak.com/2026/06/pre-and-probiotic-polish-placki/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pre-and-probiotic-polish-placki Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:35:59 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3244 Traditional Polish dinner, but more gutsy I grew up on “placki” (or “latke” as they are otherwise known here). My mama often made savoury ones for dinner, which these are based on. I must admit those were my favourite dinners. You would start off eating...

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]]> Introducing: The Gutsy Kids Cookbook https://zuzazak.com/2026/06/introducing-the-gutsy-kids-cookbook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-the-gutsy-kids-cookbook Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:51:49 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3215 The new cookbook journey… In less than two weeks, I will be launching my fifth cookbook, The Gutsy Kids Cookbook, and what a journey it has been! As the title might suggest, this book celebrates healthy guts and gutsy kids. The recipes and stories it...

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]]> Strawberry water kefir for hot days https://zuzazak.com/2026/05/strawberry-water-kefir-for-hot-days/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=strawberry-water-kefir-for-hot-days Sun, 31 May 2026 12:55:01 +0000 https://zuzazak.com/?p=3194 Fermented drink of choice Fermented drinks are by far the most refreshing on hot days. Being Polish, I have always loved rye bread kwas, kefir and buttermilk, but I have a new summer favourite, and that’s water kefir. When my Babcia was still alive, she...

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