3 Exclusive Ukrainian Recipes!

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Happy YASSSletter Thursday Gingis!

Hope everyone is feeling excited and refreshed in this new year. It is no secret that my wife, Zikki, is Ukrainian! Her heritage is very close to her and she grew up in the Ukrainian diaspora here in New York City. This year has been especially difficult on her family, friends, and country.

Many Ukrainians, have chosen to celebrate Ukrainian Christmas on December 24th/25th, instead of January 6th/7th. Our family is also shifting gears, but this year - for the last time we will be celebrating Ukrainian Christmas (known as "Svyat Vechir" or Holy Night) this upcoming weekend - highlighting all of the traditions from my wife's culture. And like any great holiday, there is a great meal to look forward too.

This week in honor of the holiday, Zikki and I have been cooking all the classics and have developed some fun recipes for you and your lovers to try - whether you are Ukrainian or not! So without further ado, this week's gastronomic agenda:

1. 🎄 History + Origin: Ukrainian Christmas

2. 🧄 Garlic & Dill Pampushky

3. 🥟 Beet Varenyky (Ukrainian Potato Dumpling) Recipe

4. 🥄 Zikki's (Vegetarian) Borscht Recipe

🎄 History + Origin: Ukrainian Christmas

Ukrainian Christmas is a heavily symbolic holiday focused on family unity with traditions going back to times of celebrated Winter Solstice. Traditionally, in an anticipation of "Svyat Vechir" the family spends the day cooking for the Christmas feast which is characterized by 12 Meatless Dishes, respectfully representing the 12 Apostles.

The meal begins with Kytia (a honey + poppy seed wheat porridge), then moves on to Borscht (which is served with little Vushka [mushroom dumplings]) + Pampushky, next onto all the various fish dishes, and finally onto the Varenyky & Holobsti. The meatless meal is then finished with Uzvar (a dried fruit compote).

Each region in Ukraine and most Ukrainian families have their own interpretation of the recipes for this meal. Below a few of the recipes we will be using to celebrate this holiday in our family.

🧄 Garlic + Dill Pampushky

One of the best garlic buns I’ve ever had in my life! To be enjoyed on Svyat Vechir or simply with your lovers. They are fluffy, soft and super garlicky. Ukraine is known as the “breadbasket” of Europe, and both garlic and bread are staples of the cuisine. These rolls are traditionally served alongside Borscht and the garlic’s sharpness compliments the sweetness of borscht’s beets. The dough is enriched with milk, sunflower oil and egg, shaped into tight balls and organized together in a pan. After being baked the buns are brushed with fresh dill and raw garlic. I wish you could have smell it guys. But hey! You can make them! Here are the ingredients for these gorgeous buns!

🥟 Beet Varenyky (Ukrainian Potato Dumplings)

One of my favorite things to make are dumplings. There are endless ways to make them interesting whether with the filling, the dough, the sauce or the toppings. Varenyky are Ukrainian dumplings, usually filled with potatoes, and served with sour cream, caramelized onions and fresh dill. Last week I shared with you a bunch of dips to make when your friends over, and I used that same beet dip to make this Varenyk dough. The color is unbelievable and the beets & goat cheese add such depth to the varenuky, making this dish even more addictive! Making dumplings is easier than it looks, the dough is very forgiving and it's a great activity to do together with kids. This is also an awesome and innovative interpretation of the Varenuky to be eaten on Christmas Eve!

🥄 Zikki's Vegetarian Borscht

Borscht is a magic sweet-sour beet based soup from Ukraine. Each region in Ukraine has its own variation on the soup. In Ukrainian culture the soup symbolizes familial strength, as all these various pieces (i.e garden vegetables) come together to transcend each other and create something delicious and perfectly in tune. When I make borscht with Zikki, we laugh because her recipe is always evolving. Truth be it (and her reasoning be it), that the borscht changes with the season. And what is most imperative? The quality of your produce. Because it is a simple soup built on simple flavors, we must source the ingridents with pride, to simmer a bold and unique soup! Zikki makes a vegetarian version of borscht, bringing depth to the soup using dried mushrooms. Perfect for meatless Ukrainian Christmas Eve or delicious meal for you and your lovers!

Hope you have a weekend full of YASSS! Until next Thursday Gingis.

Love, Ben xx

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