Traditional Ukrainian recipes that celebrate a diverse cuisine ranging from borscht and stuffed cabbage to fresh salads and Easter bread!
Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe with an incredibly diverse culinary tradition influenced by Jewish, Austrian, Hungarian, Polish, German, and even Turkish cultures. The country is known for its fabulously rich dark soil ~ chernozem ~ which has helped shape the food culture as well. Today I’m sharing some of the best of Ukrainian food, but I’m only scratching the surface of this rich cuisine.
Note: if you’d like to help support UNICEF’s heroic work on behalf of Ukraine’s refugee children and their families, please donate generously here.
borscht (beetroot soup) ~ Natasha’s Kitchen
A beautiful meatless borscht made with plenty of beets, potatoes, and carrots served, of course, with a healthy dollop of sour cream. Borscht is common all over Eastern Europe, but is primarily associated with Ukraine. According to Wikipedia “borscht derives from an ancient soup originally cooked from pickled stems, leaves and umbels of common hogweed, a herbaceous plant growing in damp meadows, which lent the dish its Slavic name.” From these humble roots borscht has blossomed into a beloved soup with thousands of variations both hot and cold, with ingredients ranging from plums and apricots to hot chilis.
cabbage roll (holubtsi) casserole
Cabbage rolls, or leaves of cabbage rolled up around a filling of meat and rice and cooked in a tangy tomato sauce and sometimes sour cream are a staple Ukrainian dish. The filling varies from family to family, with other grains like buckwheat standing in for the rice, and mushrooms in place of meat. My Americanized version cuts the labor down considerably but maintains all the wonderful flavors.
varenyky (pronounced vah-rEH-nee-key) ~ The New Baguette
These dumplings are identical to Polish pierogi. These potato filled dumplings are served with the quintessential Ukrainian garnish, sour cream.
garlic dill potatoes ~ kitchn
Ukrainian dill potatoes are made with a key Ukrainian ingredient: unrefined sunflower oil (along with potatoes, dill, and garlic.) This dish of tiny new potatoes is a celebration of spring. If you can find the special oil (look for it online) you’ll have a deliciously simple, yet authentic, dish.
beet salad
Beets have been sustaining and inspiring Ukrainians for thousands of years and are eaten, raw, cooked, or juiced, in every way imaginable. Beet salad is a classic Ukrainian recipe that can be served with a vinaigrette dressing, or with sour cream, like I’ve done. Sometimes shredded carrots or walnuts are added.
paska (Ukrainian Easter bread) ~ Lavender & Macarons
Paska is a special Easter bread in Ukraine (in fact the name translates to ‘Easter’.) It’s a sweet bread with a unique cylindrical shape, often topped with frosting and festive sprinkles. It is made with yeast, milk, eggs, butter, and sugar, but is sometimes stuffed with dried or candied fruits and spices as well.
chicken Kyiv ~ Saveur
Chicken Kyiv (Kotleta Po-Kyivsky) is pounded and breaded chicken breasts rolled up around a compound herb butter that oozes out onto your plate when you slice into it. The dish is beloved worldwide.
kapusniak (sour cabbage soup) ~ kwestia smaku
This Ukrainian recipe comes via Google translate from a Polish site. Once again, this popular dish has thousands of variations depending on location, but sour cabbage soup has been comforting Ukrainians for centuries. This one is meaty and satisfying with lots of veggies and, of course, sauerkraut.
Ukrainian egg and herb pie ~ The Pure Taste
This stunning savory pie is both simple and show-stopping at the same time. A Ukrainian family recipe that celebrates fresh spring herbs and eggs, it can be made into smaller ‘hand pies’, as well.
cucumber and tomato salad ~ Vikalinka
An example of the fresher side of Ukrainian food, this salad is a summer staple in the region (again thanks to that incredible black soil.) This salad is traditionally dressed either with unrefined sunflower oil, or sour cream. Julia likes to serve it with a crusty loaf of rye bread for dipping into that amazing dressing!
Can’t wait to try them. Remind me of where I am from in Mn.
Excellent review. Thank you .
Thank you for your offering. Hoping and praying that those brave people will soon be safely home, cooking in their own kitchens.
Amen.
i cannot bear to read/watch the news. it just makes me desolate for those people when i saw ukraine, i thought oh no, but then again, good for you for helping. we all need to pitch in for them. we are just deeply worried about all of them
stop with the virtue signaling already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you serious, good grief!!!
What a horrid comment
????good for you!
Keep sending Ukrainian recipes- it makes me feel closer to them.???
I am donating to UNICEF
Many thanks, Sue, for this timely collection of mostly meatless dishes, perfect for Lent! The eyes of the world are on Ukraine and its wonderful people.
I love Borscht and can’t wait to try the rest of the recipes!
Thank you for highlighting the diversity and beauty of Ukraine through its yummy food! I also wanted an idea of a good way to donate to support Ukraine and I appreciate your link to the UNICEF site. Love your site and recipes; have been a fan for years!
Thanks, Sue, for this post! I’ve been wanting to make some Ukrainian food in solidarity but wasn’t sure where to find the best recipes. Some of these look good and I think I’ll give some a try soon.
These all look so tasty, I’m going to have a hard time choosing which to make! Thanks!
I’m starting with the sour cabbage soup, tonight 🙂