Smalec (Polish Pork Dripping Spread with Bacon and Apple)
Soft pork lard folded with crisp bacon, onion and apple. Spread it thickly on bread with a dill pickle, the way it is served in Polish bars.
- Time3 hr 30
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.65 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 365kcal
- 5.4gcarbs
- 3.1gof which sugars
- 36.3gfat
- 11.3gsaturates
- 5.5gprotein
- 1.2gfibre
- 1.1gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Melt half of the lard in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for 8 minutes, stirring, until the pieces are crisp and golden. Lift out with a slotted spoon and leave on kitchen paper.
8 min - 2
Add the onions to the same pan. Cook gently for 15 minutes until deep golden brown, but do not let them burn.
15 min - 3
Add the apple and marjoram and cook for 5 minutes until the apple is soft.
5 min - 4
Off the heat, add the rest of the lard so it melts. Stir in the bacon, pepper and a little salt, and taste. It should be savoury and well seasoned.
- 5
Spoon into a clean bowl or jar and cool to room temperature. Chill for at least 3 hours until set.
180 min - 6
Spread on bread and serve with dill pickles. It keeps in the fridge for up to a week.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
