How to cook kielbasa?

Best ways to prepare the traditional Polish sausage

When it comes to Polish food, there are two staples that everyone should know. One of them is pierogi – traditional Polish dumplings filled with sweet or savory filling. Simple and tasty, pierogi have become widely popular outside Poland, especially in the United States.

The second one – and just as famous if not more – is kielbasa. Kielbasa is a traditional polish sausage, most often made out of pork meat. It’s tasty and available in an extremely wide variety of types, all of which are just as delicious.

“But how to cook kielbasa?”, we hear you say. Truth is, there are tons of ways to prepare this delicious sausage – and all of them produce an incredibly tasty meal. Let’s go over some of the best ways to prepare Kielbasa sausage and get to know some of its most famous types!

What are the different types of kielbasa?

Technically speaking, “kielbasa” isn’t a type of pork sausage, but really a Polish word for sausage. However, Polish traditional sausages are often referred to under an umbrella term of “kielbasa” around the world. That’s why there are seemingly so many types of kielbasa – each one is its own separate sausage in Poland!

When browsing a local deli, you’ll most likely spot kielbasa “zwyczajna”, or “common sausage” in Polish. There is also “kielbasa krakowska” – a dry sausage that’s frequently eaten on sandwiches in thick slices in Poland.

Both of these are smoked, but you might also notice a white kielbasa sometimes -these are not smoked sausages, but instead raw. It’s a traditional Easter dish in Poland, served boiled with a special condiment made out of horseradish and other ingredients.

Can you eat kielbasa without cooking?

You can safely eat most types of fresh kielbasa without having to cook them – and they taste amazing that way as well! Most common types of kielbasa are smoked, which makes them a great topping for sandwiches. Kielbasa is often treated as a snack in Poland as well, and it’s not uncommon for a Polish person to grab a quick bite of kielbasa in between meals.

However, be careful of the type of kielbasa you’re trying to eat – some types, like white kielbasa, are not smoked and you need to cook them before eating!

Boiling kielbasa – the simple and easy way

One of the most popular ways of preparing kielbasa is to simply boil it. It’s the fastest and most fool-proof way of preparing kielbasa – you can’t go wrong here! Polish people often eat boiled kielbasa for breakfast, since it’s so simple to make.

To properly boil kielbasa, fill a pot with cold water and put it on medium heat. You can place kielbasa right in, and after 10 minutes, it should be done. When the pot starts boiling, give it a minute or two and check whether it’s warm inside. If it is – it’s ready to eat!

Grilled kielbasa – a Summer tradition!

If you want to feel like a true Pole while eating kielbasa, you have to put it on a grill. It’s a well-known Summer tradition, and it’s hard to find someone in Poland who eats meat and doesn’t have grilled kielbasa at least once in Summer!

Grilling kielbasa is very simple – simply place kielbasa on a grill and remember about turning frequently! After 10-15 minutes, the kielbasa should be fully cooked. Make sure to reduce heat if the sausage browns too quickly. The longer it grills, the better it’ll be!

Also, make sure to cut kielbasa in half lengthwise before grilling for some extra flavor! If you’re in a hurry, you can also simply fry kielbasa on a grilling pan on high heat.

If you’re feeling fancy, we recommend to cook sauerkraut and pan fry some sliced onions to go with your grilled kielbasa!