Kielbasa

Kielbasa is a general term for a group of Polish sausages, and the name can be literally translated as a sausage. The sausages are typically made with pork meat, salt, and various spices and herbs such as pepper, garlic, and marjoram.

There might be other types of meat in kielbasa, but pork is the most prevalent variety. Most often, the sausages are smoked, and for consumption, they are either boiled or fried, depending on the type of kielbasa. It is usually accompanied by mustard, bread, fried onions, or horseradish.

A specific type of kielbasa, called biala kielbasa, is traditionally accompanied by zurek soup, potatoes, and sauerkraut. The most popular types of kielbasa are kabanosy, krakowska, wiejska, weselna, kaszanka, and the aforementioned biala.

In Poland, kielbasa is traditionally consumed by a campfire, when the sausages are placed on skewers and grilled over the flames. To complete the feast, it is recommended to pair kielbasa with a cold beer. Kielbasa is also regularly served in most Polish restaurants, consumed hot or cold, in soups, sandwiches, with vegetables, or with scrambled eggs for a tasty breakfast.