Culinary discoveries are an integral part of every journey. While travelling abroad, tourists eagerly reach for local delicacies and products. The same approach should be taken when travelling around one's own country. What flavours does Łódź cuisine offer?

Zalewajka – the first one was created right here in Łódź

Zalewajka refers to soups found in various regions of Poland, but not everyone knows that the first mentions come from the Łódź region itself. It is a traditional village soup prepared on the basis of żur made from bread starter and potatoes. The name of the dish comes from the method of its preparation. Peeled and diced potatoes are cooked with spices, and then poured over with żur. In a pot of traditional zalewajka, you should place onion, garlic and pepper, and in some versions also carrot and mushrooms.

Kluski szare, also called iron dumplings

Kluski żelazne (iron dumplings) have been connected to Łódź's culinary tradition for centuries. The basic ingredient needed to make them is potatoes, though sometimes an egg is added as well. However, they should not be confused with Silesian kluski, as the method of preparing both dishes differs greatly. They can be served, for example, with cabbage and ribs. Moreover, they are so delicious that pouring them with cracklings and serving with browned onions would also be an interesting idea.

Tatarczuch – a buckwheat flour cake

This mysterious name hides a rectangular buckwheat flour cake with a sweet, honey flavour. It is baked in the areas around Radomsk. The tradition of this delicacy dates back to the 19th century and is connected with the presence of Tatars on the lands of Stobiecko Miejskie. They were involved in, among other things, the grain trade, while their wives baked cakes from buckwheat flour, which they sold at the market.

Piernik marchewkowy – carrot gingerbread, a large portion of carotene

One of the sweet Łódź delicacies is piernik marchewkowy (carrot gingerbread), which would undoubtedly fit perfectly on a festive table. The cake tastes best when sweet carrots, raisins and spices such as candied orange peel, cloves or nutmeg are used in its preparation. The gingerbread is pleasantly moist and aromatic because of this.

Polewka gruszkowa – pear soup from the 19th century

Pear soup in the 19th century was considered a favourite and most frequently prepared traditional dish. It is a thick soup with a sweet and sour taste and brown colour. It is characterized by a wonderful aroma of ripe pears. Fruit trees often grew along field boundaries and country roads, and sometimes they became so popular that various varieties began to be planted. In this way, the pear ended up in both desserts and soup, becoming a local delicacy.

Wodzianka – a nutritious version of a dietary soup

Wodzianka, despite appearances, is not only a rare dietary soup, but also a nutritious soup with cracklings. It is prepared from stale bread cut into cubes, which should be poured over with boiling water with the addition of salt, grated garlic and fat. Cracklings work best for this purpose. Thanks to its simplicity and small number of ingredients, wodzianka can be prepared even when there is not much in the refrigerator.