Kucharek Barszcz Bialy White Borscht Soup Mix 40g Bag (5-Pack)

I make most of my soups from scratch, but when I don't have time to make from-scratch Bialy Barszcz, this stuff is a godsend. It's a must-have in my kitchen, and I try to never be without it. And, truthfully, only real connoisseurs would be able to tell the difference, especially if you add your own touches to the resulting soup. My own include extra black pepper, at least a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of marjoram, and a few shakes of Italian seasoning. Zurek is beloved by people all over Poland, as attested by my husband's family, not to mention our travels in Poland and in Polish communities stateside, where it is available in every decent Polish restaurant. When he was still in Warsaw, he nearly always used this or a similar mix to make his own Bialy Barszcz, even though his mom often made it from scratch. This mix makes really good, authentic Bialy Barszcz, made even better with the addition of high quality Polish kielbasa, as they serve it traditionally. It's even more flavorful if you bring it to temperature and simmer it with the kielbasa already in it; either sliced as shown on the package label, or simply with lengths of kielbasa cut to size to serve each individual. Traditionally Bialy Barszcz is also served with hard boiled eggs, but I've never much cared for them, so I leave them out of mine, though my husband still likes them in his. Great for an extra protein boost, especially in cold weather.