I think the United Kingdom is a fabulous place. As a country we embrace all nationalities and cultures and it is only a small minority that do not, even though the media would have us think otherwise. As a child my father had a friend called Bill and he was Polish. In the 1970's there wasn't many different cultures in the UK compared to now and I remember thinking how exotic that he ate Rollmops, which are pickled herrings to you and me. He also liked his vodka and used to say 'Na zdrowie' which is cheers!
Most Poles came into the UK since the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and at the census in 2011 over 520,000 Polish people were registered as living in the UK. Today over 1% of the population of the UK speak Polish and Poles are the third largest foreign-born community in the UK after Irish and Indian born people.
'Pierogi' copyright B. and E. Dudzinscy Shutterstock
Every nationality likes to keep their culture and traditions as that is part of who they are and the Polish people are no exception. Polish cuisine is at the heart of their community and Polish food is a hearty affair with lots of meat, winter vegetables and herbs as well as cream and eggs. Polish national dishes include 'bigos; which is a Hunters stew, 'pierogi' which are boiled dumplings and 'golabki' a type of cabbage roll.
'Bigos' copyright Lilyana Vynogradova Shutterstock
Access to speciality food these days is much easier than in the past and many large supermarkets have a section where you can buy Polish food. "Polski Sklep" is a sign recognised by many in our town centres these days as well - the translation is Polish Shop and this is where you can buy many cured meats and traditional Polish foods.
If you would like to try a Polish recipe, why don't you have a go at this recipe for Golabki below. A delicious meal of stuffed cabbage leaves with a pork and beef filling, the tomato sauce adds a tasty addition. Serve with bread, the traditional Polish way or with potatoes and vegetables, the anglicised way.
Golabki
'Golabki' copyright Dar1930 Shutterstock
Ingredients
1 head cabbage, cored
2 tablespoons of butter
1 large onion chopped
1 pound of minced beef
1/2 pound minced pork
1 1/2 cups of cooked rice
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
salt and pepper to taste
3 cans (10.75 ounce) of condensed tomato soup
2 cans (12 fluid ounce) of tomato juice
1/2 cup of ketchup
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
On the top of the hob boil a pan of salted water. Place cabbage in water and cook for 3-4 mins until the leaves are soft enough to remove. Remove cabbage and set aside for 10 minutes.
Remove whole leaves from the head of the cabbage and make sure to cut out any tough centres. Chop the remainder of the cabbage and then spread it out on the bottom of the casserole dish.
Melt butter in a large pan and cook onion for 5 to 10 mins until soft.
Remove from heat and add to a bowl with beef, pork, rice, garlic, salt and pepper.
Place a good spoon of mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Roll cabbage around the beef and tuck in the sides to create an envelope.
Place cabbage rolls onto of the chopped cabbage in the dish. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk tomato soup, tomato juice, and ketchup together in a bowl. Pour over cabbage rolls and cover dish with foil.
Bake in the oven for an hour until cabbage is tender and meat is cooked through.
Lebara, a mobile phone company that like to support ethnic cultures, have an online community for those of different cultures.
They have also started running amazing competitions so be sure to check out their iPad competition ending on the 24th of June.
1 head cabbage, cored
2 tablespoons of butter
1 large onion chopped
1 pound of minced beef
1/2 pound minced pork
1 1/2 cups of cooked rice
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
salt and pepper to taste
3 cans (10.75 ounce) of condensed tomato soup
2 cans (12 fluid ounce) of tomato juice
1/2 cup of ketchup
Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
On the top of the hob boil a pan of salted water. Place cabbage in water and cook for 3-4 mins until the leaves are soft enough to remove. Remove cabbage and set aside for 10 minutes.
Remove whole leaves from the head of the cabbage and make sure to cut out any tough centres. Chop the remainder of the cabbage and then spread it out on the bottom of the casserole dish.
Melt butter in a large pan and cook onion for 5 to 10 mins until soft.
Remove from heat and add to a bowl with beef, pork, rice, garlic, salt and pepper.
