Eastern European Side Dishes

Olivier salad is a Russian salad with variable ingredients, but it is typically made with chopped vegetables, meat, and mayonnaise. The key ingredients include diced potatoes, vegetables, eggs, chicken, or ham. This salad is one of the most import... READ MORE

Ghomi is a traditional dish from Georgia consisting of coarse and fine cornflour combined with water. If the pieces of cheese such as sulguni are placed in the hot porridge to melt before consumption, the dish is called elarji. Ghomi is often serv... READ MORE

Rasstegai is a traditional pastry with a hole in the center, which is stuffed with a wide variety of fillings – from liver with eggs to rice with mushrooms. However, the traditional stuffing is minced fish such as sturgeon or salmon. The pas... READ MORE

Kurnik is a festive variety of traditional Russian pirog—a pie made from various types of dough that is filled with either sweet or savory ingredients. This special variety consists of a pastry shell that is shaped into a large dome... READ MORE

Elarji is a specialty of the Georgian Samegrelo region, prepared as a thick porridge consisting of coarse cornmeal, cornflour, and sulguni or tchkhinti cheese, depending on what's available. The dish has an extremely thick texture, and it is very ... READ MORE

Pkhali is a traditional dish made with a large number of different leaves such as spinach, beetroot, cabbage, or nettles, although it can also be prepared with nuts and vegetables. The leaves are chopped and minced, then combined with vinegar, gar... READ MORE

Levengi is a traditional stuffing made with walnuts, onions, and dried fruits such as raisins. The stuffing is typically additionally flavored with albukhara and alcha seasonings. It is often used in a variety of fish and poultry... READ MORE

Manqal salatı is a refreshing Azerbaijani salad that is especially popular during summer. It consists of eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, and onions. The vegetables are traditionally grilled on skewers on a mangal (Caucasia... READ MORE

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich tapestry of culture, with many different influences - and no dish does more justice to its history than the sweet rice dish shirin plov. Believed to have been created in the capital of Baku, the dish is... READ MORE

Eetch is a traditional dish mainly consisting of bulgur. It is typically consumed as a salad, a side dish, or as a spread over slices of bread or crackers. A common Lenten dish, eetch, also known as mock kheyma or meatless kheyma... READ MORE

White mushrooms à la Hutsul is a traditional dish originating from the western parts of the country. The dish is usually made with a combination of white mushrooms, onions, butter, cream, flour, hard cheese, salt, and pepper. The mushrooms ... READ MORE

Nevik is a traditional dish originating from Armenia. The dish is usually made with a combination of chickpeas, Swiss chard, tomatoes, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and red chili powder. The chard is sautéed in olive oil and mixed with the... READ MORE

Shukhy is a traditional Christmas dish originating from western Ukraine, where it's often cooked by Hutsul highlanders. The dish is usually made with a combination of wild mushrooms, beetroot, rapeseed oil, shallots, red wine vinegar, garlic, oreg... READ MORE

Tovchanka is a traditional side dish originating from the Ternopil region. The dish is usually made with a combination of potatoes, beans, poppy seeds, onions, sugar, salt, and pepper. The beans are soaked in water and boiled until tender. The pot... READ MORE

Komes is a traditional side dish originating from Ukraine. These potato balls are made with a combination of boiled, skinned, and mashed potatoes, onions, salted pork or bacon, salt, and pork fat. The chopped onions are cooked in pork fat until go... READ MORE

Akhali kartophili is a traditional dish originating from Georgia. The dish is usually made with a combination of new potatoes, garlic, scallions, chili peppers, oil, butter, coriander, dill, salt, and pepper. The potatoes are boiled in water until... READ MORE

Kvashena kapusta z horokhom is a traditional dish originating from Ukraine. It’s usually made with a combination of sauerkraut, bacon, onions, flour, peas, mushrooms, garlic, sour cream, salt, and black pepper. The sauerkraut is boiled for h... READ MORE

Pomidori tkhilit is a traditional vegetable dish originating from Georgia. It's made with a combination of ripe tomatoes, onions, hazelnuts, garlic, coriander, parsley, olive oil, and chili peppers. The tomatoes are cooked in a large pan, their sk... READ MORE