After long 20 years I was back in Ukraine ( on a very sad occasion unfortunately ). I was completely blown away by all the amazing food and even more amazing food presentation. While borshcht is probably the most well known Ukrainian food, there so much more Ukrainian cuisine has to offer besides borshcht. Ukraine is a food haven. Prepare to eat a lot of tasty colorful food and be ready to try it all: Liver, skin, fat , bones , we use everything for cooking, even intestines. You might need to get out of your comfort food zone and become food-open-minded. Here is my list of best Ukrainian food to try during your visit to Ukraine.
Best Ukrainian Food to Try
Borshcht
As you probably know , borshcht is a beet soup. There are many recipes and varieties of borshcht, but the base ingredients are usually the same: meat broth, beets, cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Make directions try both green and red borshcht. Traditional Ukrainian borshcht is served with sour cream and garlic pimpushki( small buns topped with garlic buttery sausage). UNESSCO included Ukrainian borshcht in the list of elements of Ukrainian heritage of Ukraine; the Committee will review it in 2023 cycle
Ukrainian Borscht recipe – How to cook this beets soup.
Solyanka
Solyanka is broth based soup. It is a mix of 3-4 different meats, sliced pickles, olives and capers. Solyanka is traditionally served with a slice of fresh lemon and sour cream on the side. “Everything tastes better with sour cream.” I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but its is so true for Ukrainian cuisine.
Salo
Salo ( pronounces- saaa-lo) is salted pork fat, usually raw but may be smoked or even boiled. There are many variations of salo depending on how it is cooked or whether it has meat layers. Salo with meat layers called pocherevka. Salo is usually served with dark rye bread and fresh garlic.
Best Ukrainian Food to try -Salo
Galushki
Galushki are pieces of dough boiled in water or broth. Galushki can be stuffed with meat or even fruits. They look super similar to dumplings, but their dough preparation technology is different. Galushki can be serve as an independent dish, can be added to soups or served as side dish.
Holodec
Holodec is essentially refrigerated sick meat broth that looks like meat jello. Traditional Ukrainian holodec cooked without gelatin. Similar to bone broth holodec is high in collagen, so it is great for supporting healthy bones. At the same time it is very high in cholesterol. Usually served with hren (horseradish sauce).
Golubci
Golubci are cabbage rolls. Ground meat (pork, beef or chicken) is usually mixed with rice, wrapped in cabbage leaves and cooked in tomato sauce. Sometimes sour cream is added to the sauce. Golubci served with sour cream on the side.
Nalistniki with farmers cheese
Thin crepes stuffed with meat or sweet farmers cheese. Depending of filing nalistniki can be served as a desert or as a main dish. So, you pick 🙂
Sirniki
Sweet farmers cheese patties served for breakfast. Can be baked or fried. Served with fruit jam and/or sour cream
How to make Ukrainian cheese pancake: My Mom’s Syrniki recipe
Cabbage pie
Cabbage pies traditionally made in October when Ukrainians celebrate religious holiday Pokrova. The pie is made with fried cabbage, carrots and onions.
Homemade sausage
Traditional Ukrainian sausage made of fat and port meat stuffed into the pig intestine and then baked in the oven of fried. Homemade sausage is a Popular Easter dish in Ukraine.
Krovyanka
Krovyanka is essentially a bloody sausage. Don’t get too disgusted just yet. So, the fresh pork blood is mixed with spices and cooked buckwheat and then stuffed into pig intestine. Trust me, it tastes amazing.
Banosh
Banosh is traditional wester Ukrainian dish made of grits, mushroom and spices.
Frozen salted mackerel
This was a new discovery for me. Frozen mackerel thin slices served over ice with lemon. Think of sashimi, but the slices were much thinner.
Fermented and marinated veggies
Those are usually served as an appetizer. You can buy fermented cabbage , tomatoes and cucumbers on any public market.
Vareniki
Vareniki are similar to dumplings, but the dough is a bit thicker. Yes, those are similar to polish pirogi , but the are not pirogi. In fact, word “pirogi” in Ukrainian mean “pies”( plural from “pirog” that means “pie”) so make sure to order Vareniki, not pirogi.
