If you are looking to make a quick and delicious open-faced sandwich, then this Zapiekanka (Polish Vegetable Sandwich) made with sauteed onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms is the best ever.
These Zapiekanki (plural) are very famous on the streets of Poland and are very popular. The word Zapiekanka means to bake the dish until the flavors combine. The sauteed vegetables are layered on one side of the baguette and then topped with cheese and baked until the cheese is all meted.
Table of contents
The month of April just flew by and here I am with the last letter of my month-long blogging. Z was an easy alphabet this time around and this Polish Open-Faced Sandwich was one of the very early recipes that I cooked. The boys loved it so much that even before the time came for me to publish it, I made it twice.
Why make this recipe?
When researching for the recipe, all the recipes that I found online were made with mushrooms. Me and my husband do not eat mushrooms and I have never cooked with them before.
I was planning on skipping the mushrooms and using just the other vegetables, but my boys, who have fallen in love with mushrooms for the past few months begged me to cook something with them.
So, I go to the local store to buy mushrooms and there are so many different ones. My knowledge of mushrooms is limited to what I see on the Food Network and I was able to recognize a couple of names.
I randomly stopped another shopper and asked her opinion on what mushroom to buy. She recommended buying the white mushroom for a beginner. I was so scared to buy the whole one and ended up buying the already chopped mushrooms.
We could use homemade Baguette or fresh Baguettes from the store to make the Zapiekanka. First, I used half the mushrooms and onions that I have mentioned below, thinking they would be enough.
But, I was so wrong. The filling was so delicious that we all loaded up our first batch of the sandwich with the vegetables and had none for the remaining. So, I started off again and sauteed all the vegetables for the second time.
Then there is a liberal swirl of ketchup all over the top and that is how it is served. I did not care for the ketchup but my little one who can eat ketchup for a meal, said that this was the best thing ever.
My Other Posts in the A – Z Explore the Flavors Series
B for Baghrir with Orange Butter Sauce
Y for Yogurt Blueberry Banana Granola parfait
Ingredients needed
- Baguette / French Bread - 2 loaves
- Mushrooms - 2 cups (chopped)
- Red onions - 2 cups (thinly sliced)
- Bell pepper - 1 large (thinly sliced)
- Olive oil - 2 tbsp
- Crushed red pepper - 1 tablespoon (or to taste)
- Salt - to taste
- Cheese (any melting kind) - 1 ½ cups (I used Mexican blend)
- Ketchup - to serve
Step-by-step process
- Preheat the oven to 375 F and layer a large baking sheet with parchment.
- Chop all the vegetables and get the baguettes ready.
- In a cast iron pan, heat the oil.
- Add the onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms along with salt and crushed red pepper and saute them in medium heat until they are caramelized lightly.
- Make sure that you cook them in medium heat to release all the natural sweetness.
- In the meantime, cut the baguettes into 2 and then slice them in half. We will have 8 bread slices in total.
- Divide the vegetable filling evenly over the baguette slices and then add a layer of cheese on top.
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake them until the cheese melts. Takes about 5 minutes per batch.
- Remove the Zapiekanka from the oven, squeeze the ketchup over it, and serve.
Serving suggestions
Zapiekanka serves as a meal on its own. It is quite filling and does not need much to go with it.
A bowl of light soup like Vegetarian Mulligatawny soup or Chinese Hot and sour vegetable soup is a good choice to serve on the side.
I also like to serve some light salad along with the sandwich. My top choice is this French Green lentil salad or the simple Garden salad.
Expert Tips
- Chop all the vegetables prior to cooking and then the sandwich comes together in minutes.
- We can have more vegetables such as thinly sliced carrots, broccoli, and zucchini as well.
- Ketchup and cheese are optional and can be skipped if not a fan.
- We could use homemade baguette or buy some fresh baguettes from stores to make Zapiekanka.
Frequently asked questions
I have used baguettes or French bread for making the open-faced sandwich as it allowed for the extra space to put all the toppings. We could use any kind of bread. Just make sure that they are thick enough to hold the weight of the toppings and also hold on well in the oven. I like using breads like Moroccan Olive Bread or Obi Non to use for this sandwich as well.
The sandwich really needs to be made just before serving as it becomes soggy if made ahead. Make the filling and have everything ready and just before serving, assemble them and get them in the oven in one batch.
