Alan Davidson

Mazurka

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Food
Oxford Companion to Food

By Alan Davidson

Published 2014

  • About

mazurka the Anglicized form of the Russian and Polish word mazurek, one meaning of which is a particular kind of cake/pastry. Their varied nature is clear from the fact that no two books seem to be describing exactly the same thing; and even one book (for example, the famous work of Molokhovets translated by Joyce Toomre, 1992) may give numerous widely different recipes.

Mazurkas can be in the form of small squares cut from a flattish meringue-like confection. These may be decorated on top with nuts and dried fruits or icing, sometimes with jam. Traditions vary between Russia and Poland and no doubt also by region, but a connection with Easter, Christmas, carnival week, or other special occasions is common.