27 Vegetarian Polish Recipes (mains, desserts and more!)

In a world where flavors speak louder than words, Polish vegetarian recipes present a unique fusion of Polish tradition and vegetarian innovation!

As someone who loves dairy, herbs, veggies and other plant-based foods, I was pleasantly surprised to find so many vegetarian options in a cuisine that might appear meat-heavy at first glance.

But Polish food is very diverse and even non-vegetarian recipes can be easily made vegetarian.

So why not explore these delicious Polish classics and modern recipes that you can easily make at home?

I’ve divided these recipes into mains & sides, pierogi ideas, soups and desserts. I hope it helps you find exactly what you’re looking for!

Vegetarian Polish Mains & Sides

Traditional Polish bread rolls called ‘bialys’ have a chewy texture and a hollow in the middle that’s filled with a mix of sweet and savory flavors—caramelized onions and poppy seeds.

They make for a delightfully classic homemade snack or breakfast recipe that closely resembles the Bagel.

You can check out other delicious Polish snack recipes if you’re interested in similar ideas!

The meatless Polish Noodles & Sauerkraut Casserole (Kluski Kapusta Kiazona) is a satisfying take on a traditional Polish dish, made with noodles and sauerkraut.

The tangy notes of fermented cabbage are brought to light by buttery egg noodles, onions and celery fried in butter.

The brining process that gives Polish dill pickles their signature crunch and robust flavor involves dill, garlic, and mustard seeds in this recipe.

With their fragrant character and tangy flavor, these pickles are one of my favorite side dish options!

The Polish cucumber salad, known as mizeria, is a light and flavorful dish that combines thinly sliced cucumbers, sour cream, fresh dill, and lemon juice.

I love serving this creamy side dish alongside grilled meats but you can pair it with virtually anything! Vegetarian dishes like potato casserole, dumplings or veggie burgers are great ideas too!

Looking for more side dish ideas? Check out these amazing Polish side dishes, from pickles to Polish potato salads!

Polish potato pancakes, or placki ziemniaczane, are a popular comfort dish. They’re made by combining grated potatoes with flour, eggs and seasoning, and frying the mixture until it turns a golden brown color.

Potato pancakes are typically accompanied by sour cream or applesauce.

Polish Kasha is produced by toasting buckwheat groats and then simmering them with mushrooms, onions and lots of herbs. This combination creates a rich and earthy flavor profile.

Replacing chicken stock with vegetable broth makes for an amazing vegetarian version.

Vegetarian Pierogi Recipes

If you’re looking for a vegan version of pierogi, this recipe with potato and caramelized onion is the answer!

You can also enjoy two filling options: one with potato and vegan cheese, and the other with mushrooms and lentils.

Another vegan pierogi recipe—homemade sauerkraut filled chickpea flour pierogies. They make an amazing gluten-free, grain-free, and nut-free dinner recipe!

I love how unique this recipe is! It’s not often that you see chickpea flour and applesauce in a pierogi recipe.

Enjoy another classic Polish dumpling recipe! These Grandma’s pierogies have two choices of filling: cheddar potato or cabbage onion.

Finish off this authentic recipe with a dollop of sour cream and chopped chives.

Easy to prepare in advance, these potato and cheese pierogi are the ideal comfort food for a cold evening. The filling consists of mashed potatoes, onions, cheese and seasonings.

In this recipe, pierogi are boiled, then fried and served with chopped chives, sour cream or a sour cream chive sauce.

Vegetarian Polish Soups

Red borscht, a staple in Polish cuisine, is a colorful and tangy soup made with beetroot, wild mushrooms, and root vegetables.

It is typically accompanied by sour cream and uszka (little dumplings).

This filling soup is a mainstay in Polish cuisine, made with earthy mushrooms, vegetables and barley cooked in a rich broth.

Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock for a meatless version!

