All you need to know about Grilled Kielbasa: Recipes, Tips & Instructions
If you’re looking for something new and exciting to introduce at your next BBQ party, why not give Polish kielbasa a try? It’s one of the main staples of every Polish barbeque, available in a range of types and prepared out of many different meats. What exactly is kielbasa sausage and is it hard to prepare?
Let’s find out!
What is Kielbasa?
Kielbasa is a name given for all kinds of meat sausages that come from traditional Polish recipes. Kielbasa is a staple of Polish cuisine and can be prepared in a whole range of ways. The most popular type of kielbasa is grilled kielbasa– most often braised together with peppers, onions, and other veggies, splashed with beer and served with sauerkraut and potatoes.
It doesn’t take long to prepare kielbasa on a grill, and you’ll want a rather high heat – but be careful not to burn the sausage or any other ingredient.
What is Kielbasa sausage made from?
Since the word “kielbasa” in Polish refers to all types of sausage, kielbasa can be made from a variety of meats and prepared in many different fashions. Most often you’ll find pork kielbasa, but you might also find beef kielbasa and lamb kielbasa as well. You’ll mostly find smoked kielbasa in stores, but not every kielbasa is sold smoked – sometimes you’ll find raw sausages that need to be prepared before consumption. Cooked varieties can be eaten as-is and make for a tasty snack, and they also taste great on a sandwich.
Each region of Poland has its own local variety of kielbasa. Some types of kielbasa are traditionally eaten on holidays, like the white kielbasa which Polish people commonly eat on Easter with homemade horseradish sauce. Depending on the type of kielbasa, different herbs and spices will be used to infuse the sausage, adding more flavors and making the sausage juicy. Most commonly, garlic, black pepper, marjoram, and nutmeg are used.
What types of Kielbasa can you buy?
There are dozens of different types of kielbasa to try – let’s start with the most popular ones.
Blood sausage
Blood sausage is a type of polish sausage made from ground pork kidneys, pig’s blood, and buckwheat or barley. It might sound intimidating to try at first, but there are few other Polish BBQ dishes that taste so delicious. The sausage can be roasted on a grill in foil, together with onions, making for a quick and delicious treat.
Kabanosy
Kabanosy are long and thin sausages, smoked and dried. These are most often made out of cured pork meat, but other varieties can be bought as well. Kabanosy are usually eaten as a snack and can be consumed straight out of the packaging – no preparation needed. In Polish cuisine, they are a common appetizer.
Kielbasa podwawelska
Kielbasa podwawelska is a commonly used Polish sausage, mainly for preparing grilled kielbasa. It is a steamed and smoked kielbasa, aromatic and perfect for braising. Most often, this type of sausage is served with mustard or barbecue sauce, but many eat it with ketchup as well – the opinions are divided. You can serve kielbasa podwawelska with potatoes and cooked onions as sides.
Parówki
Parówki are a type of frankfurters made in Poland. They’re commonly served at breakfast, together with scrambled eggs. You can put parówki in boiling water for a few minutes and serve immediately, or put them on a grill until they’re lightly charred.
Is Kielbasa difficult to cook?
Not at all! Grilled kielbasa is prepared just like most other sausages, depending on how you like it. You can bake it in the oven, put it on a grill, sauté it on a skillet, or stick it on a wooden pole and cook over a campfire. Many other Polish recipes make use of kielbasa as one of the main ingredients, including a lot of soups and casseroles. You can cook kielbasa in various ways, making it a great family dish with a rich flavor profile.
Kielbasa itself is a little more difficult to prepare. If you don’t have a meat grinder and a stuffer, you can buy high-quality kielbasa at your local Polish cuisine store. If you’ve set your mind on making your own kielbasa at home, look for herbs and spices mixes made specifically for making Polish sausage.
How to prepare Grilled Kielbasa step-by-step
Usually, the best type of kielbasa to put on a grill is smoked kielbasa. Take your kielbasa, put it on a cutting board, take your knife and cut diagonally across the top – not too deep, we don’t want it to break into pieces. If you’re braising kielbasa with vegetables, make sure to sear the sausage a little first. You can use a pre-cooked or raw kielbasa. Stuff the kielbasa and all of the ingredients into a dish and let it cook on medium high heat.
Add some salt and beer of your choice to the dish to give the kielbasa more flavor. We recommend you use a good Polish pilsner of your choice. You can use a meat thermometer to get the precise internal temperature, but most Polish people simply cook it for as long as they see fit. When the polish sausage is lightly marked, remove it from the grill and serve with barbecue sauce or mustard and bread. After you’re done, you can reheat the leftovers later in case you can’t finish – just remember to store the grilled kielbasa in a fridge.
