Proziaki - Polish soda breads

Key takeaway

• Proziaki are very simple soda breads that come from the south-eastern part of Poland.
• Proziaki can be made sweet or savory. We can then serve them with various additions.
• Proziaki was created in the 19th century to fill the need for bread.

What are Proziaki?

Proziaki is a very easy to prepare soda bread. It does not take much time to make and the result may pleasantly surprise us. This traditional bread is becoming more and more popular, not only in Poland. Bread from the south-eastern regions of the country delights with its taste and simplicity.

Proziaki are sometimes called soda cookies (in the past, in Poland, baking soda was called prose). But, these are not cookies. Although most of them have a round or oval shape. There are also square and even rectangular versions. Maybe that's where the association comes from.

I once came across the term that it is a soda flatbread. Although they are baked similarly to flatbreads, this name is not entirely accurate. Yet, I don't think anyone will be offended by this.

Proziaki can be adjusted depending on our taste or form of administration. They can be prepared in two versions:

How were proziaki created?

In the old days, bread in rural houses was baked only once or twice a week. This was largely due to the fact that we had to make a leaven that had to stand for several days. When the bread began to run out, flatbreads took over.

In the 19th century, with the advent of baking soda, it was added to dough. Proziaki was created as a natural development of flatbreads. The baking soda made the dough larger and thus more breads could be made. This allowed more household members to be fed with fewer ingredients.

Over time, proziaki became more and more common and popular. The recipe was passed down orally, so there are no records about it. The regulations in different regions did not differ much from each other. Hence, the main difference is their shape, thickness or local name.

How to make proziaki?

To make them, all you need are a few cheap and easily available ingredients, such as flour, kefir, soda, salt and sugar. Instead of kefir, you can also find a version containing buttermilk. Whichever option you choose, you'll definitely like it. In ancient times, they were baked on a tiled stove with a metal plate. Today, all you need is a good frying pan with a non-stick coating.

Some people choose to bake proziaki on a baking tray in the oven. But I recommend the pans because they are closest to the original. But, we must remember not to use oil, olive oil, butter or anything else for frying. Original proziaki are not baked or fried; they are only heated. Don't be afraid that the dough will be sticky. The consistency of this dough makes this impossible.

As I mentioned earlier, these soda breads can come in various shapes. So, they can be shaped freely. In my opinion, the best and fastest way to cut them is with a glass or a round cutter.

I hope this recipe will inspire you to try soda bread at home. With a little practice and experimentation, you will be able to create delicious and unique prosiaki. Remember that you can spice up this recipe by creating your own variations.