Ukraine Cuisine

When you travel to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, you can get North American style fast food if you want it. But why settle for the hot dogs, hamburgers, and fried chicken you can get at home, when you can have a dining adventure with such exotic dishes as varenyky, borshch, holubtsi, or chicken Kiev; accompanied by Ukrainian beer or a sweet Crimean wine? If you're staying in accommodations in Kiev, get the full experience of the life and culture of Ukraine by indulging in the local cuisine. You can try something delicious in the dining room of your Kiev hotel, go out to the city's excellent fine restaurants, or get something cheap but tasty served up in one of the many stolovayas (cafeterias). Visitors traveling on budgets and staying in economical Kiev apartments can go to the markets, a great experience in itself, and pick up the ingredients to cook their own traditional Ukrainian meals.

Genuine Ukrainian cuisine does not have to be the high-priced fare served in expensive Kiev hotels and upscale restaurants. Ordinary Ukrainians like a wide variety of tasty foods. Their recipes are simple, and use basic ingredients, but skillful use of spices and seasonings make the meals uniquely flavorful. Beets, cabbages, potatoes, cucumbers, onions, beans and tomatoes are the most commonly used staple vegetables. Combinations of dill, vinegar and garlic are favored by Ukrainian chefs who like to cook with traditional flavors.

World Cuisine

The Ukrainian word for bread is khlib. Because of its vast fields of wheat and other grain crops, Ukraine is called the "Breadbasket of Europe." Every part of the country has its own special kind of bread. Whether the local bread is dark, light, heavy, or crusty, you can be sure it will be tasty on its own or with whatever you want to put on it. A traditional Ukrainian greeting to an honored guest is accompanied by the gift of a loaf of bread.

Ukraine Cuisine

Ukraine's national dish is borshch (also spelled borscht). This beet and vegetable soup originated in Ukraine and became popular in Russia and other Slavic countries. Borshch recipes vary from one region to another. In one place it might be a thick, meaty stew. Somewhere else it will be a thin vegetable soup. In just about any Kiev hotel or fine restaurant, borshch will be an appetizer served before the main course.

Varenyky is a very popular Ukrainian dish. They are pierogie-like dumplings filled with meat, potatoes, cheese or sauerkraut. Varenyky is often served on special occasions. Holobutsi are stuffed cabbage rolls. For a real Ukrainian delicacy, try salo. That is raw pig fat flavored with herbs or bacon. It is usually served on bread. Chicken Kiev is a boneless, breaded chicken breast stuffed with herb butter. Of course, it is essential that you try the Ukrainian kolbasy (sausage). If you want to try something a little different for a beverage, order kvass. That is a lemonade-like, low alcohol drink made from fermented rye bread. You can then consider yourself an honorary Ukrainian.

Ukraine Cuisine

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