Chłodnik is a delightful summer soup that is made with cooked beets, probiotic-rich yogurt and kefir, crunchy cucumber and radishes, and variety of fresh herbs.

You can serve it with a hard-boiled egg and enjoy its vibrant pink color with extra protein!

Using simple ingredients, this fast tomato soup captures the spirit of classic Polish tomato soup (Zupa Pomidorowa).

It’s made with tomato sauce, vegan broth and yogurt and served over noodles or with some rice.

This mushroom soup Zupa Grzybowa showcases the combination of bella and porcini mushrooms with egg noodles and sour cream.

For those who prefer meatless options, this recipe can be made with vegetable broth and yet stay true to the original flavor.

Dill pickle soup is a renowned Polish meal that blends the sourness of pickles with potatoes, sour cream and a rich broth to create a one-of-a-kind flavor.

I love the unusual combination of these rich but simple ingredients. You know what? If a recipe has pickles in it, I’m in!

Vegetarian Polish Desserts

Polish kolaczki are little cookies filled with sweet things like fruit preserves, poppy seeds, or nut paste, and created with a dough based on cream cheese.

I think they’re the perfect cookies for holiday season and family gatherings!

Karpatka is a traditional Polish sweet that looks like a stacked cake but is really made with choux pastry and alternating layers of rich vanilla custard or whipped cream.

Try this delicious recipe from the Polish Carpathian mountains!

Polish honey cake can be prepared in different ways, for example with buttercream or sweetened sour cream filling, but this recipe creates a deliciously moist tender and crumbly bundt cake.

I highly suggest trying it with a cup of coffee or tea in the morning; it went perfectly with mine!

An updated take on the classic babka, Nutella Babka combines a buttery brioche dough with the popular hazelnut chocolate spread for a rich and tempting dessert.

It doesn’t only taste amazing; the dough is twisted to a stunning chocolate pattern!

Pączki are Polish donuts that are typically eaten on Fat Thursday. They can be filled with various sweet fillings such as rosehip jam, custard, or fruit preserves.

They’re deep-fried and dusted in sugar—simple and delicious!

Placek is a Polish sweet bread topped with a buttery crumb. Many people enjoy it with fruit toppings or streusel for afternoon tea or as a dessert choice with coffee.

Placek usually has raisins in it, so feel free to add some!

The traditional babka gets a zesty lemon makeover in this lemon babka recipe. The dough soaks up a river of syrupy lemon goodness, complete with a sweet lemony glaze.

Lemon babka is perfect for Easter brunch or simply enjoyed with a cup of coffee year-round.

Szarlotka, a traditional Polish apple pie, is made with a flaky dough filled with aromatic apples. On top, you’ll find a lattice of cookie-like dough pie crust.

For me, nothing tops apple pie served with vanilla ice cream but you can also try whipped cream or custard.

This one-of-a-kind babka combines the comforting flavors of pumpkin and chocolate for a velvety delicacy.

A delicious flavor combination is created by swirling the layers of sweet dough with pumpkin spice and chocolate and topping it off with a maple brown sugar glaze.

Polish thin crepes called nalesniki can be filled with sweetened farmer’s cheese, fruit preserves, or anything else you can think of.

This recipe features a smooth and delicious quark cheese filling folded into thin crepes served with a dollop of jam on top.

Nalesniki are one of the most popular Polish breakfast options!

We also have a similar recipe which goes by the name ‘nalysnyky’ here in Ukraine. You can find it among traditional Ukrainian breakfast foods!

Sernik, a traditional Polish cheesecake, gets its rich, dense texture from twaróg, Polish farmer’s cheese. It’s often flavored with lemon zest or vanilla.

Try this recipe to experience the delicate taste and heavenly aroma!

For more info on sweet dishes, check out my guide to the most famous Polish desserts!

I hope you liked these simple dishes! Share your favorite vegetarian Polish recipes in the comments!

If you’re vegan or interested in trying plant-based foods, check out these Polish vegan recipes too!