The Polish Boy sandwich, popular in Ohio and surrounding states, consists of Polish sausage on a roll topped with coleslaw, barbecue sauce, and fries. Variations include pickles, hot sauce, chili, and cheese. The sandwich can also include hot dog toppings and has inspired derivative foods like the Polish Girl.
A Polish boy is a type of sandwich that originated and remains popular in Ohio and some surrounding states. It consists of a piece of Polish sausage, or kielbasa, that is placed on a roll and topped with coleslaw, barbecue sauce, and fries. Some variations also include pickles, hot sauce, chili, and cheese in the toppings. The sandwich is commonly sold by street vendors and in restaurants serving eclectic cuisine. The sandwich has also been the inspiration for some derivative foods, such as the Polish Girl.
A Polish boy’s first item is Polish sausage. The sausage is usually fried in a skillet, although some establishments choose to fry it instead of crisping the outside for a contrast in textures. Smoked kielbasa can also be used, although it is not as common as the unsmoked variety. Once cooked, the kielbasa can be split down the center so it can better hold the toppings.
The barbecue sauce used on a Polish boy is one of the characteristics that separates one chef’s version from another. At some of Ohio’s most popular sandwich-making establishments, chefs whip up their own barbecue sauce with secret recipes. In general, it’s meant to be sweet, sometimes with a certain amount of spicy heat. Alternatively, a homemade hot sauce can be used on the sandwich instead of the barbecue sauce.
For a little crunch and acid to cut through the other ingredients, the coleslaw is also layered on a Polish boy. Again, some chefs use a custom recipe to make coleslaw that best fits the robust flavors of the sandwich. The liquid oozing out of the coleslaw is sometimes considered part of the overall dish, with the expectation that it will mix with the barbecue sauce and be dipped into the fries.
After the roll for a Polish boy has been filled with split kielbasa, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw, the final topping is french fries. These can be made fresh when ordered, or they can be premade and kept warm. The purpose of the fries is in part to soak up the juices from the other ingredients, but it could also be a convenience so the whole meal is self contained with no side ordering needed.
When ordered, a Polish Boy can be eaten on its own, as it is prepared, or it can have more traditional hot dog toppings such as mustard or onions added as toppings. Some restaurants offer hot peppers and melted cheese as toppings. A variant is known as a Polish girl; it’s almost identical to a Polish boy, except sliced pork shoulder is piled high on top of the fries.
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