Polish poppy seed noodles

Kluski z makiem combines cooked noodles with soft poppy seeds, honey, dried fruit and nuts. Cook and grind the poppy seeds first, then mix them with the other ingredients and noodles. This sweet dish can be served warm or chilled. The recipe makes about 4 dessert portions.

Ingredients for the noodles and poppy seed mixture

• 250 g dried łazanki pasta or wide ribbon noodles
• 200 g dried blue poppy seeds
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 50 g raisins
• 50 g walnuts
• 30 g dried cranberries or chopped apricots
• 1 tablespoon butter
• About 150 ml milk or water to loosen the mixture
• A pinch of salt and a little grated zest from a thoroughly washed orange

Adjust the honey to suit the sweetness of the dried fruit. To make your own pasta, use the dough and cutting guidance in the łazanki recipe. For this sweet dish, cook it without cabbage and mushrooms.

Preparing the poppy seeds

Put the poppy seeds in a saucepan and cover with boiling water to a depth of several centimetres above the seeds. Simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Leave to cool, then drain very thoroughly through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth. Excess water will make the mixture too runny.

Grind the drained seeds twice using a fine grinding plate. You can also use a suitable mill or appliance designed for grinding poppy seeds. The mixture should be moist and soft, with the seeds visibly broken down. A brief stir with a spoon will not produce this texture.

Cover the raisins and other dried fruit with warm water for a few minutes, then drain. Chop the walnuts. If they are very dry, toast them briefly in a dry frying pan and let them cool before adding them.

Combining the ingredients

1. Cook the pasta in lightly salted water according to the packet instructions. Keep it firm, as it will be mixed with the warm poppy seed mixture.
2. Drain the noodles, reserving a few tablespoons of cooking water in case the mixture needs loosening.
3. Melt the butter in a wide saucepan. Add the ground poppy seeds, dried fruit, nuts and orange zest. Pour in some of the milk or water and warm over low heat.
4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the honey. Taste before adding more sweetener.
5. Add the noodles and mix gently. If they are dry, add a little milk, water or reserved cooking water.

The mixture should coat the noodles without forming a pool at the bottom. Heat briefly and stir carefully to avoid breaking the pasta.

Serving and storage

Spoon the warm noodles into bowls and sprinkle with some reserved walnuts. The poppy seed mixture thickens when chilled, so add a little milk before serving if needed. Pieces of dried plum or a few strips of orange zest also complement the dish.

Transfer the cooled dish to a sealed container and refrigerate. Eat preferably within 2 days. Reheat only the portion needed, adding a little water or milk. For a baked combination of poppy seeds and dried fruit, see the poppy seed roll recipe.

Choosing pasta and dried fruit

Wide ribbons hold the mixture well, while small łazanki are easy to mix and portion. Do not rinse the cooked pasta if combining it with the poppy seeds straight away. Nuts can be served separately so each person can choose whether to add them. Cut larger dried fruit into raisin-sized pieces so they are distributed evenly. Check that the fruit is soft and free of stones.

FAQ

Can I use ready-ground poppy seeds?

Yes. Prepare them according to the packet instructions, then add the honey, fruit and nuts. If using a ready-made poppy seed filling, check its ingredients and taste it before adding sweetener.

How can I loosen noodles that are too thick?

Add warm milk or water a tablespoon at a time, stirring gently. Use just enough to loosen the mixture without covering the noodles.

Can I make the dish without milk?

Yes. Use water to cook and loosen the poppy seeds, and replace the butter with a little neutral oil. Keep the honey or replace it with a mild-flavoured syrup.