RECIPES
Basia
Hello, my dears. Today's post is unplanned, spontaneous, and still UNTESTED :) It all started when I bought ready-made żurek (a traditional Polish sour rye soup) in a jar at a local store. Overjoyed that I'd found it, I bragged about my catch on Facebook. It really was a catch for me, because not only had I just moved to a place that's completely unfamiliar to me, but I also didn't have to hunt down a Polish store to buy this starter. However, I quickly heard from people that the żurek I bought is good for nothing and that I absolutely have to make my own. So that's what I'm doing :) As a test, last night I set up a starter for żurek and now I'm waiting. The method has been tried (not by me) and is supposedly foolproof. Who's starting with me? Of course, as soon as I cook żurek with it, there will be a recipe for the soup and the results of the test :) Mine already smells like żurek, after just one night. Thank you, Evana, for the "kick in the pants" and for the starter method :)
UPDATE! The żurek starter worked and it made a very tasty Easter żurek!
Żurek starter
Instructions – żurek starter:
Put all the dry ingredients in a jar, mix, and pour in warm, boiled water so that all the ingredients are well covered (I used about 230 ml). Stir and set aside in a warm place with the lid slightly ajar for at least 4 days. Stir once a day. The finished starter can be stored in the refrigerator until you use it.
Enjoy!
5 comments
Comments that readers left on my Polish blog flowerek.com between 2010 and 2015, translated from Polish. New comments are closed.
Basia, is that store-bought żurek totally useless?
Of course, one made with your own starter is in a different league, but is the one you bought, I think at Rewe (I remember you wrote about it on FB and I commented happily because I found that very same żurek at Kaisers the same day), a complete flop?
I'm asking to avoid embarrassing myself, because I was planning to use the store-bought one as a base to make one of my favorite soups, żurek, and – attention – invite guests!
Best wishes - Joanna BB
Joanna, I opened that store-bought żurek and it smells terribly sour to me. Too much for my taste. I was also happy to have it, but it seemed kind of weird to me, so I made the starter myself. Maybe try taking out a spoonful, mixing it up, heating it and tasting it? I didn't like it. You'd still have time to make the starter yourself. I was surprised myself at how uncomplicated it is.
I've tried making the starter myself a few times already but it didn't really turn out. It might be a matter of the wrong flour, honestly I don't remember which one I used, because I admit I got discouraged. Please tell me which flour you used (if you used one of the German ones, because those are the only ones I have available).
There are still a few days left, so I have a chance to make it in time :) Thanks in advance. JBB
I used Roggenmehl flour from Küchenmeister, type 1150, and along with it crusts from rye bread baked with sourdough starter.
Thank you :)