Did you know that Ukrainian cuisine is among the top ten tastiest cuisines in the world? In Europe, it is recognized as the third best. Below, we present just a small list of dishes that will help you understand what makes Ukrainian cuisine special and what you should try to forever remember the taste of Ukraine. But remember: it's better to taste once than to read 100 times!

Borsch

Classic borsch is made up of about 30 ingredients! The main ones include beets, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, beef, and tomato paste. However, the recipes may vary depending on the region. For example, in the South, flour is added, in Podillya - beans, in Sloboda - beer, and in Kyiv region - bread kvass. There are green borsch, red borsch, mushroom borsch, and cold borsch. Usually, borsch is enjoyed with garlic buns rather than bread.

Bograch

This is another popular Ukrainian first course. While borsch is widespread throughout the country, bograch has become traditional in Western Ukraine. We borrowed this dish from the Hungarians. It is mainly prepared by men. The main ingredients for bograch are several types of meat (3-5), bacon, potatoes, carrots, onions, kohlrabi cabbage, spices, and, of course, paprika. Traditionally, bograch was cooked over an open fire and considered a festive dish or a picnic option.

Okroshka

The exact origin of this dish is unknown. However, some historians believe that the roots of okroshka date back to the Middle Ages. Nowadays, it is a traditional dish of Eastern Ukraine, but there is no single recipe. The main ingredients should include cucumbers, green onions, radishes, kvass, and the rest is added according to personal taste.

Vareniki

It cannot be said that vareniki is purely a Ukrainian dish. They are prepared all over the world in various variations. In Ukraine, they are usually made from fresh dough, and the filling can be diverse (potatoes, onions, cracklings, cheese, cherries, blueberries). Moreover, each region has its own preferences: for example, in Chernihiv region, cracklings are added, in Zakarpattia - sheep cheese, and in Polissia - mashed beans. There are even variations of filling the dish with fern, radishes, or flour with lard.

Kulish

This is a favorite dish of Ukrainian Cossacks and wagoners. Kulish is made from buckwheat with the addition of potatoes, carrots, bacon, onions, and greens. However, once again, the recipes for this dish varied depending on the region: in Poltava and Chernihiv regions, they cooked buckwheat kulish, in Southern Podillya - corn kulish, and in the Right-Bank Polissia, kulish could be made with milk, whey, or butter. The real kulish should be thick.

Banosh

This is another dish that is usually cooked by men. Authentic banosh is cooked in a cast-iron cauldron over an open fire using cornmeal, sheep sour cream, or cream as a base. The cooked banosh is garnished with sheep cheese, white mushrooms, or cracklings. Stirring the porridge is allowed only with a wooden spoon and in one direction. Banosh is one of the most popular dishes in the Hutsul cuisine, cooked several times a week in Zakarpattia.

Poltava Dumplings

This dish of boiled dough, served as a separate dish or as an ingredient for soup, is prepared throughout Ukraine, but it has become particularly popular in the Poltava region. A monument to this dish has even been erected there, and a festival is held in its honor. To make dumplings from the dough, small balls or squares are formed, then boiled and added to soup or served separately with cracklings, sour cream, or fried onions. Poltava Dumplings are served with butter, garlic, sour cream, and boiled chicken.

Mullet Patties

Mullet patties have become one of the signature dishes of Odessa cuisine. Fresh mullet is used to prepare them, coated in an egg-mayonnaise mixture and fried in oil. The patties are served with a sauce that includes capers, pickles, onions, and dill.

Chicken Kiev

Today, Chicken Kiev is considered a gastronomic symbol of the Ukrainian capital. However, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, and the United States still dispute the right to claim the birthplace of this dish. Traditional Chicken Kiev is made with tender chicken fillet and has a liquid filling of butter, herbs, and spices. It is coated in breadcrumbs and fried in oil.