Must-try Savory Dishes in Odessa Ukraine

Odessa Ukraine is one of the most vibrant cities in all of Europe. Due to its Russian and Mediterranean influence, it is also one of the most culturally diverse. This diversity is not only reflected in its architecture, art, and history, but also in their cuisine. Ukrainian cuisine is probably one of the most underrated in the world. If you ever get the chance to visit, you’ll be sure to find dishes that would satisfy your palate. To give you a heads up, here are some of the most popular dishes the city has to offer:

• Salo

  If you’re craving for a sandwich, pair the bread with some Salo. This is basically the fat from the back portion of the pig. This may sound greasy, but if you pair this with some toasted garlic and salt, you’ll be amazed at the explosion of flavor.

  Surprisingly, a salo sandwich has high energy content. This is because it is rich in vitamin A and D. Salo also boosts brain activity and aids in digestion and detoxification. Who knew that a cut of pure fat could be so healthy? It’s also part of Ukraine traditions to serve guests with Salo. So expect to eat it a lot during your stay.

• Chicken Kiev

  This is probably the country’s most well known dish. It’s a lot like Chicken Cordon Bleu but instead of ham and cheese, the fillet is stuffed with herbed butter. Once you slice the middle portion, the melted herbed butter just oozes out.

  As for the chicken, it is coated with a batter of egg and breadcrumbs before fried to golden brown. This could be the perfect main dish when you are out on a date with an Odessa woman.

• Borscht

  Borscht is the kind of dish perfect for cold days. It just the right heartiness that would perk you up when you’re sick. And what’s unique about this dish is that almost every family has a variation of the dish. You could say that this is the delicacy that best represents the country.

  It is also customary for Ukrainian women to learn this dish before getting married. So if you’re Ukrainian date serves you this one day, she may be giving you a hint of what she wants.

• Deruny

  Craving pancakes for breakfast? Then try the Ukrainian version of it. Deruny is the country’s version of hash brown but with some choice herbs and spices, making their version more savory. To make it extra delicious, top it off with thick sour cream. The best thing about this dish is it’s easy enough for you to make on your own.

• Vareniki

  Who would have thought that Ukraine had their own version of dumplings? But what’s different with the Ukrainian variation is you never know what kind of filling you’re going to get. You can either be served with a savory and meaty kind or something with a sweet filling. If you have an adventurous palate, then this is definitely the dish for you.

Once you try any of these dishes, you’ll surely be asking for more. So much so that you might even be craving for them when you come back home. But one way to savor these more is to share them with your Ukrainian lady.