Time for Żurek

żurek

It's been ages since I posted something about my exploration and quest of the ultimate tasty Polish cuisine. Today, I have the inspiration to write this post. Maybe because I was outdoor most of the day chasing the sun and exploring the city while the weather is still warm and lovely. Or perhaps, The Dumplings one my favourite Polish band at the moment is playing in the background while I am doing things at home. Whatever that inspires me to write today....here I am anyway.

What's that food above? oh well, if you're Polish so you might guess it right away.

Allow me to share one of my favourite traditional Polish food or soup - Żurek (ZHOO-RREK). It is a Polish sour rye meal or soup. According to Wikipedia, it's a soup made of soured rye flour (akin to sourdough) and meat (usually boiled pork sausage or pieces of smoked sausage, bacon or ham).

Indeed it is sour and that's why I love it. There is something about this soup that gives you comfort in your tummy. It is warm, full of flavours and taste is absolutely palatable to ones tastebud. It is usually served warm, with boiled eggs on top and some bread.

I learned to cook żurek or żur from my mum-in-law because she loves to cook and serve it to us every Saturday as our meal for lunch. I thought of that this might be a family tradition to cook it every Saturday. There is no pattern though, but in the village where we live it is kind of a tradition to cook and eat żurek every Saturday. That's what I know! Can you imagine? 

We are living in the Silesian region of Poland so they call it here Żur śląski. But, I don't think so that these people here still do serve żurek every Saturday. Although, my understanding is telling me becuse it is easy to cook and Saturdays are meant to be slowing down on things at home and preparing the most heaviest meal for Sunday's family lunch. With that being said, Żurek serves as a wonderful hearty meal that is easy to cook and eat on a Saturday. It is cook with pride and passion as I see it from my mum-in-law. Though I still consider this meal as heavy because of the presence of sausages. Nonetheless, it is absolutely very Polish. Whatever the history of this food is... I just love żurek! that I though of making my favourite ramen noodles in żurek flavour. Why not! ( insert your smiley face here) :-)

Here's my version of żur.

For the sour rye

The ingredients:
 

2 cups of of sour rye meal - this is available in all Polish supermarkets than you make it at home. 
If you want to make it yourself, here is the ingredients:

3/4 cup rye flour
2 cups of boiled water, but cool it to lukewarm

how to make it żur or sour (kwas)  :
- Mix together the rye flour with the water and cover it with cheesecloth. Let it stand in a warm place for 4-5 days and you will have a sour rye.

For the soup:

Ingredients:
 
4 M size potatoes - chop into small pieces 

some vegetables like carrots, parsnips or celery roots can also be added if you like
1 kilo of fresh kiełbasa - white or the silesian kiełbasa can do ( Polish sausage) 
Note: I am using homemade ones made by my friend's mum.

1 clove of garlic, minced or crushed and mix salt to make a paste

3-4 large eggs , boiled

1 builion - vegetable flavour (optional)

salt and pepper , to taste

 
 How to:

- boil vegetables until soft.
-Add the kiełbasa, once it is soften remove from the pot. set aside for later.
- sieve the simmered vegetables
- Boil back the vegetable broth, add in the potatoes. Boil until soften.
- Chop kiełbasa into pieces
- Add in to the soup with boiling softened potato.
-Add the 2 cup of rye-sour.
- Add the garlic paste
-Bring it to a boil or simmer for some minutes. 
- Add some builion cubes (optional)
- Add some pinch of salt and pepper to taste 
- Serve with hard boiled eggs cut into halves

Optional: I always love to add some herbs on mine too like dried rosemary. It makes the soup more tasty and inviting to eat. 

And, Voila! There you go our easy to cook żurek!

 I'm a catalyst when it comes to food and trying on something new to my taste for that excites me. Żur's taste amazes me other than the bigos (that deserves another post for my love affair with bigos). 

I hope you would try my version. In case you like it or whatever is your opinion of this famous Polish sour soup, please drop me some comments below or that share it with me.

And, that sums up my Saturday...cooking and eating żurek. I know how hot and warm the weather is today, but I just feel like eating something..... something....something....something soury today.  Why not!

Have a nice day!

xoAi