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Żurek (Polish Sour Rye Soup)

Polish · Soup

A traditional, hearty Eastern European soup characterized by its unique tangy flavor from fermented rye flour, enriched with smoked meats, white sausage, and finished with creamy horseradish and hard-boiled eggs.

IntermediateHigh proteinFlexitarian
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Żurek (Polish Sour Rye Soup) — recipe cover
1 hrA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time15 min
Cook time45 min
Servings4 people
DifficultyIntermediate
Let's make something good

How to make it

6 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. Bring the stock to a boil

    In a large pot, bring the stock to a boil. Add the whole white sausages and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.

    20 min
  2. While the sausages are simmering, sauté the diced bacon

    While the sausages are simmering, sauté the diced bacon in a frying pan until it starts to brown. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until the onion is translucent.

  3. Remove the sausages from the stock and set them aside

    Remove the sausages from the stock and set them aside to cool slightly. Add the sautéed bacon and onion mixture to the pot.

  4. Shake the bottle of zakwas

    Shake the bottle of zakwas (rye starter) and pour it into the boiling stock, stirring constantly. Bring the soup back to a gentle simmer for 5-10 minutes as it thickens.

    10 min
  5. Slice the cooled sausages

    Slice the cooled sausages into rounds and return them to the pot. Stir in the marjoram, horseradish, and cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  6. Serve the soup hot

    Serve the soup hot in bowls, garnished with halved hard-boiled eggs.

A little kitchen wisdom

The soul of this soup is the 'zakwas' (fermented rye starter). If you can't find it store-bought, it can be made at home over 5 days using rye flour and water. Always add the marjoram at the very end to preserve its herbal aroma.

What you'll need

Large potFrying panKnife
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

The flavor improves the next day. The zakwas can be kept in the fridge for weeks before use.

Store & enjoy

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat slowly on the stovetop. If it thickens too much, add a splash of stock.

Allergens

Contains gluten, milk, eggs.

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An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

Żurek (Polish Sour Rye Soup)
Step 1 of 6

Bring the stock to a boil

In a large pot, bring the stock to a boil. Add the whole white sausages and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.

20 min