Pompushki with garlic
Another daughter dish for you to try. Prompushki are round pieces of baked dough served with butter and garlic. Usually as s dude dish with with borshcht.
Kotleta po-kievski( Kyiv kotlet)
Kyiv kotlet is a deep fried breaded chicken fillet wrapped with a piece of butter. it is similar to cordon blue, but much more flavorful in my opinion.
Diruni
Diruni are essentially savory potato pancakes. They are traditionally Served with fried onion and sour cream.
Deer kotleta
Similar to frozen salted mackerel, thus was a new discovery for me. Deer kotleta is a deer meat party fried on both sides and serves with a side of mashed potatoes and cranberry sausage.
Zucchini spread ( kabachkovaya ikra)
The spread is made of zucchini, tomatoes , onion, then blended. Served with rye bread.
Okroshka
Kvass based cold soup, traditionally served during hot summer month. Boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, green onion, boiled eggs, cucumbers and bologna cut into pieces and mixed with non- sweeten kvass. Some prefer to add sour cream and mustard.
Mushroom broth( Gribna yushka)
Very light mushroom soup popular in the western region of Ukraine.
Beef tong
Beef tong boiled with onion and carrots, served with the side or beets – horseradish sauce.
Roasted Chicken liver with apples.
Chicken liver cooked with onion a and garlic, serves with stained apples. Am- mazing!!
Farshmak
Farshmak is traditional Jewish dish, but it is widely served in restaurants in Ukraine. It is made of salted mackerel, eggs, butter and sometimes fresh apples. All the ingredients chopped finely and then mixed together. Think of it as a chunky fish pate. It sounds weird, but rates very good.
Deserts
Strudel
This awesome desert of German origin is very popular in Ukraine. Strudel is made of simple yeast free dough stuffed with sweet apples, cherries and walnuts. The best strudel I had in Kiev.
Kyiv cake
Kyiv cake is a classics most popular desert in Ukraine. It is a meringue layered butter cream cake. The meringue lays slow cooked so that it is crunch outside and chewy inside. There’s no holiday celebration without Kiev cake.( well, at least there wasn’t for my family when I was little). So, If you have to try only one desert in Ukraine I recommend it to be Kyiv cake.
Drinks
Uzvar
Uzvar is made of dried apple. Dried pears and even dried plums( called uryuk) can be added to the drink.
Kompot
Kompot is a drink made of fresh fruit s and or berries and sugar. The combinations are endless here. So, it can be apple and cherries kompot, pear kompot, peach kompot and even rhubarb kompot. Simple apple kompot is my absolute favorite, it is my comfort drink from childhood that brings tons of memories.
Ukrainian summer apple kompot recipe
Kvas
A traditional fermented drink with sour taste. Kvas is made of flour and malt (rye, barley) or dry rye bread. Sometimes honey and herbs added to the kvas.
Cherry nalivka
A sweet alcoholic drink made from natural juices of fruits and berries, sugar and high quality vodka.
Hrenovuha
Alcoholic drink made of high quality vodka and horseradish roots.
And more food for adventurous souls…
Marinated bees
Ok, this is not traditional and not Ukrainian dish. I just had to try it when I saw it on the menu. And it tastes… well, it tastes like dry insects. Have you tried Mexican chapulines? If so, you might be able to eat marinated bees also 🙂
Borshcht cocktail.
I had this cocktail in 100 Rokiv tomy vpered restaurant and everything about it was perfect. Here are the ingredients: peat whiskey, raspberry, beet juice and horseradish. What a mix!
During my recent visit to Ukraine, I had the chance to explore its rich and diverse cuisine, which had evolved significantly since my departure almost 20 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and flavors that Ukrainian food now offers compared to the past. From hearty borscht to savory varenyky and delicate holubtsi, each dish told a story of tradition and innovation. My journey through Ukrainian cuisine was not just a culinary experience but also a nostalgic journey reconnecting with my roots. I cherished every moment and look forward eagerly to my next visit to explore even more of what my homeland has to offer.