More Sandwich recipes
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
Recipe
Zapiekanka | Polish Open-Faced Sandwich
Equipment
- Oven
- pan
- spatula
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 2 loaves Baguette / French Bread
- 2 cups Mushrooms chopped
- 2 cups Red onions thinly sliced
- 1 large Bell pepper thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Crushed red pepper or to taste
- to taste Salt
- Cheese any melting kind - 1 ½ cups (I used Mexican blend)
- to serve Ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F and layer a large baking sheet with parchment.
- Chop all the vegetables and get the baguettes ready.
- In a cast iron pan, heat the oil.
- Add the onions, bell pepper and mushrooms along with salt and crushed red pepper and saute them in medium heat until they are caramelized lightly.
- Make sure that you cook them in medium heat to release all the natural sweetness.
- In the meantime, cut the baguettes into 2 and then slice them in half. We will have 8 bread slices in total.
- Divide the vegetable filling evenly over the baguette slices and then add a layer of cheese on top.
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake it until the cheese melts. Takes about 5 minutes per batch.
- Remove the Zapiekanka from the oven and squeeze the ketchup over it and serve.
Notes
- Chop all the vegetables prior to cooking and then the sandwich comes together in minutes.
- We can more vegetable such as thinly sliced carrots, broccoli and zucchini as well.
- Ketchup and cheese is optional and can be skipped if not a fan.
- We could use homemade baguette or buy some fresh baguette from stores to make Zapiekanka.
Priya Srinivasan says
My God, sandhya, i m literally drooling at those pictures, sandwich looks totally yummm!
Savitha says
I tried this recipe today . Delicious my family loved it.
Padmajha PJ says
These sandwiches are totally yum and the filling is even more yum! Nice pick for the alphabet. Enjoyed all your posts in this marathon Sandhya.
Manjula Bharath says
I love open-faced sandwich sandhya, such a delicious sandwich you found and it looks absolutely delectable !!I loved all your amazing recipe throughout the marathon !! You rocked !!
Srivalli says
I don't like mushroom and had to skip it too..Even my kids loved it so much that I have repeated it twice already and this was my initial ones too..how very delicious your version looks Sandhya. I enjoyed your entire series and it was a fantastic to make AtoZ!..
Mayuri Patel says
This is one sandwich that I make often but on normal bread slices... didn't know the Polish made this. It has all the flavors of a pizza topping.
Gayathri Kumar says
There is a first time for everything and I guess you enjoyed your first mushroom recipe. he sandwich looks awesome and the one with the sauce would please all kids. You did an amazing job on this BM, Sandhya.
Sharmila Kingsly says
Im seeing two versions of this open faced sandwich now.. Lovely share and love the way you have served it!! Awesome end of the marathon!!
Pavani says
I have made Zapiekanka for one of the BMs and absolutely LOVE it. Mushrooms sure make it filling and delicious. And they cook down a lot -- they are mostly made of water. I am the only one who eats mushrooms in my home 🙂
Mark Excell says
Reminds me of the french bread pizza's I used to have as a child. #yum
sapna says
I have few Polish friends here but none of them ever get me taste this sandwich , I guess next timeI will ask them. The veg version of the sandwich sounds like a filling and tasty meal idea. Kudos to finish the marathon with such interesting recipes.
Sandhiya ThirumalaiKumar says
I love mushrooms and this sandwich sounds like my kind of food. Zapiekanka looks so inviting, with melted cheese on the top, it must be so delicious!!! Good share,Sandhya
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
As I mentioned in Valli's blog I love open-faced sandwiches this is so good. Bookmarked already. Love both your version and love the addition of mushrooms.
Vaishali says
I too am always hesitant to try mushroom dishes as I don’t eat them , but this sandwich looks fantastic with cheese and ketchup ! It would be almost a cousin to a mushroom pizza !
Sandhya you have rocked this marathon and it has been wonderful reading all your recipes , some of them have been just out of the world. Kudos !
Priya Suresh says
Such a stunning and droolworthy Open faced sandwich, am sure my kids will enjoy thoroughly this Zapiekanka without any hesitation. Looks absolutely delicious and very tempting. Congrats on finishing this Mega marathon Sandhya.. Kudos to you.
harini says
I always make this sandwich but didn't know the name nor did I serve with ketchup 🙂 I am sure my little one will love this with ketchup. It was fun to read all your creations. Bookmarked a few already.