The name “Ogórkowa” which is Polish pickle soup you could really translate to English as cucumber soup. It’s just that when you cook it, you use use the pickles, not so much fresh cucumbers, so “pickle soup” is probably more exact name for it. Although, I do think cucumber soup sounds more straight forward. Just like tomato soup or cauliflower soup. When you say Polish pickle soup, I personally react to it like: “Say what…?” 🙂
Regardless of the naming conventions (choose the one which you prefer), Ogórkowa was the favorite soup of my childhood. Every time it was served I wouldn’t just eat it. I would rather devour it. It was that delicious. My parents were joking that while I was consuming the soup with fervent moves of the spoon, even my ears were shaking 🙂 I could never get enough of it. Until one unfortunate event…
Well, one day mum served ogórkowa. I couldn’t be more excited. So once the plate landed on the table in the front of me, I started consuming the soup withe the usual passion.
To make ogórkowa, you need to use chicken (wings or other bone-in parts). Unfortunately, some little chicken bone ended up unwanted in my plate. Devouring the soup spoon after spoon, I failed to see the bone, swallowed it and chocked on it badly. Gosh! I felt it in my throat and then being a little kid, I really thought I might die. Well, I didn’t. My parents rushed to help me, patting me on the back and calming me down. I either managed to swallow this piece of bone or spitted it out somehow. I don’t know. I only knew it was gone. From then on I could eat ogórkowa no more. I just couldn’t. I completely lost appetite for it. Until my last visit to Poland.
When I went to see my mum, a neighbor came over with the pot of ogórkowa soup. I mean, decades after the incident, my fear of ogórkowa long evaporated. I set down at the table, served myself a portion and started eating. Well, what to say…? My ears were shaking again 🙂
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