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| Kebab zapiekanka with ketchup and garlic sauce |
For years, I watched young people wandering the old square munching on a long piece of bread and melted cheese. I finally tried one the other day. Zapiekanka, I’ve read, was popular during Communist times, made with a baguette, mushrooms, cheese, and topped with ketchup. The popularity has continued with many more toppings available now. So many toppings that I found it a bit overwhelming. Not knowing all of the words on the menu board, I opted for the familiar kebab. Very filling, even the small one was more than I could eat.
A Polish friend, who spend college summers working fast food jobs in the US, told us about the reaction she got from coworkers when she put ketchup on her pizza. They were probably as surprised by that idea as I was, but now, I think I see where it comes from.
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Lori
A comment for you because you are a chef– I was confused this past summer by an item on the menu which translated to potato zapiekanka. Having been in Poland many times I've enjoyed the zapiekanka that you picture. The potato version was quite a different dish. When I caught up with one of my Polish friends I expressed my surprise. She explained that anything like this backed in an oven is
Lois B
Lori – I've been confused about the same thing, except that I knew the casserole version before the French bread pizza version. I guess context is everything!
Kasia
Pizza and zapiekanka were the novelties during the communist times:) As teenagers we would go shopping on Polwiejska or in the Stary Rynek area and then we would "go out" for zapiekanka. My son too puts ketchup on his pizza. We say that he is taking it after my brother and his sons:)
Anja Caro
Merry Christmas ! 🙂
anjacaro.blogspot.com
Hanna
When I moved to UK, for the first month or two I poured ketchup on everything – mostly to kill the taste of what's underneath. 🙂 Neil, my friend's husband, asked me a few times whether I wanted some pizza with my ketchup, because of the amounts I used. I don't even like ketchup this much, but when someone orders a pizza with toppings that I wouldn't eat normally, I make sure
ewitsoe
I have just discovered your blog and love it! I just moved to Poznan from the States a few months ago and am excited to find your blog…very informative and helpful! Thanks!!
Lois B
ewitsoe – Welcome to Poznan and to my blog. I love your photos and Aga's!
madkasia
I loved Zapiekankas when I grew up!!! I could eat 2 of them… Now when I visit Poland I can hardly finish one :). And sometimes I put ketchup on my pizza as well (it's actually the only dish I put ketchup on ) 🙂