Zapiekanka, which is often referred to as Polish pizza, is an incredibly easy recipe to make! Don't let the ketchup scare you off. It adds a bit of sweetness and tang to the delightful combination of bread, mushrooms, and cheese!
1large baguette (cut in half crosswise and sliced lengthwise) or 2 demi baguettes (sliced lengthwise)
2cups(150 grams) grated gouda, edam, emmental, cheddar, or mozzarella cheese
Ketchupfor garnish
Chopped parsley or chivesfor garnish
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Add the butter or oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and onions and cook until tender, about 7 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, add the garlic, and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat.
Arrange baguette pieces on a baking sheet. Spread ¼ of the mushroom mixture over each baguette piece to cover evenly. Top each with ¼ of the grated cheese.
Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden brown.
Drizzle the tops generously with ketchup and finish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or chives. Serve hot.
Notes
To make four servings you may use one long baguette, cut in half crosswise and then sliced in half lengthwise to yield four quarters. If you can find them, two demi baguettes (which are half the length of regular baguettes) can also be used. Simply halve the demi baguettes lengthwise to yield your four baguette pieces for the recipe.
Some of the more popular options for grated cheese on zapiekanki are gouda, edam, emmental, or even cheddar. Mozzarella cheese (low-moisture, not fresh) can also be used, though it doesn’t provide as much flavor as the aforementioned cheeses. Regardless of the type of cheese, be sure to grate it yourself. Store-bought shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents and won't melt as smoothly.
Note that these cheeses are typically made with animal rennet which means they aren't vegetarian. If you're vegetarian, use a vegetarian style cheese instead. For example, Boar's Head makes several options that could work here.
Minced garlic is not very traditional in zapiekanki but I think it adds great flavor to the mushrooms and is worth including.