Posypani

Posypani is a culinary term used in several Slavic languages to describe an item that has been sprinkled with toppings. It is the past passive participle of the verb to sprinkle (for example, Russian posypany, Ukrainian posypani, Polish posypani). In recipes, posypani serves as an instruction or description that a dish should be finished with a light scattering of herbs, seeds, cheese, spices, or other toppings just before serving. Because it is a descriptor rather than a dish, the exact toppings vary by cuisine and recipe.

Common toppings include sesame seeds, poppy seeds, chopped dill or parsley, grated cheese, ground nuts, chili flakes, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or salt. The word is often used in menu descriptions and cookbooks to convey a final touch that enhances aroma, texture, and appearance.

Regional usage: In Russian and Ukrainian cooking, the term might accompany garnishes such as sesame, dill, or paprika. In Polish-language recipes, forms like posypane or posypani appear to indicate that the dish has been sprinkled with herbs or seeds.

Etymology: From the verb to sprinkle; forms adapt to gender and number in each language.

Posypani thus functions as a general culinary instruction rather than a discrete course, guiding the cook to finish a dish with a final dusting of toppings.