Christmas table – five beloved holiday recipes from my Ukrainian and Belarusian families
Clay pot potatoes with meat and mushrooms; carrot salad with pork and crunchy pickles; uzvar – winter drink with dried fruit and honey; kutya – sweet wheat berry dish; and khrustyky – fried pastries.
This post is a part of the series of family recipes that are cherished, loved, and passed through generations in my Belarusian and Ukrainian families. I cook each recipe in my kitchen and include detailed descriptions and photos of each step, as well as cooking secrets and tips. View all family recipes from Eastern Europe.
In this post, you will find the full menu for the holiday dinner!
Hearty carrot salad with pork and crunchy pickles
For an appetizer, I chose a hearty and incredibly delicious carrot salad with pork and crunchy pickles. It’s my Belarusian mom’s recipe, and even though I don’t usually like carrots very much, this salad is an exception. It combines the saltiness of pickles, the sweetness and aroma of fried carrots and onions, and the rich taste of meat in a perfect way.
Clay pot potatoes with meat and dried porcini mushrooms
I chose potatoes with meat and dried porcini mushrooms in a clay pot for the main dish. This recipe is very popular both in Ukraine and Belarus, and it’s hard to think of a more flavorful, tasty, and relatively easy to cook main dish for the holiday table. The ingredients baked together in a clay pot preserve moisture and aroma incredibly well. Meat becomes juicy and tender, porcini mushrooms add a distinctive flavor, and together with potatoes and the rest of the vegetables, they just melt in your mouth.
Uzvar – Ukrainian winter drink with dried fruit and honey
For a drink, I chose the uzvar recipe from my Ukrainian mother-in-law. Uzvar is a Ukrainian winter drink made from dried fruit and honey. It’s cozy and comforting, and it’s perfect for cold evenings. You can add your favorite spices, such as cinnamon, star anise, and clove, or keep it simple and classic. You should definitely try cooking this lush and rich in flavor drink this winter!
Kutya – traditional sweet wheat berry dish
Kutya is a ceremonial Christmas dish served both in Ukraine and Belarus. It was served at every Christmas table in my husband's family in Ukraine. When I cooked it for the first time, my husband tried it and said that it instantly transferred him back home and brought a Christmas mood. Traditionally, the plate of kutya is passed between all family members before Christmas dinner, with everyone eating a spoonful of it. This dish symbolizes the abundance and unity of generations. You can serve it like that or as a dessert. The leftovers of kutya are great as a morning porridge the next day.
Khrustyky – delicious fried pastries
Khrustyky is a beloved recipe from my childhood. I remember long winter evenings, my siblings and I all standing around the kitchen table covered in flour, and Mom teaching us how to cut the dough and form khrustyky. My mom baked a lot in my childhood, but this recipe has always been our favorite. Believe me, these pastries disappear from the plate at the speed of light!
I hope you’ll try cooking these recipes, and they will bring a festive mood and taste of Eastern Europe to your home!
Below, you will find the step-by-step recipe instructions and photos of each step, which are available for paid subscribers. By upgrading to paid, you won’t only receive access to all family recipes from Eastern Europe, but will also allow me to continue my work and support both of my families who became refugees and whose recipes I share with you.
Contents:
RECIPE #1: