How To Cook Polish Sausages: Cooking Kielbasa In Different Cookware

Are you wondering how to cook Polish sausages aside from pan-frying them? You can grill, bake & turn them into soups with kitchen gadgets and cookware

Kielbasa is the generic name for Polish sausages. Such sausages are typically made of pork and seasoned with spices, while other variations of Kielbasa may use beef or lamb meat. Saying kielbasa is rather vague if you have a certain Polish sausage in mind, so it pays to be specific when buying them.

Kielbasas play a central role in the Polish cuisine. Pork has always been the meat of choice for making these sausages, until 1964 when the Polish government introduced the mixture of 80% pork and 20% beef. The meat is cured first then spiced before stuffed into hog casing which can go as long as 38mm. Traditionally, Polish sausages are cold smoked, but some manufacturers opt for hot smoking.

Kielbasas are an all-time favorite which can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Certain types can be consumed as snacks while others are traditionally served for very special occasions.

Types of Polish Sausages

There are many different types of kielbasa and simply saying you want a "kielbasa" at the store will prompt the question, "which one?" So before you go off to buy and cook Polish sausages, you must first determine what type you have in mind. Here are some of the types of Kielbasa you may want to know.

* Biala Kielbasa - this is the specific name for white sausage which typically made of pork shoulder and spices. Biala Kielbasa is uncooked and often prepared by boiling, grilling and sauteing.

* Kabanosy - or the Hunter's sausage, is a type of dried sausage made with pork or chicken meat. The Kabanosy is the sausage of choice that's often taken when camping since they don't need to be refrigerated.

* Paròwki - otherwise known as Polish Frankfurters are made of pureed meat that are often served during breakfast.

* Kielbasa Wiselna - or the wedding sausage is often made of pork and garlic and is double-smoked. This type is prepared for weddings and other important occasions and are served to guests as snacks or appetizers.

If you're wondering how Polish sausages are made, you can watch this video:

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How to Cook Kielbasa or Polish Sausages

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Kielbasas are highly flexible and can be prepared in many different ways. It helps to have certain kitchen gadgets and cookware, such as a griller and non-stick ceramic pans to be able to cook and use kielbasa in different recipes.

Grilled Kielbasa

# First boil the sausages in water for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare your grill or grill pan and set to medium flame.

# Drain kielbasa and slice lengthwise. This helps to achieve better charred appearance and smokier flavor.

# Grill the kielbasa. Turn them every 10 minutes until the kielbasa has sustained grill marks.

# Remove the sausages from the grill and slice into bite-size pieces.

# Serve with sauerkraut and enjoy.

Kielbasa Soup with Cabbages and Potatoes (Zurek Soup)

# Prepare the ryemeal sour. Combine lukewarm water and ryemeal into a jar and set aside for 5 days. Wait to expand and thicken.

# Place chopped carrots, leeks and parsnips into a pot. Cover vegetables with water and bring to a boil.

# Lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

# Add in Polish sausages and bring the pot to a boil. Cook sausages in the pot for 30 minutes.

# Remove cooked sausages and let cool. Slice into bite size pieces and set aside.

# Remove the vegetables from the pot then add in chopped potatoes and prepared ryemeal sour. Season with salt to taste. Cook the soup until potatoes are slightly tender.

# Add in sliced sausages and stir.

# Combine flour with water to make a slurry. Slowly pour slurry into the soup and stir until the soup thickens.

# Bring the soup to a boil until potatoes are tender.

# Transfer soup into individual bowls and top each with sliced hard-boiled egg.

# Serve with ryebread and enjoy.

Oven-roasted Kielbasa

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# Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

# Meanwhile, boil water into a pot and add in the sausages. Let simmer for 15 minutes, drain and set aside.

# Coat the baking dish with cooking spray and place the kielbasas over it. Add in onions and potatoes to the sides.

# Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

# Take the foil out and stir the potatoes and sausages.

# Bake the kielbasa again, this time uncovered for 30 minutes or until the skin cracks and turn brown.

# Slice the sausages and serve with ryebread.

Beer-Braised Kielbasa with Sauerkraut

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# Place bacon into a warm skillet and cook until bacon browns and fat is rendered. Remove the bacon and set aside.

# Place the kielbasa into the skillet and sear in bacon fat. Season with some salt. Keep searing until the sausages have turned brown and the skins crack. Remove sausages and set aside.

# Add onions and garlic into the same skillet and cook until fragrant and translucent. Pour a cup of beer and scrape the bottoms of the pan so that the remains of bacon and sausages float to the top.

# Bring to a boil. Add in sauerkraut and lower heat. Add in cooked sausages and let simmer for 30 minutes.

# Add butter in a separate pan and melt.

# Add in sliced potatoes and coat with butter.

# Cook potatoes in butter in low heat for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

# Assemble dish into a plate. First place the sauerkraut into a plate then top off with sausage. Place butter-coated potatoes at the side and serve with tarragon mustard. Season with finely chopped parsley, serve and and enjoy.

Creamy Kielbasa Pasta

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# Cook fettuccine noodles according to instructions, set aside.

# Pour 2 tbsp olive oil into a skillet and cook sliced kielbasa until browned and cooked thoroughly.

# Add in onions and garlic and cook until aromatic and translucent. Stir in sliced mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

# Add in cooked kielbasa and diced tomatoes and stir. Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.

# Add in cooked pasta into the creamy sauce and mix well. Transfer into individual serving platters and top generously with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Conclusion

There are many ways to enjoy Polish sausages and their flexibility make them useful ingredients into several dishes. You can eat them simply grilled or fried, or use them in your favorite pasta and braised dishes. Kielbasas are popular traditional Polish food, but you don't have to be in a Polish household to get your fill of these delicious sausages. Just be a little creative and adventurous in the kitchen and you'll find the potential of incorporating these sausages into many of your recipes.