This pre-revolutionary, at least 100-year-old recipe comes from those parts of the Kyiv region, where “traditional ovens” - hearths are still preserved. These hearths were specially made to house at least a dozen of Easter cakes, enough to bake treats for all distant and near members of the family. Ingredients you’ll need For the whole batch of Easter cakes, prescribed by the recipe, you will need: 3 liters of whole milk (unskimmed milk), 3 dozens of domestic eggs, about 6 kg (13 lb) of flour (depends on the type of...
Ukrainian korovai – Authentic wedding bread
Wedding korovai is not only luscious pastry, but it is also the ritual bread with great symbolic meaning. Korovai is used to bless a new family life and is highly respected all over Ukraine. The entertaining and rich in events Ukrainian wedding ceremony can’t even be imagined without korovai. It starts and ends with the wedding bread. Embellished with diverse ornaments and figures, korovai symbolizes the union of two loving hearts. Its round shape is associated with the Sun that is worshiped by Slavic people. Back to the roots...
Shpundra – Pork and beetroot stew
Shpundra is the ancient Ukrainian folk dish comprising pork stewed with beetroots in beet kvass. The meat gets a tender, rich taste and a vibrant ruby color. Such a dish will be a great, nourishing dinner. In old times, shpundra was dressed with flour or steamed, grated millet. Ivan Petrovych Kotliarevsky, the well-known Ukrainian writer, poet, and playwright (known for his travesty “Eneïda” and operetta “Natalka Poltavka”) mentioned this wonderful dish in one of his works: “Shpundra with beets and borsch was served” («Був борщ до шпундрів з буряками»)....