How to eat obwarzanki like a Pole
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- January 16, 2021
Low on cash and hungry in Kraków? Follow the lead of the locals and start your day with an obwarzanek.
Obwarzanki Krakowskie are a unique ring-shaped bread snack only found in the Polish city of Kraków. They are cheap and filling and have been a breakfast staple in the city since the 14th century.
They are sold from small blue street carts scattered across the old city. The little old ladies selling them are as iconic as hot dog sellers in New York.
At only 2 zloty each (about 40p) obwarzanki make a deliciously affordable snack.
Obwarzanki are baked twice a day and then delivered to sellers across the city.
You’ll find obwarzanki stalls on street corners across the old city. Some are cheekily positioned just outside more famous fast-food restaurants.
The dough is first braided and shaped into a ring roughly 15 cm in diameter. After being parboiled, the rings are sprinkled with salt and baked.
Every Cracovian will tell you that a good obwarzanek has a crunchy golden-brown crust but will be moist and slightly chewy inside.
What an obwarzanek should have sprinkled on top is another matter altogether. Those topped with coarse salt, poppy seeds or sesame seeds are perennial favourites. Those sprinkled with flax seeds, caraway seeds or paprika have their advocates too.
The truly adventurous can choose obwarzanki covered with grated cheese and/or onion flakes.
Whatever you do, don’t call them bagels!
Obwarzanki follow a recipe first devised by cooks in the court of King Vladislaus II Jagiełło and his queen, Hedwig in 1394. That recipe has outlived kings, republics and various military occupiers for hundreds of years.
Obwarzanki even have their very own protected geographical indication, placing them alongside champagne and Parmesan cheese as a recognised protected regional food.
All we know is that they taste good.
And that you can get three or more for the price of the cheapest item at a KFC.
For more information about things to see and do in Kraków visit the official Polish Tourism Organisation website Poland.travel
Main image: An obwarzanki lady asleep on the job (© Peter Moore)
Sonia
4 years agoI have been in Poland so many times and never tried that. Unless I don’t remember since many visited occurred during my childhood. In the full article you mentioned we shouldn’t call them bagels, if I am not mistaken:-)
The Editor
4 years agoThey’re only found in Kraków. And pretty much only in the old city. They been around since the 1300s, so maybe your parents only wanted you to eat something healthier?
Also, you’re right. Don’t call them bagels. Well, not in front of a Cracovian anyway. But that’s pretty much what they are!