Kwaśnica
Ask for soup in a Zakopane karczma and the answer is nearly always kwaśnica, the sour, smoky broth of the Tatra highlanders, ladled from a big pot with smoked pork ribs on the bone and a bowl of boiled potatoes alongside. Unlike most cabbage soups, the base here is the fermented sauerkraut juice itself, so it is sharper and lighter, warmed by allspice, caraway and a whiff of garlic. Skiers and shepherds alike swear by it after a cold day on the slopes. Too many cooks rinse the sauerkraut, which washes away the very sourness the soup is named for. If yours is very harsh, taste and loosen it with water instead. Chef's tip: simmer the ribs on their own first, so the broth is rich and smoky before the cabbage goes in and the meat is falling off the bone by the end.





