Szczecin pasztecik facts for kids
The Szczecin pasztecik, or just pasztecik, is a special Polish snack. It's made from yeast dough that is deep-fried. Inside, it has tasty fillings. You can find paszteciki in special snack bars. They are a popular fast food in the city of Szczecin.
This snack was very popular in Szczecin when Poland had a different government. It is still a favorite food there today. The dough is crunchy on the outside and soft inside.
The most common filling is minced beef. This is the oldest and most popular choice. Other fillings include sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) with dried mushrooms, or cheese with mushrooms. Sometimes, if meat was hard to find, they used an egg paste filling instead.
The beef filling is a bit like pâté. In Polish, "pasztecik" means "little pâté." People often eat paszteciki with a clear, spicy red soup called barszcz. It's best to eat them fresh. You should not freeze them or heat them up again.
History of the Pasztecik
The very first place to sell "pasztecik szczeciński" opened in 1969. It was called Bar "Pasztecik" and is still open today! This bar used special machines from the Soviet Union. These machines could make many paszteciki very quickly. They were originally used to feed soldiers.
One of these machines weighs over 1,000 kilograms. It can make more than 600 paszteciki in just one hour!
Since December 22, 2010, "pasztecik szczeciński" has been on Poland's official list of traditional products. This means it is protected by European Union law. So, anyone who makes paszteciki must follow the traditional recipe exactly.
You can find Pasztecik Szczeciński in other Polish cities too. It is even served in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Every year, October 20 is a special day. It is celebrated as the Day of the Pasztecik Szczeciński!
