Zapiekanka

Name: Zapiekanka
Prep time: 23 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients: 2 Baguette, halved lengthways; 500 g White mushroom, thinly sliced; 200 g Hard yellow cheese, grated; 160 g Ham, sliced; 40 g Butter; 100 g Ketchup; ¾ tsp Salt; ½ tsp Black pepper, ground

Zapiekanka · ready in 45 min · 4 servings · 702 kcal per serving · easy · 8 ingredients

Poland’s beloved communist-era street food: crisp baguette halves loaded with buttery mushrooms, ham, melted yellow cheese, and the obligatory ketchup finish.

Prep: 23 min
Cook: 22 min
Total: 45 min
Serves: 4
kcal: 702
Difficulty: easy

Polish Supper High-protein (25 g+)

A QiMeal recipe · Updated 3 October 2026

Ingredients · 4 servings

2Baguette, halved lengthways
500 gWhite mushroom, thinly sliced
200 gHard yellow cheese, grated
160 gHam, sliced
40 gButter
100 gKetchup (to serve)
¾ tspSalt
½ tspBlack pepper, ground

Equipment

stovetop, oven, knife, grater, frying pan, spatula, baking tray, cutting board, bowl, tongs, spoon, hands

Instructions

Mise En Place
Gather and measure baguettes, mushrooms, cheese, ham, butter, ketchup, salt, and pepper; set out a knife, grater, pan, spatula, tray, and oven. · 5 min
What to look for: All ingredients measured and tools ready on the work surface.
Halve Baguettes
Halve baguettes lengthways to make 4 long bases, then place them cut side up on the baking tray without pressing the crumb flat. · 3 min
What to look for: Each baguette half lies open with an even cut surface.
Prepare Toppings
Slice mushrooms thinly, grate the cheese, and check the ham slices so each baguette half can be covered evenly. · 5 min
What to look for: Mushrooms are thin, cheese is fluffy, and ham slices are separated.
Heat Butter
Heat butter in the frying pan over medium heat until foaming, then add the sliced mushrooms with salt and black pepper. · 2 min
What to look for: Butter foams lightly and coats the base of the pan.
Sauté Mushrooms
Sauté mushrooms, stirring often, until their liquid evaporates and the pan looks nearly dry with lightly browned edges. · 8 min
What to look for: Mushrooms are darker, glossy, and no watery liquid remains.
Add Ham
Arrange ham slices over the cut sides of the baguette halves, leaving a narrow edge so the topping stays on the bread. · 3 min
What to look for: Ham covers the bread evenly without hanging far over the edges.
Add Mushrooms
Spoon sautéed mushrooms evenly over the ham, spreading them from end to end while keeping the pieces on the bread. · 3 min
What to look for: Each baguette half has an even layer of mushrooms.
Cover Cheese
Cover each half generously with grated cheese, making an even layer that reaches the edges but does not spill heavily. · 2 min
What to look for: Cheese forms a consistent blanket over all toppings.
Bake Until Golden
Bake at 204°C / 400°F for 10-12 minutes, until the cheese melts, bubbles, and turns golden in spots. · 12 min
What to look for: Cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden on top.
Serve With Ketchup
Serve zapiekanki hot from the tray with ketchup zigzagged over the melted cheese, as in a classic Polish street stall. · 2 min
What to look for: Hot baguette halves are finished with a visible ketchup stripe.

Nutrition (per serving)

kcal	702
Protein	36 g
Carbohydrates	83 g
of which sugars	12 g
Fat	26 g
of which saturated	15 g
Fibre	5 g
Sodium	2168 mg

Nutri-ScoreC

Allergens

Contains: gluten, milk

Ingredient substitutions

Butter

Sunflower oil: Use only if butter is unavailable; the mushrooms will taste less rich.