Best classic and modern dishes in Wroclaw, Poland

There are many theories and speculation as to which country actually invented borsch. Ukrainian and Russian households have been making it since time immemorial, and each side had its own twist on the basic recipe. However, Poland has not been a stranger to the dish, and many local chefs have developed unique ways of making borsch from the recipes their grandmothers told them. The unique Slavic soup is always worth checking out.

Młoda Polska bistro & pianino is a good location to start your Polish food exploration.

Some of the most interesting Slavic food involves frying, which does not exclude pancakes. The method of making them is simplistically brilliant - pancakes are prepared from a starch-based batter that may contain eggs, milk and butter and cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan, often frying with oil or butter. Sweet pancakes are particularly popular, but very often, plain ones served with spoon sweets take the spotlight.

Bez Lukru is a good place for some pancakes.

Another fried delight of the local cuisine is the essentially Polish take on pierogi. The dish has become quite popular in Central and Eastern Europe, many variations exist, but the basis is always the same - filled dumplings made by wrapping unleavened dough around a savoury or sweet filling and cooked in boiling water. The trick is that proper pierogi are always pan-fried before serving. The dish has even made its way to American and Canadian cuisines.

Gluten Appetit has amazing traditional pierogi.

Another popular dish consisting of dough with filling also has a contested origin. Once again, different Slavic and European countries have tried to claim ownership of the tradition of wrapping a filling in the dough. Dumplings are very similar to pierogi but they can be prepared in a lot more ways, and their filling can be pretty much anything. Even the cooking methods may include baking, boiling, frying, simmering or steaming.

Umami Dumpling & Pasta Bar is probably the most suitable place for some dumplings.

The next item on this list, and a very popular kind of food in Wroclaw, is, without a doubt, Russian. If we're being precise, it's Siberian, and Siberia was introduced to pelmeni by its Asian neighbours. The concept of pelmeni is simple and similar to dumplings - a filling wrapped in dough. The most popular choice is a mix of different kinds of meat with small amounts of cabbage, tomato, and horseradish. Traditionally, pelmeni are boiled but they can be fried.

Horoszo Rest&Bar has great pelmeni.

This offering can easily be confused with regular dumplings already listed above, However, momos have that unique Indian twist that makes them stand out. Momo is usually steamed, though they are sometimes fried or steam-fried. Meat or vegetable fillings become succulent in an intensively flavoured broth sealed inside the wrappers. These days, momo is prepared with a combination of ground meat, vegetables, tofu, paneer cheese, etc.

Dim Sum Garden will serve authentic momos.

Fried, boiled, and roasted meats, dumplings, and other kinds of food are clearly the most popular family of dishes around Wroclaw. But baking is always a close second, especially when it comes to pies. Apple pies are particularly well-liked in the area. Several variations with apple-based tarts are made as paste and prepared via blind-baking. Another variation of apple pie is prepared with a bottom pie crust. Local chefs can do magic with both recipes sometimes.

Restauracja Pod Fredrą has magnificent pies.

Time to add some serious meat to the list. One especially popular kind of meat served in local restaurants is pork chops. These are loin cuts taken perpendicular to the spine of the pig and usually originate from a rib or part of a vertebra. Pork chops are suitable for roasting, grilling, or frying, sometimes even stuffing. Adding the right herbs, spices, and other ingredients to the chops can make a standard dish feel very unique.

Abradable will take care of your meat options.

Everyone knows what curry is, but fewer people are even aware of the Philippine stew with the name that derives from "curry". The stew is called kare-kare and features a thick savoury peanut sauce. Kare-kare is usually made from a base of stewed oxtail, beef tripe, pork hocks, calves feet, pig's feet or trotters, various cuts of pork, beef stew meat, and occasionally offal. The stew is flavoured with ground roasted peanuts or peanut butter, onions, and garlic. 

The final entry on this list is a sign of modernization and globalization. Tofu is a kind of food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness. Originating from China, tofu has become extremely popular in Europe and America. Tofu is very low in calories while containing a relatively large amount of protein, which makes it a perfect modern food for people who are aware of their health.

Wok In is the perfect place for tofu.

As you can see, there's plenty to discover and explore in Wroclaw. Enjoy your experience there.