Poale-n Brâu: Romanian Sweet Cheese Buns
Poale-n brâu are traditional Romanian buns filled with a sweet cottage cheese-based cream. They are popular in Moldavia, the easternmost region of Romania. However, you can also find them in...
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Central & Eastern European
Syrniki with Blueberries
Syrniki are traditional Russian and Ukrainian pancakes made from quark cheese (similar to cottage cheese), eggs, flour, and sugar. They are often fried until golden brown and served as a...
Romanian Lamb Soup with Sorrel
Celebrate the arrival of spring with this Romanian lamb soup with sorrel. This recipe, perfect for 10-12 servings, holds a special place in our family’s heart and has become a...
Amandine (Romanian Chocolate Cake)
Well, I said what I said…it’s the weekend so it’s time for baking. And I’m trying something new this weekend – introducing amandine(s), a traditional Romanian dessert. This is a traditional...
Chocolate Salami
Chocolate Salami, also called Biscuits Salami, is a delicious no-bake dessert that is the perfect make-ahead holiday treat. Biscuits Salami was very popular in Romania under communism, but it’s still...
Smetannyk (Smetannik) Recipe
Smetannyk in Ukrainian or Smetannik in Russian is a very popular cake in Ukraine, Russia and Moldova. This delicious cake easily competes with exquisite French desserts. It is tender, moist,...
Horishky (Oreshki) – Walnut Shaped Cookies
Horishky in Ukraine or oreshki in Russia or Belarus – these are traditional cookies with a distinctive walnut shape. They are incredibly tasty and will steal everyone’s heart, even if...
Ryba po Grecku (Polish “Greek Style” Fish)
Ryba po grecku is a traditional Polish Christmas dish and not, as one may think, a Greek dish. It is unknown where the name of this dish came from, but...
Medovik (Medovyk) Recipe
Medovik is a Russian cake that was incredibly popular during the Soviet era, but it’s still loved today in many Eastern and Central European countries. It is also a popular...
Romanian Plum Dumplings (Galuste cu Prune)
Plum dumplings is a beloved Romanian dish from the region of Transylvania. This dish was traditionally made to celebrate the arrival of autumn: tangy, juicy plums encased in a light potato...
Mucenici Moldovenesti (Romanian Walnut-Coated Pastries)
Every year on the 9th of March, Romanians celebrate a tradition that evolved from the story of the forty martyrs of Sebaste, which is now in present-day Turkey. The forty...
Pork Aspic (Kholodets)
Kholodets is a food loved by many generations in Russia, Ukraine and several other Eastern European countries, even though it takes over a day to prepare! Kholodets is a jellied meat...
Pampushky (Ukrainian Sweet Donuts)
Pampushky, or pampuhy, are known as a ritual dessert in Ukraine. Every important event and occasion is associated with these round yeast donuts, and every homemaker is supposed to make...
Syrnyk (Ukrainian Cheesecake)
Ukrainian cheesecake has little in common with American cheesecake, and here’s why: the former uses cottage cheese while the latter is made of cream cheese. While either version tastes fantastic...
Ukrainian Apple Cake (Yabluchnyk)
This cake, or rather a pie, is the dessert for those you love. It smells and tastes like home, as if your granny was making one and treating you to...
Trubochki (Ukrainian Wafer Rolls)
You will adore Ukrainian trubochky if you are already a fan of Ukrainian horishky. Both are divine pastries (albeit of distinctly different shapes and pastry) stuffed with a condensed-milk mixture...
Kiflyky Cookies (Crescent Cookies)
The historical origin of Ukrainian kiflyky is debatable. They first appeared in the 12th century. Some cite Turkey as their real homeland, hence the interesting cookie shape that reminds one...
Romanian Vegan Donuts
Who doesn’t love donuts? These little balls of sweet dough are a crowd pleaser for young and old alike. Plain or stuffed, they’re delicious either way. That’s why I one...
“Meat Grinder” Cookies
Their name might suggest otherwise, but these shortbread cookies are not stuffed with meat. The trick is that the dough is put through a meat grinder, which gives the pastries...
Snow Cap Cookies
As basic and easy it is to make these shortbread cookies with white, snow-like, caps, they look truly regal and fit any fancy occasion. This pastry might have been born...
Napoleon Cake
Despite the French name of this cake, every Ukrainian will swear to their exclusive ownership of this recipe. One of the signatures of the local dessert cuisine, Napoleon is light,...
Spartak Cake
The absolute pinnacle of Ukrainian cake cuisine, Spartak cake has fans all over the world. It might take a bit of baking time – you need 8 layers – but...
Green Borscht (Sorrel Soup)
If there is a soup that can potentially beat the Ukrainian red borscht, it’s… Ukrainian green borscht. This one is often regarded as a younger summer brother of red borscht...
Piana Vyshnia Cake (Drunken Cherry Cake)
An absolute favorite of many, Piana Vyshnia is one of the most popular choices for a wedding or birthday cake. It is no wonder. This ‘drunken’ dessert is moist, tangy,...