Polish Grzanki – Polish Toasted Sandwiches: The Delicious Snack Made From Leftovers
There’s an art to creating a delicious, authentic Italian pizza. Nobody can dispute that. However, in a pinch, this Polish grzanki recipe will do to satisfy the craving for bread, tomato sauce, cheese and perhaps a pepperoni sausage.
Grzanki (g-zhanki) – also called zapiekanki) are a very simple way of making a warmed-up sandwich snack “po Wลosku” (Italian-style) using simple foods found at home.
Like bruschetta, it’s considered a snack or an appetizer, often paired with soup or a salad. As bread is usually a staple in the daily Polish diet (rye bread anyone?), it’s the base for this delicious snack.
I’m sharing my super simple recipe in this post as well as a few tips on what make a delicious grzanka.
When Dziadzio Made Grzanki
What to do with the slightly stale piece of rye bread or bun? Make a grzanka!
My grandfather (Dziadzio) used to make delicious renditions of a pizza on a stale piece of bread. He would layer it with all the necessary ingredients. The sauce would take away the staleness. The oven would crisp up the bread and make it oh-so-nummy.
But there were times that traditional pizza toppings were just not around. In a pinch, a piece of ham and cheese would do just as well.
The thing about grzanki is that it works with what you have on hand in the fridge. You can make Italian-style grzanki or Mexican-inspired ones. Whatever you like. The concept is the same: use up your old bread and partner with whatever you have to make a delicious little meal.
How To Make Polish Grzanki
Here’s one take on how to make simple Polish grzanki:
Polish Grzanki
A traditional Polish-style toasted sandwich.
Ingredients
- 4 buns or bread slices
- 4 tbsp pasta sauce or tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup thinly sliced pre-cooked mushrooms
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F
- Cut buns in half and place them cut-face up on a cookie sheet.
- Spread about 1 tbsp of the pasta or tomato sauce on each bun.
- Top with sliced mushrooms.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly on each bun.
- Bake in the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and the bread is toasted around the edges.
- Plate and let cool for 2 minutes.
Notes
You can easily substitute the mushrooms with kielbasa slices, pepperoni, or any other thinly sliced meat.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 218Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 11mgSodium 581mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 3gSugar 7gProtein 10g
I am not a nutritionist. This is an estimate only and used for inspiration. For more information please read my Disclaimer. https://suburbantourist.ca/disclaimer
Alternative Toppings
- For meat lovers – pepperoni, chorizo, sliced ham or other sausages
- Greek-style: feta cheese, olives and red onion with pre-cooked chicken pieces. Add oregano flakes for flavouring.
- Keep it simple with brie or camembert cheese. Melt and then pair with a chunky cranberry jam or sauce
- Make it like an Italian flag: mozzarella cheese, slices of tomatoes, toasted and then topped with fresh basil leaves
- Go Mexican by adding a bit of leftover Mexican-spiced ground beef over shredded cheese and chopped onions. Top with a small dollop of salsa or guacamole.
While Italian pizza still is the best thing around, the Polish grzanka is a very close second. And it takes so much less time to make at home from scratch.
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QUESTION: What would be your favourite topping(s) for Polish grzanki?
Until next time!
