Here’s our list of 10 Foods to Try in Ukraine:
1. Soups
Soups are really famous in Ukraine for obvious reasons. One of the popular soups of Ukraine is the Borscht which is a soup made of beetroot. Borscht is taken with bread as an appetizer. Green Borscht is a soup with broth, veggies, and sorrel. It is topped with a hardboiled egg and sour cream. Yushka is another well-known fish soup made from the fish carp.
2. Bread
Bread is part of Ukrainian culture. It is used in different forms in a lot of festivals across the country. Bread is so abundant in their cuisine that Ukraine was called the breadbasket of Europe for ages. A bread which is eaten at Easter is Pashka. It is a circular bread. Another famous bread eaten at Christmas is Kolach which is ring shaped and braided. It has three pieces of dough which represents the Holy trinity.
3. Mlyntsi
A dish made from yeasted batter allowed to rise and then fried to look like a crepe. Mlyntsi is eaten with sour cream or butter or cheese filling or even with fruit. It is a healthy side dish and one can even enjoy it at breakfast.
4. Holubtsi
Cabbage Rolls are similar to the rolls in Asian cuisine. It is a large cabbage leaf with a filling of either chicken, beef or pork, and then seasoned with onion, tomato paste, and other spices. It is all wrapped together like a roll and then boiled. In Ukraine, it is called Holubtsi.
5. Varenyky
Varenyky are like the eastern version of a samosa. It is a crescent shaped dough filled with mashed potatoes, cheese, cabbage, meat, and boiled egg. It is taken as a snack. It can be made with several combination of fillings including fruit and cream which makes it a sweet snack then.
6. Salo
Salo was a dish which was popular during the times when meat was very expensive in Ukraine. It is smoked, salted slabs of fat flavored with spices. It maybe skinless or with skin. While it may sound a bit weird, but this entrée is really renowned amongst Ukrainians.
7. Halushky
Halushky are dumplings made of batter or thick dough mixture. It is filled with dry cheese and is usually eaten with stew, roast, or gravy. It is a very light dish and can be taken as a snack.
8. Chicken Kyiv
Many versions of Chicken Kyiv are made throughout the world. Boneless breast pieces are spread around cold garlic butter and herbs. They are then breaded and fried or baked. Its name comes from the capital of Ukraine, which is Kiev.
9. Kovbasa
A Ukrainian sausage made with pork and beef. It can be either grilled, fried, or baked. It can be taken as a snack or as a meal.
10. Cake Kievsky
Cake Kievsky is a special desert of Ukraine which is a cake made with layers of wafers and hazelnuts. It is filled with delicious butter cream so it carries a taste of sponge, buttery, creamy, and crunchy at the same time.
Have you tried any of these dishes? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.
Photo Credits: Borscht by Muffet/ Kolach by Hawkoffire/ Sausage by mahr