More Classic Polish Summer Salads

Witamy!

Poles have loved raw vegetable salads ever since they were introduced by Italian nobility in the 14^th and 15^th centuries.  Their bright colors enhance every plate and with heir fresh crunch, vegetables pair well with almost any main course for dinner or lunch.  And best yet, they’re a healthy way to improve your family’s diet.   Favorite “binders” are sour cream and favorite seasonings are dill, chopped green onion or lemon juice.  Now that hot weather is here and the farmer’s markets are trending big, there’s not much better than a fresh chilled salad on your plate.  These Polish classic salads are light, refreshing and pair well with just about any main course on today’s menu.  

(Note:  these salads lend themselves especially well to modern kitchen tools such as food processors or mandolin slicers.)

            (image courtesy of CosDobrego.pl)

Tomato Cucumber Salad

Serves 6

1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced

4 medium tomatoes,  sliced

Salt to taste

¼ teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon chopped green onion

1 tablespoon chopped dill (fresh is best)

1 teaspoon white vinegar

Arrange your tomato and cucumber slices alternately on a long serving dish.  Sprinkle with salt, sugar, green onions and dill.  Sprinkle with the vinegar.

Polish Summer Salad
Serves 6

2 heads butter lettuce

8 to 10 medium radishes, sliced

1 large cucumber, sliced

1 cup sour cream

Sugar and salt to taste

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

image courtesy MangoTomato.com

Wash the lettuce, separate the leaves and dry, then tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.  Combine with radishes and cucumber slices.  Season the sour cream with sugar and salt and pour over the vegetables.  Sprinkle dill over top.  Serve immediately.  (Note, if you wait too long before serving, the cucumbers will start giving off liquid and the lettuce will wilt).

Radishes & Cottage Cheese

Serves 6

1 bunch red radishes, sliced

1 cup of creamy cottage cheese

1 tablespoon chopped green onions

Salt to taste

Lettuce leaves

Fold the radishes into the cottage cheese.  Top with green onions and salt.  Chill well.  Serve on the lettuce leaves or as a spread on your favorite crusty bread.

Cabbage & Pickle Salad

Serves 6

2 cups shredded cabbage

2 medium dill pickles, coarsely shredded

Salt

½ teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons pickle juice (from the jar)

2 tablespoons salad oil

1 small tomato, sliced

Combine the cabbage and pickles.  Mix in the salt, sugar, pickle juice, and oil.  Arrange on a pretty dish. Chill well.  Garnish with tomato slices and serve.

image courtesy of MakesSauerkraut.com

Sauerkraut, Apple & Carrot Salad

Serves 4

½ pound sauerkraut, rinsed and drained

2 medium carrots, peeled and shredded

1 large sweet apple, shredded

3 tablespoons salad oil

1 teaspoon chopped green onions

Rinse the sauerkraut really well, squeeze to drain and chop or shred finely. Sprinkle with sugar.  Mix in the carrots, apples and oil.  Chill well.  Taste before serving and perhaps add more sugar if needed.

Smacznego!