If you are visiting the magnificent town of Krakow in Poland, you should also visit the historic Jewish district, known as Kazimierz. During World War II, the neighbourhood was decimated, and during communism, it steadily fell into decay. Kazimierz was rediscovered in the 1990s, thanks to the fall of communism and global exposure, as the location for the film Shiedler’s List. It has since become a vibrant district filled with historical landmarks, cafes and art galleries. Okraglak, a historic round building, may be found on Plac Nowy in the middle of Kazimierz. The vendors here provide Krakowian street cuisine known as zapiekanka (plural zapiekanki).
Zapiekanka: The Polish pizza
Zapiekanka, often known as Polish pizza, is a baked open-face sandwich prepared with sliced bread. It originally appeared on the streets of Polish cities in the 1970s. During that time, communist authorities permitted for private ownership of the food business. Limited independence led to the formation of tiny family-owned foodservice outlets, known in Polish as mała gastronomia (little gastronomy). They usually took the form of stands, travel trailers and food trucks serving zapiekanka along with simple dishes of Polish cuisine and American fast food favourites.
During the 1990s, the demand for zapiekanka decreased due to economic developments in Poland. However, it stayed on the menus of some of the local restaurants that withstood competition from huge American-style fast-food franchises. The most popular, which have also gained a cult following, are those found in Plac Nowy. Endzior is the most well-known stand here, however all of the stalls provide great zapiekanka. Zapiekanka’s fame is once again expanding beyond Krakow’s limits throughout Poland. It is once again gaining popularity as a street snack.
How zapiekanka is made
Zapiekanka is often made with half a baguette or other long white bread cut lengthwise.The bread is topped with cheese and sliced white mushrooms for an open-face sandwich. It is then baked until the bread is crispy and the cheese has melted. Popular cheeses include gouda, edam, and cheddar, as well as oscypek, a smoked sheep milk cheese from Poland. The cheese is typically topped with copious amounts of tomato ketchup. Popular combinations include ‘diablo’ (bacon, pickled cucumbers, spicy sauce), ‘gipsy’ (ham, sweet and sour sauce) and ‘greek’ (olives, feta cheese).
A unique local street food
When you visit Krakow, make sure to eat this distinctive native street cuisine. We are confident that if you enjoy pizza, zapiekanka will be the best tasting alternative. But don’t ask a native because there is no such problem for Krakow residents; zapiekanka is the best street food in the world.
If you want to make zapiekanka at home, you could find useful information and the original recipe at eatingeuropean.com.
*[Photo at the top by Kateryna Kukota (iStock)]
