Schmaltz.. is it still used in Poland

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Edited by: nunczka Jan 19, 10, 00:11 #1

SCHMALTZ; Rendered chicken fat. As a kid growing up in America during the great depression, my Mom fed us schmaltz smeared on bread when we could not afford butter.We also used bacon fat the same way. It is still used by old Jewish families here.
My Mom told me that that was a staple in Poland in the early years. I had no complaint.. On occasion I still use it on bread.

My question is. Is this practise still used in rural Poland today?

RonWestThreads: 3 Posts: 165 Joined: Jan 6, 10 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 00:50 #2
Not just rural Poland..but all of Poland. Goes great after a few wodka shots!!!!!!!

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 01:29 #3
Smalec. Apparently some people spell it szmalec as well.

aphrodisiacThreads: 22 Posts: 3,998 Joined: Apr 15, 09 ♀	Edited by: aphrodisiac Jan 19, 10, 01:33 #4
nunczka: Rendered chicken fat. ShawnH: szmalec are not the same. Smalec is a melted pork fat, the OP is talking about the chicken fat.

jonniThreads: 26 Posts: 4,181 Joined: Nov 27, 07 ♂	Edited by: jonni Jan 19, 10, 01:34 #5
nunczka: Rendered chicken fat. They don't use it now. There's something called smalec which is either pork dripping or lard, depending how it's made, but schmaltz isn't used.

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 01:36 #6
aphrodisiac: Smalec is a melted pork fat, the OP is talking about the chicken fat. I can sleep peacefully now. I have learned something new!

kithThreads: 2 Posts: 89 Joined: Dec 28, 09 ♀	Jan 19, 10, 03:32 #7
Just so you all know: Lard (pork fat) has HALF the saturated fat of butter. Don't know about chicken fat, but I guess you could look it up.

polkamaniacThreads: 1 Posts: 514 Joined: Aug 2, 09 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 04:42 #8
szmalec on bread----- which is a spread made of bacon fat. It's yummier than it sounds.we still make here in North America so I am sure they still make it in the Homeland.I have a small pot in the fridge as I am writng.Not something one eats everyday due to it's high fat content but once in a while I get a yen to have some. ---- Great with rye bread-----

1jolaThreads: 33 Posts: 2,737 Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 10:35 #9
Smalec cooked with onions and bacon bits and spread on bread is a good way to keep you foreigners from falling over after the fifteenth vodka shot. Russians and Poles have known this for centuries. In fact, any fat food will do.

jonniThreads: 26 Posts: 4,181 Joined: Nov 27, 07 ♂	Edited by: jonni Jan 19, 10, 11:03 #10
polkamaniac: I am sure they still make it in the Homeland. They make it here but remember there are two types. Smalec domowy, for spreading on bread etc and ordinary smalec which is just for frying things in. One is nice to eat with bread, the other would not be.

convexThreads: 46 Posts: 7,185 Joined: Nov 25, 09 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 11:33 #11
1jola: Smalec cooked with onions and bacon bits and spread on bread is a good way to keep you foreigners from falling over after the fifteenth vodka shot. Russians and Poles have known this for centuries. In fact, any fat food will do. schmaltz, herring in cream sauce, egg salad...healthy pile of dark bread

dtaylor5632Threads: 49 Posts: 4,459 Joined: May 2, 09 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 11:37 #12
jonni: Smalec domowy Generally you will find this with bits of boczek and onion in it.

jonniThreads: 26 Posts: 4,181 Joined: Nov 27, 07 ♂	Jan 19, 10, 11:41 #13
dtaylor5632: bits of boczek and onion Delicious! Very good to line the stomach before drinking, though a lot of people here won't touch it due to weightwatching.

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Jan 20, 10, 02:24 #14

Like everything else---eat it with moderation

CichawodaThreads: - Posts: 6 Joined: Jun 2, 09 ♂	Jan 25, 10, 11:08 #15
Szmalec is now very popular and many restaurants, upscale ones, serve it, while you are looking at the menu, with some crusty bread. Like a tapenade or butter. It's become much more sophisticated now and it's no longer just rendered pork back with some bacon bits. There is a very contemporary recipe at ilikethis.com and it's not that unhealthy at least compared to butter.

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,395 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Jan 25, 10, 14:13 #16
My monthly supply of pork fat, with chunks of lard and onion scraps, for spreading on bread.

SokratesThreads: 19 Posts: 4,464 Joined: Jan 19, 09 ♂ [Suspended]	Jan 25, 10, 14:20 #17
nunczka: SCHMALTZ; There's a pub in Wrocław where they give you free bread with smalec with your beer, tastes great.

polkamaniacThreads: 1 Posts: 514 Joined: Aug 2, 09 ♂	Jan 25, 10, 14:44 #18
The ploy behind that is ----so you can buy more beer.

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,395 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Apr 18, 12, 22:36 #19
A sad constatation of mine: The older I get, the less smalec I consume. ):):):):)

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