Wodzionka
Garlic and rye bread soup
Wodzionka: Silesian garlic soup of stale rye bread, butter and hot water
Miners' families in Upper Silesia made this from almost nothing: a few slices of yesterday's rye bread, a garlic clove, a knob of butter and boiling water poured straight into the bowl. Called brotzupa by some older Silesians, it still turns up in Zabrze and Ruda Śląska homes as a cheap, soothing supper, and newer versions use vegetable stock and add caraway or a fried onion. The bread softens into a rich, garlicky porridge with crisp-edged croutons on top. The usual slip is using fresh bread, which turns to slime; it has to be properly dry. Chef's tip: toast the cubes in butter first for a nuttier flavour and a little crunch.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 7 oz stale rye breadcut into cubes
- 1 ⅜ oz butter
- 1 onionsmall, finely chopped
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- ½ tsp caraway seeds
- 3 cups vegetable stockor water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- ½ tsp dried marjoram
- 1 tbsp chives (optional)snipped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Melt half the ⅔ oz butter in a frying pan over a medium heat and toss 7 oz stale rye bread for 4 minutes, until crisp at the edges and golden.
4 minStep 2: Push the bread aside, add the rest of the ⅔ oz butter and fry 1 onion for 3 minutes until soft and light gold. Stir in 3 garlic cloves and ½ tsp caraway seeds for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
4 minStep 3: Bring 3 cups vegetable stock to the boil with ½ tsp salt in a small pan.
3 minStep 4: Divide the bread and onion between two deep bowls, sprinkle with ½ tsp dried marjoram and 1 pinch black pepper, then ladle over the boiling stock. Leave for 1 minute so the bread soaks, top with 1 tbsp chives and eat at once.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 45 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does wodzionka take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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