(2) step 2 – learn about Ukrainian cuisine
Ukraine culinary history: Ukraine has agro-climatic conditions favourable for agriculture. Its predominantly flat terrain and fertile land is highly favourable for agricultural development. The mountain areas provide other opportunities for agriculture, especially livestock. About 70% of Ukraine is classified as agricultural land which is considered exceptionally fertile, and Ukraine has 1/3 of the world’s black soil.
Traditionally, Ukrainians have produced rye, oats, wheat, barley, buckwheat, wheat, oats, corn, and millet. For preservation, Ukrainians salted and pickled cabbages, beetroots, apples, pears, cucumbers, watermelons, plums, and mushrooms. However, cabbage was the most common vegetable, which was eaten raw in the autumn and fermented for the winter. Potatoes were another common vegetable and can be found in soups, such as borsht and cabbage soup.
Pork was the most popular meat and usually only eaten during significant holidays. Salo, aka pork lard, was considered the most prized portion of the pig. The salo would be cut up into squares, incisions placed on top, and then salted in a wooden trough. The salo was the stored for future use.
Foods that originated in Northeast Europe: Apples, asparagus, chicory roots, clover, currants, gooseberries, hazelnuts, hops, lettuce, linseed, oats, peppermint, raspberries, and sugar beet.
Traditionally, there are six main colours of Ukrainian embroidery: white, black, red, blue, yellow, and green, each with its own significance.
5 essential ingredients in Ukrainian cuisine
Salo, is a traditional, Slavic dish consisting of cured slabs of fatback, which is the hard type of fat, found with or without skin. Salo can be salted and stored for up to a year. Salo can be cooked or eaten raw.
Sea buckthorn berries, found in the Carpathian mountains, are used to extract sea buckthorn oil. In Ukraine, the oil has a sour flavour with a floral scent and is used as a salad dressing. The berries are also used to make jam.
Brynza is a cheese made from sheep’s milk which is fermented in a brine that adds saltiness, it can be foundin varenyky (boiled dumplings) or used in salads.
In Odessa, people like to eat Pike caviar, it can be found paired with a light bread and flavoured butter
Uzvar is pears and plums dried in a wood-fired oven. Originally, this was done to aid in preservation, now they are eaten as snacks or used in mixed drinks.
Preparation, Table set up, Serving order, and Etiquette
Etiquette
- Table manners are generally casual.
- Hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right when eating
- Begin eating only after the hose tells you to start
- Your had should always be visible, when not eating, keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table.
- Guests are served first then by age
- Try a bit of every dis, not tasting is considered rude
- Do not fill glasses more than 2/3 full
- Do not refill your own glass
- Remove empty bottle immediately
- Toasting (very common)
- A common toast is is “za vashe zdorovya” (means, “to your health”)
- You are not expected to finish the glass, but should take a sample
- Only clink your glass with other people if you are drinking alcohol
(3) Step 3 – pick your dishes
Since I’m not a chef, I’ve scoured the internet and found some of the best recipes for you to cook. The ones I chose are not too difficult, authentic, and tasty. Cook safely and enjoy!
pick a soup
A National dish of Ukraine Borscht
- Borsht – National dish of Ukraine, typically main ingredients include beets, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, garlic, onions, and dill.
- Zelenyi Borshch (aka Green borscht or sorrel soup) – main ingredients include sorrel and other vegetables, is served with hard-boiled eggs and sour cream.
- Kapusnvak – pork based soup, which includes salo, cabbage, beans, and is served with sour cream
- Rosolnyk – pickle soup, that doesn’t taste a lot like pickles
- Solyanka: main ingredients include ham, pickles, and olives and is served with fresh dill and sour cream
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pick one or more appetizers
- Khoolodets – main ingredients include pork and chicken and served in a jelly
- Chicken Zakolot – main ingredients include chicken, carrot, mushrooms, bay leaf, pepper peas, and gelatin and is served with rye bread, mustard and horseradish.
- Eggplants Mezhivo – main ingredients include eggplant, onions, vinegar, tomatoes and black pepper.
- Pepper Mezhivo – main ingredients include sweet pepper, celery root, onions, tomatoes, cabbage and carrots.
- Beetroot Mezhivo – main ingredients include beetroot, onions, tomato paste, and pickles, and is served on rye bread
Pick a bread
- Bublik – similar to a bagel, the dough is boiled before baking
- Palyanytsya – common baked bread
- Pampushky – garlic bread
- Paska – a sweet bread containing lots of eggs, traditionally eaten during Easter
- Chocolate Babka – another Easter sweet dough bread, made with dried fruit and has a tall cylindrical shape.
Pick one or more vegetable dishes
- Olivier – a salad that is made with potatoes, dill pickles, eggs, chicken or ham, canned peas, and onion, mixed with mayonnaise.
- Vinigret a salad that is made with beets, sauerkraut, potatoes, onions, carrots, and sometimes includes pickles
- Deruny – a type of potato pancake that is served with sour cream
- Varenyky – National dish of Ukraine, dumplings with a variety of fillings such as potatoes and onion, meat and onion, liver and onion, and cabbage and onion.
Pick one or more meat dishes
- Kruchenyky/Zavyvantsi – meat stuffed rolls, can include mushrooms, onions, eggs, sauerkraut, fish, and buckwheat.
- Varenyky – National dish of Ukraine, dumplings with a variety of fillings such as potatoes and onion, meat and onion, liver and onion, and cabbage and onion.
- Holubtsi – stuffed cabbage rolls with meat and rice
- Kotleta po kyiysky – otherwise known as Chicken Kiev, made with a chicken boob, butter, garlic, parsley, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper
Pick one or more desserts
- Kutia – traditionally eaten during Christmas, made with wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, raisins, apricots, and almonds.
- Syrnyky – a type of cheese pancake, farmer’s cheese, eggs, vanilla flour, sugar, and dried fruit, can be served with sour cream, honey or apple sauce.
- Varenye – preserved whole fruit
- Zhele – gelatin style dessert with fruit and sometimes chocolate jelly
Pick one or more non-alcoholic beverages
- Uzvar – Dried fruits are added to almost boiling water, and includes honey
- Kompot – made from fresh or dried fruits with honey, common fruits include pear, apple or apricot
- Kysil – made from fruit and starch or gelatin
Pick one or more Alcoholic beverages
- Spotykach – a sweet and aromatic drink made with spices such as cinnamon and cloves
- Gorilka – also known as Vodka, some Ukrainian brands include Getman, Khortytsya and Pervak
- Varenukha – Vodka mixed with spices and cooked over low heat
Recommended combinations
Combo 1 – Slavic special
combo 2 – little Odesa special
Combo 3 – the seven wonder of Ukraine special
combo 4 – babusya special
Combo 5 – Klitschko Special
Borsht, Pepper Mezhivo, Beetroot Mezhivo, Bublik, Vinigret, Kruchenyky/Zavyvantsi, Holubtsi, Syrnyky, Varenye, with Gorilka and Uzvar
Kapusnvak, Eggplants Mezhivo, Chicken Zakolot, Pampushky, Deruny, Kotleta po kyiysky, Zhele, with Varenukha and Kysil
Zelenyi Borshch, Khoolodets, Babka, Olivier, Varenyky, Syrnyky, with Spotykach or Uzvar
Solyanka, Khoolodets, Eggplants Mezhivo, Paska, Olivier, Deruny, Varenye, with Spotykach and Kompot
Rosolnyk, Chicken Zakolot, Palyanytsya, Varenyky, Olivier, Holubtsi, Kotleta po kyiysky, Kutia, with Gorilka