Rye Fluffy Blini with Salmon Roe Dill and Sour Cream
This Rye Blini recipe is an homage to my childhood favorite Oladki blinis that my mom often made for breakfast - thick, fluffy, and perfectly golden brown. An absolute culinary perfection. She always served them with a dollop of luscious, incredibly rich, sour cream she brought from the local bazaar (Ukrainian farmers' market). Sometimes I wouldn't even wait until she put the sour cream into a bowl. I would deep the whole pancake right into a sourcream jar which would make my mom furious. ...
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Green Sorrel Borscht – Luscious Summer Soup
Green Sorrel Borscht is a very traditional Ukrainian summer soup. It's full of juicy luscious greens and herbs such as spinach, dill, parsley, but most importantly - sorrel, which is, no doubt, is the star of this dish. Fresh sorrel is wildly available in Ukraine in spring and summer. We add it to green borscht to bring some vibrant acidity that tastes so refreshing during the warm season. I love serving this soup with a dollop of sour cream, a couple of wedges of semi-soft boiled egg, and a ...
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Soft Garlic Bread aka Ukrainian Garlic Pampushki
As someone who grew up in Ukraine, I can't imagine eating rich hearty borscht without pillowy soft Ukrainian Garlic Pampushki (Pampushki - plural, Pampushka - singular). It's one of those food combinations that work so well together they become everyone's favorite staple. I'm not an exception. Every time I'm planning to make borscht you can be sure that pampushki are coming as well.
What's Ukrainian Pampushki?
Pampushki are basically a Ukrainian version of dinner rolls. The main ...
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Juicy Georgian-style Chicken Tabaka
Pan-fried Chicken Tabaka (Tapaka) was the first Georgian dish I've ever tried. My mom made it for dinner one evening and I still remember its the wonderfully crispy skin and delicate juicy meat. She toppet the chicken with a flavorful mixture of lemon juice, minced garlic, and fresh tarragon, which was something I've never tasted before. This bright and tangy dressing added an instant burst of flavor and transformed a simple chicken into an exciting new meal. It might not be the most authentic ...
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Draniki – 3-Ingredients Crispy Potato Pancakes
It's hard to believe, but these wonderfully delicious Crispy Potato Pancakes are made with only three main ingredients - grated potato, onion, and some cornstarch. I think such basic seasonings like salt and pepper could hardly count as a separate ingredient. You will also need a decent amount of vegetable oil for frying, but that's about it. The whole process will take less than 45 minutes, and the result will definitely surprise you.
This beautiful Slavic dish is one of the favorite ...
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Pan-Fried Zucchini with Yogurt Dressing
I wanted to post this Pan-Fried Zucchini with Yogurt Dressing recipe before the 4th of July because I think this dish goes exceptionally well with grilled meat and fish. The beauty of these zucchinis is that they can be a lovely side dish or a completely independent vegetarian main coarse. It's up for you do decide.
Since I don't have access to a grill right now, so I pan-fried these bad boys. But if you're among those lucky people who can enjoy a backyard BBQ, you can grill your zucchinis, ...
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Seared Peaches with Greek Yogurt
Seared Peaches with Greek Yogurt is one of those recipes that takes minutes to make, but as a result, you get a restaurant-quality dish. I mean, who wouldn't be impressed with beautifully caramelized peaches topped with tangy yogurt and drizzled with honey? I think it's one of the simplest yet elegant desserts to celebrate stone fruit season and warm summer weather. It's also an ultimate crowd pleaser and a great dish to make for your 4th of July celebration or backyard BBQ, minimum effort - ...
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Georgian-Style Vegetable Salad With Walnut Dressing
For me, this Georgian-style Vegetable Salad With Walnut Dressing has both familiar Ukrainian and vivid Georgian vibes. I say Ukrainian because my mom made a very similar summer salad when I was growing up. She always used seasonal veggies and herbs from our garden. Most of the time the mix was pretty simple and included at least two different varieties of colorful Southern tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, juicy gypsy peppers, sweet Crimean red onion, and a bunch of lush dill (the dill is an ...
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Perfect Smashed Potato with Zesty Tarragon Dressing
This recipe called Perfect Smashed Potato for a reason; in my humble opinion, it's one of the best summer side dishes which works great with almost anything cooked on a grill. I'm talking charred veggies, bbq chicken, and beautiful grilled salmon. What makes this dish so perfect, you ask? The answer is simple - this potato is soft and almost creamy inside but has an irresistible crispy golden skin. And the best part is the vibrant tarragon dressing with minced shallot, umami anchovies, and ...
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