Zapiekanka
(Zapiekanki)
One of Poland's favorite fast foods is this unique open-faced sandwich. The scrumptious Polish zapiekanka is made with a plain white baguette cut lengthwise, topped with a variety of tasty ingredients and a generous heaping of grated semi-hard cheese, and grilled under a broiler.
Hailing back to the 1970s, this snack originated at a time when even the most basic of ingredients were hard to come by in communist Poland, and people had to think of how to make the best use of whatever they had available. The original zapiekanka was made with sautéed mushrooms and cheese, but with time, a variety of other ingredients such as meat, bacon, sausages, or even feta cheese, olives, and pineapple started to become customary toppings for these crusty warm sandwiches.
They are always served sizzling hot, most often with a drizzle of tomato ketchup on top. Though available across the country, zapiekanka remains the most popular snack at the fast food stands of Krakow, especially in the wee weekend hours after a long night of overindulgence.
Recipe variations
Classic Zapiekanka
READY IN 20minIn this basic and classic zapiekanka recipe, soft, white baguette bread is topped with sautéed mushrooms, yellow cheese, and ketchup and takes only 20 minutes to make.
Hawaiian Zapiekanka
READY IN 15minJust like Hawaiian pizza, this version of zapiekanka uses canned pineapple combined with yellow cheese and boiled ham and can be prepared in just 15 minutes.
Zapiekanka Caprese
READY IN 19minStrongly influenced by Italian cuisine, this zapiekanka recipe combines mozzarella cheese with olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes, and basil leaves for a fresh, tasty summer snack. Also, using ciabatta bread instead of a classic baguette gives this Polish recipe a real Italian twist.
Zapiekanka with Spinach
READY IN 25minFresh spinach leaves, onions, and a combination of white and yellow cheeses are the main toppings in this zapiekanka recipe.
Zapiekanka Authentic recipe
In this basic and classic zapiekanka recipe, soft, white baguette bread is topped with sautéed mushrooms, yellow cheese, and ketchup and takes only 20 minutes to make.
WHERE TO EAT The best Zapiekanka in the world (according to food experts)
"A zapiekanka from the roundhouse at Plac Nowy is a must for any visitor to Kraków. Endzior can stake a claim as a bona fide Kazimierz legend, not only on the reputation of its zapiekanka, but also the massive cutlets that have a devout following."
"You can snack on some delicious Polish zapiekanka at Zapiexy Luksusowe."
"The best places for street food in Wroclaw: Bar Witek - Directly in the city center, you can find great sandwiches and another polish classic: Zapiekanka. It is definitely a place where you won‘t find a lot of tourists but it is very well known and popular amongst the locals."
"All Krakowians know of the Zapiekanki at Okrąglak, the name of the round building in the center of Plac Nowy. These cheap and tasty treats are filling, open late, and you can order one from the menu or create your own."
"I passed some interesting restaurants but I was tempted by "Piekarnik" with quick zapiekanka. I thought it would be some frozen semi finished product, but the bread was delicious, straight from some bakery and the stuffing was even tastier. As far as I remember, my zapiekanka was called "North-South", there were also "Czestochowa" and "Klasztorna". Cool thing!"
"The baguette was perfectly toasted, the cheese nice and stringy and served piping hot off the grill! We finished it too quickly for people who just had lunch."
Best zapiekanki in Kazimierz!
Best Zapiekanka in north Poland.
Known as the best Zapiekanki in Poland, the Adamus Zapiekanki have very good quality - awesome taste, great price (only 11zł for one!) and great ingredients!
