the night before christmas at the ukrainian table

in 12 dishes.

We are in the final countdown towards Christmas. It’s busy, it’s buzzy and for many folks it’s about leaning into traditions. So today I wanted to share the article that I recently wrote for the Kyiv Independent about traditional dishes at the Ukrainian table. I’ve also included some photos to help give those new to Ukrainian cuisine a taste of what some of these items are. Enjoy!

Read Celebrating the Ukrainian Way: The 12 Dishes of Christmas at the Kyiv Independent

A Ukrainian Christmas Table in Baltimore, January 2022. Blissfully unaware that a Russian full-scale invasion and a baby are on the way.

didukh

The dried wheat bouquet called didukh is part of Christmas decorating in Ukraine. Aren’t these lovely?

Didukh bouquet. Image: Ukrainian American Community Center Facebook

deruny

You’ve probably know these as latkes. Potato pancakes, often with onion and garlic, served with sour cream. They are a part of the Ukrainian table year round.

potato pancakes, known as deruny, from Recipes from Europe

kartoplianyky

Do you love mashed potatoes? Rhetorical question. Everyone loves mashed potatoes! Have you ever had the ingenious idea of STUFFING mashed potatoes with other things you love like meats, mushrooms or vegetables? Well get with the program. Meet kartoplianyky.

kartoplianyky from Ukrainian Recipes

piroshky

Buns. Hand pies. Call them what you will, but both baked and fried piroshky are the walking foods you need more of in 2024. These are filled with rice, herbs and hard-boiled eggs, one of my favorite combinations. If you’re in Seattle, there’s a famous, in the kind of circles where people use famous to describe regional snack shops, snack shop called Piroshky, Piroshky. If you’re not in Seattle, I bet your local Eastern European grocer is also making them.

egg and rice piroshky from The Pure Taste

uzvar

Essentially smoky apple cider. So good with bourbon. Made from dried fruits including smoked prunes and apricots. Drink it warm or cold, it’s rich and layered.

Want to try some? Get some unsweetened dried apples and apricots. Find the moistest prunes you can, massage in some Wright’s liquid smoke and let it sit sealed overnight. Then boil all the fruit in water for about 30 minutes, strain and let come to drinking temperature.

Uzvar from Authentic Ukraine

kolach

In the same ballpark as challah bread, this slightly sweetened yeast bread is crucial to the table. It’s not always in this bread pyramid, but this is a traditional way to serve it around the holidays. I wonder if the butter candle trend will show up in any kolaches around the world this year.

Kolach from Ukrainian Classic Kitchen

Read Celebrating the Ukrainian Way: The 12 Dishes of Christmas at the Kyiv Independent

• Reading - more gift guides than I’m buying gifts.

• Listening - to Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) by KT Tunstall because I would expect nothing less from my local college radio station.

• Snacking - on persian sour plum and cornelian cherry juice from Azerbaijan which I recently discovered at my local pan-slavic grocer. A Christmas miracle!

• Watching - Dumb Money (2023) who could not have cast a better Ken Griffin.

• Smelling - Highland Lilac (1890) because what is Christmas shopping if you’re not also buying for yourself.

1. What foods are traditional at your family table?

2. The best kitchen related gift you’ve given or received is ___________.

3. What’s your holiday drink?

4. The best way to eat mashed potatoes is _______________________.

P.S. I’m taking January off. If you miss me, snoop around the archives while I’m resting!