The Greek influence on the Polish cuisine - Greek Salad

The influence Greek cuisine on Polish cuisine is poor. Greeks have been known in Poland since the Middle Ages but Greek population in Poland has been very small.

After 1949, more Greeks came to Poland. During the Greek Civil War 14,000 refugees who supported communist guerrillas arrived in Poland. The Polish government organized a field hospital on the island of Wolin for them. Some of them came back to Greece but about 9,000 people moved on the South of Poland where they still live. The Greek minority has a strong influence on the development of Polish culture. Greeks have a lot of influence primarily on the creation of popular music in Poland. The most famous Greek musician with a Polish passport is a singer Eleni.

Thanks to this last emigration, the Greek cuisine is famous in Poland.

The most famous dish is the Greek salad ( choriatiki). Poles also copied the feta cheese. Polish Feta has little in common with the original cheese, but it is often used as a substitute of the feta cheese. Greeks who live in Zgorzelec made Zgorzelec cheese. It recalls traditional Greek feta, but in Polish conditions,  in addition to milk from goats and sheep, they also used cow milk. It isn't widely known in Poland, however it is considered one of the regional products.

Currently in Poland  traditional Greek cuisine is making a big comeback. There are  many restaurants with Greek menu and  shops where Poles can buy  original Greek food.

Some celebrated chefs who come from Greece popularize Greek food in Poland. Poles like the Greek cuisine because it is an alternative to Italian cuisine and it has introduced light and healthy dishes to the Polish cuisine.

Bellow recipe on classical Greek salad  

1 head crunchy lettuce, shredded
2 large tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
1 onion, cut in half and sliced into thin strips
1/2 cup olives
1  feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing:
olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and onion in a large bowl. Pour enough olive oil over the salad to just coat it. Add the lemon juice and oregano. Season well with salt and pepper and toss the salad. Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste and toss again.

Add the crumbled feta cheese and the olives to the top of the salad before serving. 

Enjoy!!!