Family Recipes
Simple, delicious dishes for everyday family meals
36 recipes
Beet Kvass for Borscht
A naturally sweet-and-sour beet kvass made with rye bread — a traditional Ukrainian starter that gives borscht a deep ruby color and a delicate tang without a single drop of vinegar.
Cabbage Vareniki
Homemade vareniki filled with tender braised cabbage, carrot and onion, served hot with fried onion — a beloved meatless dish of Ukrainian cuisine.
Pierogi with Beans and Mushrooms
Meatless pierogi with a tender bean filling, sautéed mushrooms and onion — a hearty traditional dish for meatless days or a cozy family dinner.
Vereshchaka
Juicy chunks of pork braised in bread kvass with garlic, onion and spices — an old Cossack dish with a velvety, thickened sauce.
Split Pea Porridge with Smoked Pork Ribs
Tender, well-cooked split pea porridge with sautéed smoked pork ribs, onion and carrot — a hearty homestyle dish with a rich smoky flavor.
Split Pea Porridge with Onion-Carrot Sauté
A tender, thick porridge made from well-cooked split peas, topped with a golden onion-carrot sauté.
Buckwheat Porridge with Liver Gravy
Fluffy buckwheat with tender chicken liver, sweet carrots and a thick homemade gravy — a hearty Ukrainian dish for a family dinner.
Uzhhorod Beef Rolls
Juicy rolls of thinly pounded beef stuffed with pickled cucumber, pork fatback, egg and potato — a traditional Transcarpathian dish that's seared and then braised in its own sauce until tender.
Braised Turkey with Rice
A hearty homestyle dish of tender braised turkey and fluffy rice, cooked in one pot with carrots, onion and paprika.
Rye Bread Kvass Starter
A traditional Ukrainian rye bread kvass made with rye croutons, yeast, and raisins — a refreshing sweet-and-sour drink that also works as a sour base for borsch or cold soup.
Fermented Beets
Crisp, tangy-salty beets naturally fermented in a brine with garlic and spices — a handy homemade staple for borsch, vinegret, and appetizers.
Kendiukh
A juicy homemade kendiukh — a pig's stomach stuffed with an aromatic mixture of pork belly, ground meat, garlic and marjoram, roasted to a golden crust and chilled under a light weight for even, hearty slices.
Cornmeal Porridge with Mushroom Gravy
Thick, tender cornmeal porridge topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions in a rich homemade gravy.
Kulish
Hearty Cossack kulish — a thick millet stew with crispy pork fatback (salo) cracklings, potatoes, and vegetables, once cooked in a kettle over an open fire by Zaporozhian Cossacks and chumaks on their travels.
Pasta with Meat Patties and Onion Gravy
Homemade golden-brown meat patties with a tender onion gravy and hot pasta — a simple, hearty dinner for the whole family.
Olivier Salad
A classic festive Olivier salad with boiled sausage, potatoes, carrots, eggs, pickles, and green peas, dressed with smooth mayonnaise.
Herring Under a Fur Coat
A layered festive salad of salted herring and vegetables bound with mayonnaise, where a vibrant beet top hides a juicy filling of potatoes, carrots, eggs and crunchy pickled onion.
Buckwheat Garlic Pampushky
Fluffy, golden-brown pampushky made from 100% buckwheat egg dough, generously drizzled with a fragrant garlic dressing of oil and fresh herbs — a hearty alternative to classic wheat pampushky served with hot borscht.
Pearl Barley with Vegetable Gravy
Soft, fluffy pearl barley topped with a rich tomato gravy, sweet carrots and bell pepper — a simple, hearty dish in the Ukrainian home-cooking style.
Pearl Barley with Beef Gravy
Tender pearl barley with juicy beef, carrots and onion in a rich tomato gravy — a hearty homestyle dish from the Ukrainian table.
Wheat Porridge with Chicken and Tomato Gravy
Fluffy wheat porridge with tender pieces of chicken in a rich tomato gravy — a simple and hearty Ukrainian home-style dish.
Millet Porridge with Meat Gravy
Fluffy millet is served with tender pork in a rich onion gravy — a simple and hearty homestyle dish.
Rice with Mushroom Gravy
Fluffy rice with a rich, savory mushroom gravy — a simple homemade dish with the deep flavor of button mushrooms.
Rice Porridge with Chicken Gravy
Tender rice with juicy chicken, carrots and onion in a rich homemade gravy — a simple, hearty dish for a family lunch.
Roast Pork with Spices
Juicy pork neck rubbed with garlic, paprika and rosemary, roasted whole in the oven together with potatoes until golden brown.
Salted Watermelon
Crisp, tangy-salty watermelon wedges fermented in a jar with cold brine, made the old-fashioned Ukrainian way.
Meatballs with Rice in Tomato Sauce
Tender meatballs with partially cooked rice are simmered in a rich tomato sauce with onion and carrot.
Braised Beans
Hearty braised beans in a thick tomato sauce with sautéed onion and carrot, garlic and smoked paprika — a simple, comforting dish from a classic Ukrainian recipe that works equally well as a side dish or a standalone dinner.
Uzvar
Uzvar is a traditional Ukrainian drink made from dried apples, pears, prunes and raisins, sweetened with honey, that is always prepared for Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Uzvar with Fresh Fruits and Berries
A light summer uzvar made with apples, pears, cherries and blackcurrants, sweetened with honey and mint — a refreshing drink that keeps the bright flavor of seasonal fruit.