Eastern Europe
Food of Ukraine
The 7 most iconic national dishes of Ukraine — real photos, key ingredients and tasty facts behind every plate.
Europe
Borscht
Ukraine’s signature beet soup, typically rich, tangy and deeply savoury, often served with sour cream and bread. Ukrainian versions commonly combine beets with cabbage, potatoes and meat stock.
Did you know?
In 2022, UNESCO inscribed the culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Varenyky
These half-moon dumplings are a beloved Ukrainian comfort food, filled with potato, cheese, cabbage, cherries or other ingredients. They are usually boiled and served with butter, fried onions or sour cream.
Did you know?
Although known internationally through the Polish name pierogi, varenyky are one of the most emblematic dishes in Ukrainian home cooking.
Holubtsi
Holubtsi are cabbage leaves wrapped around a filling, most often rice and meat, then baked or simmered in sauce. They are hearty, mildly sweet and savoury, and common at family celebrations.
Did you know?
The name holubtsi is often linked in folk etymology to the word for “little pigeons,” reflecting the rolls’ shape.
Deruny
Deruny are crisp grated-potato pancakes fried until golden outside and tender inside. They are often served with sour cream and can range from a quick snack to a full meal.
Did you know?
Deruny are especially associated with northern Ukrainian regions such as Zhytomyr, where potato dishes are deeply rooted in local cuisine.
Kyiv cake
This famous layered cake from Kyiv combines crisp nutty meringue layers with rich buttercream, creating a texture that is both crunchy and creamy. It is one of Ukraine’s best-known festive sweets.
Did you know?
Kyiv cake became a confectionery symbol of the capital after being popularized by the Karl Marx Confectionery Factory in the Soviet era.
Banush
A Hutsul speciality from western Ukraine, banush is a thick cornmeal porridge cooked with sour cream or cream and topped with cheese, cracklings or mushrooms. It is rich, smoky and rustic.
Did you know?
Banush is particularly associated with the Carpathian highlanders known as Hutsuls, making it one of Ukraine’s most regionally distinctive dishes.
Shpundra
Shpundra is an old Ukrainian dish of pork stewed with beet kvass and beets, producing a sweet-sour, earthy flavour unlike more familiar meat stews. It is a historic regional speciality rather than an everyday modern dish.
Did you know?
Shpundra is documented in classic Ukrainian culinary tradition and is often cited as a characteristic old Poltava-area dish.