Kapusniak Polish or Ukranian cabbage soup with Keilbasa
Kapusniak Polish or Ukranian cabbage soup with Keilbasa is an absolute joy to share with friends, some gherkins and some seeded Polish bread and of course a bottle of beer and you have a perfect meal. The smokiness of the sausage, the unique flavour of caraway and the sweet/sourness of sauerkraut compliment each other in this Eastern European dish.
Go to a Polish shop. Whilst there buy some of the mustard available, some biscuits with plum jam in them and a packet of Vegeta seasoning; which will really lift your cooking. Oh and some Polish pate. I buy Rye flours, Polenta, and all sorts I can't find in Asdas. Don't be shy at the alcohol section either, Soplica Hazelnut is an obligatory purchase.
Shopping list:-
Some amazing bread
Keilbasa sausage, the darker the sausage the more it's smoked.
Caraway seeds
Bag of Sauerkraut - you'll only use about 1/2 of the bag so plan on making Bigos another day.
Paprika
Gherkins
Fry some finely chopped onions with sliced sausage then add sliced smoked bacon, some peeled chopped potatoes, sliced carrots, garlic, I also added a chopped red pepper but it was looking at me in a funny way. Stir around for a few minutes.
Then add a teaspoon of Paprika and a teaspoon of Caraway seeds, stir for a minute and then add chicken stock to cover and a half teaspoon of Vegeta, then simmer till the veg is more or less cooked. Then add some Sauerkraut and simmer until the veg is cooked.
This soup is so good so serve this taste of Eastern Europe with friends and with beer.