Top 5 Ukrainian Dishes
1. Borscht (Ukrainian Beet Soup)
The quintessential Ukrainian soup, cherished as a national dish and recognized by UNESCO as part of Ukraine's intangible cultural heritage. It's a complex beet soup, typically featuring a balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors, often including ingredients like potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, beans, and sometimes meat, served with a dollop of sour cream (smetana) and dill. Influence in the U.S.: Borscht is known in the U.S. largely through the lens of broader Eastern European and Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, where it's a familiar item in delis and communities with historical ties to the region. While recognized by name, especially in areas with Ukrainian diaspora populations, its specific identity as Ukrainian borscht (versus other regional variations) is gaining more prominence recently. It hasn't achieved widespread mainstream status like pizza or tacos but holds significant cultural importance within specific communities and is recognized as a classic Eastern European soup.
2. Varenyky (Ukrainian Filled Dumplings)
These are traditional boiled dumplings made from unleavened dough, formed into squares or half-moons, and filled with various ingredients like mashed potatoes, farmer's cheese (savory or sweet), sauerkraut, mushrooms, or fruits like cherries. They are typically served topped with melted butter, sour cream, and often fried onions or bacon bits (for savory versions). Influence in the U.S.: Varenyky are less known in mainstream U.S. cuisine than their close relative, Polish pierogi, which share a similar concept and have become quite popular. Within Ukrainian-American communities and specialty Eastern European food stores/restaurants, varenyky are a staple and cherished comfort food. Their influence is largely contained within these cultural spheres, though the general concept of filled dumplings is familiar to Americans through other cuisines.
3. Holubtsi (Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls)
Cabbage leaves stuffed with a filling, typically containing ground meat (like pork or beef) and rice (or sometimes buckwheat), seasoned simply, then rolled and simmered slowly in a tomato-based sauce until tender. Influence in the U.S.: Cabbage rolls are found in many cuisines, including other Eastern European, Balkan, and Middle Eastern traditions. While holubtsi are a beloved dish in Ukrainian households in the U.S., they haven't distinctively penetrated mainstream American menus under their Ukrainian name. Americans might be familiar with "cabbage rolls" generally, often through other cultural influences or as a somewhat old-fashioned comfort food, but the specific Ukrainian holubtsi remains primarily a food enjoyed within the diaspora.
4. Deruny (Ukrainian Potato Pancakes)
Savory pancakes made from finely grated raw potatoes and onions, bound with egg and a little flour, then pan-fried until golden brown and crispy. They are traditionally served hot with a generous helping of sour cream (smetana) or sometimes applesauce. Influence in the U.S.: Potato pancakes are very familiar in the U.S., largely due to the widespread popularity of Jewish latkes, especially during Hanukkah. Deruny are essentially the Ukrainian version of this concept. While Americans readily recognize and enjoy potato pancakes, they are far more likely to associate them with Jewish cuisine or simply as "potato pancakes" rather than specifically identifying them as Ukrainian deruny. The influence is thus indirect – the dish type is common, but the specific Ukrainian cultural identity of deruny is less recognized mainstream.
5. Chicken Kyiv
A dish made from a boneless chicken breast pounded thin, wrapped around cold herb-and-garlic butter, then breaded and either fried or baked. Its hallmark is the melted butter that flows out when the chicken is cut. Influence in the U.S.: Chicken Kyiv (often spelled Kiev) achieved significant popularity in American restaurants during the mid-to-late 20th century and is one of the few Ukrainian dishes widely recognized by name in the U.S. It became synonymous with a certain type of continental or "fancy" restaurant fare. Although its trendiness has waned somewhat, it remains a recognizable "retro classic" on some menus and in frozen food sections, representing a direct, named contribution to American culinary awareness, even if its specific Ukrainian origins might not always be front-of-mind for diners.