Ukrainian Cuisine

Ukrainian cuisine is closely linked to the customs, culture and way of life of the Ukrainian people. It is famous for its diversity and quality of flavor. The most popular Ukrainian meal is "borshch." This thick, hearty and delicious soup is prepared with a variety of ingredients including meat, mushrooms, beans, and even prunes. Mushroom soups, bean and pea soups, soups with dumplings and thick millet chowders are also popular. "Holubtsi " , or stuffed cabbage, is another favorite meal, as are "varenyky " (pierogis) filled with potatoes, meat, cheese, sauerkraut, or fruit such as blueberries or cherries. Varenyky are often mentioned in folk songs. Ukrainians like dairy products. Some samples: cottage cheese pancakes, "riazhanka " (fermented baked milk) and "nalysnyky " (usually cheese-filled crepes). There are no holidays without pies, "pampushky " (type of fritter), "baba "(a tall, cylindrical cake), honey cakes. Ukrainian sausage is very tasty. It is preserved in a special way - in porcelain vessels smothered in melted fat. Of course, every region of Ukraine has its own recipes and traditions. Definitions of Ukrainian national dishes: Varenyky (or pyrohy or perogies) are dough pockets filled with potato, or potato and cheddar cheese,or kapusta (sauerkraut), or cottage cheese, or blueberries, or cherries, or etc. Ukrainian varenyky are boiled and resemble to various degrees Polish pierogi, Russian pilmeni, Italian ravioli, Jewish kreplach, or Chinese wonton. Varenyky are very are often served with onions and sour cream. The word "varenyky" is used throughout Ukraine. The singular form of "varenyky" is "varenyk." Holubtsi are Ukrainian cabbage rolls. The filling is mainly rice with a small amount of hamburger (unlike other East European cabbage rolls which are mainly hamburger with a small amount of rice). Cabbage leaves are steamed to make them soft and then the filling is added. The holubtsi are placed in a large pot, covered with tomato soup (or sauce) and baked. The word "holub" in Ukrainian means "dove," and holubtsi are in the shape of a dove. Borshch is Ukrainian beet soup. Other spellings for "borshch" are "borsch" or "borscht." Kutya is a Christmas Eve mixture of cooked wheat, poppy seed and honey, served cold as a thick slightly liquid mixture. To do justice to this ambrosia, one should add sliced (candied) red cherries, sliced almonds, and a touch of sherry. Serve in crystal goblets. Nalysnyky are the Ukrainian version of crepes. Actually, crepes are the French version of nalysnyky. Kovbasa is smoked Ukrainian ham sausage. Kyshka is sausage made from buckwheat and blood.

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