20 Polish Christmas Dinner Recipe Experience Culinary Bliss Now!

The Main Course: Bigos (Hunter's Stew)

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 pound beef, cubed
• 1 pound pork, cubed
• 1 pound sauerkraut, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup dried mushrooms, soaked in water and chopped
• 1 cup prunes, chopped
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground juniper berries
• salt to taste

Polish Bigos, or Hunter's Stew, is a staple dish in every Polish household during Christmas. It's a hearty and flavorful stew made with a combination of meats, vegetables, and spices. To start, sauté the onion, carrot, and celery in a large pot until they are soft. Then, add the beef and pork, and cook until they are browned. Next, add the sauerkraut and drained mushrooms, and cook for a few minutes. Then, add the prunes, red wine, beef broth, tomato paste, bay leaf, marjoram, black pepper, allspice, and juniper berries. Let the stew simmer for about 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

In a separate pan, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour to create a roux. Add a ladle of the hot broth from the stew and whisk until smooth. Then, pour the roux into the stew and stir until well combined. Let the stew simmer for an additional 30 minutes to thicken. Add salt to taste and serve hot with your favorite bread or dumplings.

Side Dishes: Pierogi and Uszka

Ingredients for Pierogi:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound mashed potatoes
• 1 onion, chopped and sautéed
• salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for Uszka:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sauerkraut, drained and chopped
• 1/4 cup cooked mushrooms, chopped
• 1/4 cup cooked ground meat
• salt and pepper to taste

Pierogi and Uszka are two types of traditional Polish dumplings that are commonly served during Christmas dinner. To make the pierogi dough, mix together the flour, sour cream, butter, water, egg, and salt until a smooth dough forms. Roll out the dough and cut into circles using a cookie cutter or glass. In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes, sautéed onions, salt, and pepper. Place a spoonful of the filling on each dough circle and fold in half, pressing the edges together to seal. Boil the pierogi in salted water for a few minutes until they float to the surface, then remove and serve.

To make the uszka dough, mix together the flour, water, egg, and salt until a smooth dough forms. Roll out the dough and cut into small squares. In a separate bowl, mix together the sauerkraut, mushrooms, ground meat, salt, and pepper. Place a spoonful of the filling on each dough square and fold into a triangle, pressing the edges together to seal. Cook the uszka in boiling water for a few minutes until they float to the surface, then remove and serve.

With these delicious and traditional dishes on your Christmas dinner table, you'll be sure to impress your family and friends with a taste of Polish holiday tradition. So take your time, enjoy the process of cooking, and savor every bite of your homemade Polish Christmas dinner. Smacznego! (Enjoy your meal!)