Place a good spoon of mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Roll cabbage around the beef and tuck in the sides to create an envelope.
Place cabbage rolls onto of the chopped cabbage in the dish. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk tomato soup, tomato juice, and ketchup together in a bowl. Pour over cabbage rolls and cover dish with foil.
Bake in the oven for an hour until cabbage is tender and meat is cooked through.
Serve with bread to mop up the sauce.
Lebara, a mobile phone company that like to support ethnic cultures, have an online community for those of different cultures.
They have also started running amazing competitions so be sure to check out their iPad competition ending on the 24th of June.
Tell me, have you tried any of these dishes? Do you cook Polish cuisine?
* This post is in association with Lebara
* This post is in association with Lebara
Your post made me smile as I'm originally from Poland. I really miss homemade dishes so I'm going to try your recipe for golabki.
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Thank you Izabela, I am glad my recipe is up to scratch :)
DeleteMy grandmother was Lithuanian, and I remember her making a very similar dish to the golabki!
ReplyDeleteOh really? I wonder what that tastes like
DeleteI have never tried this but I really want to now! it sounds lovely
ReplyDeleteOoh I've literally just got back from a week in Poland on a work trip - I've been posting the recipes we tried and the places we saw over on my blog (http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot.com if you fancy having a look !)
ReplyDeleteI have seen your recipes Cheryl and they look delicious.
DeleteI always stop and browse the Polish food in the supermarket, but I wouldn't know where to start. I will definitely have to give it a try, we've tried almost everything else. I never get tired of new cuisine.
ReplyDeleteI'm very adventurous too and to be honest until recently hadn't tried many Polish dishes but now I am a complete convert to the cuisine.
DeleteGrowing up I was at school with lots of girls from Polish families (from the post war emigration to escape communism), but I don't really remember eating any Polish food despite being good friends with one.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Erica.
DeleteMy son is very interested in all things Polish as some of his best friends at school are from Poland - so thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you make it for him.
DeleteI dont know much about Polish things I am afraid :( my husband would love the food.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've tried any Polish dishes before but this sounds very nice. I should expand and try more new things I think.
ReplyDeleteI am quite adventurous when it comes to food but my husband isn't.
Deleteoooh what a different recipe I have never trie polish dishes
ReplyDeleteSame as Erica, I also went to school with lots of Polish girls (and boys) in the 80's/90's. My friend used to teach me Polish and I can still say a bit.
ReplyDeleteI don't eat meat so I don't think that Polish cuisine would be that good for me. I'm sure that this dish is delicious though. I love the fact that there are so many different nationalities living in the UK - it makes life much more interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I love the fact that we embrace all cultures and nationalities in the UK.
Deleteoh this looks delicious , ive heard of this before but not had it myself
ReplyDeleteI love to try different types of food and this looks yum x
ReplyDeleteHope you give the recipe a try Tracey.
DeleteGreat flavours - sounds delicious
ReplyDeleteI live polish food! Lots of my co workers have introduced me to their cuisine and it's lovely!wilk certainly try this xxx
ReplyDeleteOh what some delicious sounding meals - I'll have to give this recipe a try! x
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Lebara were running competitions! Off for a look!
ReplyDeleteGood luck Lucy!
DeleteWhen I visited poland i developed a taste for blueberry dumplings - yum!
ReplyDeleteI'm veggie so this one wouldn't be for me but I would love to try some vegetarian Polish food!
ReplyDeleteI'm Polish and I love golabki made by my Nan, served with either tomato or mushroom sauce :) Shame my Hubby doesn't appreciate them, but he still loves pierogi ;)
ReplyDeleteI bet your nan makes the best Golabki!
DeleteI love the fact that the UK is so multicultural and it makes me proud to be British. We visited Poland earlier in the year and had a very warm welcome. I'm not the biggest fan of the food though but I do love Kabanos!
ReplyDeleteI have never tried Polish food - these dishes look amazing! Kaz x
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