The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen

Celebrate Ukraine’s independent spirit and unique culture in 100 recipes from the chef determined to showcase his country's amazing resilience and traditions.

Now, more than ever, Ukrainian cuisine and culture deserve to be known around the world. Here, Yevhen Klopotenko shares modern recipes for the dishes that best express Ukraine’s unique culinary heritage and define the independent spirit of its people. Inside you’ll find fresh ideas about how to use common vegetables, new approaches to fermentation and pickling, the delight of dumplings and simple baked goods, hearty long-simmered braises, and the pleasure of babka, torte, candied fruit, and so much more.

Klopotenko is Ukraine’s most internationally celebrated chef, and these recipes are the result of years of research into regional Ukrainian cooking. He has peeled back layers of propaganda to identify true Ukrainian cuisine, shaped by tradition, geography, and agriculture.

Known as the “breadbasket of Europe,” Ukraine’s beloved dishes include:
Borsch, the national treasure, and its many variations Pampushky, easy garlic bread rolls Varenyky, dumplings stuffed with sweet or savory fillings Deruny, fried potato pancakes Sweet and savory breakfasts, simple salads and dips, and hearty braises Lviv-style cheesecake, nut torte, and many more desserts
But this cookbook is about more than the food: It stands for the preservation of a culture under threat and the independence of people under attack.

“Yevhen is a powerhouse: You can feel his presence when he walks in the room. He is one of the chefs who is not only feeding the few at his restaurant, he is feeding the many of Ukraine. The recipes in this book are the recipes of the people, by a man who is on the frontlines of defending democracy.” -Chef José Andrés, Founder of World Central Kitchen