What Do Ukrainians Eat For Breakfast? (15 Foods & Dishes)

Ukrainians eat a wide variety of dishes for breakfast. A typical Ukrainian breakfast usually consists of two-three courses and is often made up of savory or sweet dishes.

Some common traditional Ukrainian breakfast foods include borscht, holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), halushki, varenyky (dumplings), deruny (potato pancakes), pierogies, paska, kholodets, chicken kiev, etc.

The meal is usually rounded off with tea or coffee accompanied by sweets such as pampushky (small buns with garlic and cheese) or kiev cakes.

No matter what you choose to eat for breakfast in Ukraine, it is sure to be an enjoyable experience! Keep reading for more information about what Ukrainians eat for breakfast.

What Do Ukrainians Eat For Breakfast?

The local cuisine highlights the significance of wheat and grain to the Ukrainian people and their often turbulent history with them. Ukraine is frequently referred to as the “breadbasket of Europe.”

The majority of Ukrainian food is descended from recipes prepared by medieval peasants using rye, a bountiful grain, and common vegetables including potatoes, cabbages, mushrooms, and beets. Due to years of foreign rule and influence, local Ukrainian cuisine combines old Slavic traditions with various European ones.

You’ll notice that Ukrainians tend to eat very little for breakfast and store their appetite for lunch and dinner. Ukrainian breakfasts are comparable to continental European breakfasts. Cereal is a common breakfast food for Ukrainians. For instance, boiling buckwheat, rice, or oats are a typical breakfast item in cities.

Corn porridge is a common breakfast food in Western Ukraine and is frequently paired with white cheese. For any meal, bread topped with salo (pig fat) is a typical addition. Among the beverages are tea, Turkish coffee, and kompot (which is a very sweet fruit drink). Dishes, however, differ between individuals and families, of course.

Traditional Ukrainian Breakfast

1. Holubsti

There’s no denying the popularity of holubtsi – a type of dumpling made from cabbage roll, boiled potatoes, onions, salt, and sour cream. You can find them all over Ukraine at restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. Some common fillings for holubtsi include meat or vegetables, making them versatile as food options.

They’re also often served for breakfast – perfect to start your day in the right way! And if that’s not enough reason to try out this Ukrainian favorite, how about some delicious tea or coffee afterward?

2. Halushki

The classic Ukrainian meal halushki comprises of plump dumplings made of flour that are tossed with pan-fried bacon and vegetables. Typically, it is offered with a simple salad for lunch or dinner at Ukrainian cafes.

For breakfast, serve halushki with a simple side salad or vegetable dish. These dumplings contain lots of carbohydrates and are substantial on their own, just like spaghetti or gnocchi.

The dumplings will make a pleasant, filling breakfast when served with a traditional garden salad, marinated tomatoes, or homemade caesar salad.

Make sure you try halushki while you’re here in Ukraine – it’s definitely worth giving this traditional dish a try!

3. Ukrainian Pierogies

Pierogi and vareniki are both potato-filled dumplings. Pierogi is used further west, such as in Poland, while vareniki is more common in Russia and Ukraine.

Both words refer to the same object. The dumplings are typically served with sour cream, bacon, onions, or herbs on top after being boiled or fried. Pierogi is also well-known for its simplicity, ease of preparation, and tendency to be made in large quantities rather than just one.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and Ukrainian pierogies are a perfect way to start your day off right. Not only do they taste amazing but they’re also high in protein and provide essential nutrients for energy throughout the morning hours.

4. Ukrainian Paska

A common Easter custom in many Eastern European nations is the egg bread known as paska. Delicious bread from Ukraine with a light and airy crumb is called paska. The Easter dinner table’s proud highlights are these elaborately braided loaves.

Ukrainian paska is a type of bread that is very popular in Ukraine and abroad. It can be sweet or savory, depending on the ingredients that are used. The most common variety is made from bread dough and it can be served with jam, honey, or eggs making it a complete breakfast meal!

Paska can also be made from rye or wheat flour and its unique flavor comes from the different types of spices that are applied during baking.

5. Borscht

Borscht is the national dish of Ukraine and it’s a delicious soup made with beet and potato. It can be served hot or cold, with sour cream and onions being the perfect topping. If you want to make it vegan or gluten-free, that’s fine too!

Eastern Europe and Northern Asia are home to the sour soup known as borscht. The soup’s Ukrainian form, cooked with red beetroot as one of the major components, gives the meal its distinctively red hue and is most frequently linked with the word “borscht” in English.

6. Ukrainian Varenyky

Traditional Russian and Ukrainian dumplings are called vareniki or varenyky. There are numerous varieties of vareniki, including potato, cheese, cherry, and others.

Fresh dough with a variety of ingredients, including meat, potatoes, mushrooms, vegetables, fruits, cheese, and others, are used to make varenyky. They can have lean or meaty, sweet or salty contents.

Ukrainian varenyky are a favorite breakfast of many Ukrainians. Often served for breakfast, they can also be a snack or dessert. If you are in Ukraine, you should try this varenyky!

7. Kholodets

A traditional Ukrainian meal called kholodets, or meat aspic, is served with hot horseradish and beet relish. It is created with flavorful gelatinized broth and delicate beef chunks.

Aspic practically turns into the soup when you consume it because it truly melts or dissolves in your mouth. As a result, you will probably also taste any meals that have coagulated into the aspic. For instance, the flavor of tomato aspic with vegetables should reflect tomatoes and any other ingredients included in the mold.

Kholodets can be enjoyed any time of the day – morning, noon, or night! So if you wanted to try a unique breakfast, you should try this food!

8. Deruny

Traditional Ukrainian potato pancakes known as deruny or draniki are created using raw potatoes that have been coarsely grated, onion, flour, and eggs. A generous amount of any mild-tasting or neutral oil, like avocado oil, is used to pan-fry the pancakes.

The word Deruny, which means “to grate,” refers to a labor-intensive method that calls for some physical exertion, yet it yields an authentic dish.

Deruny is typically served as a major dish for dinner or brunch along with a dollop of sour cream. Savory foods, particularly potatoes, are a preferred breakfast option in Ukraine.

Deruny can also be served as a side dish or as a component of a substantial spread at major events or festivals. If you like pancakes and potato, then this is perfect for you!

9. Ukrainian Chicken Kiev

If you’re in the mood for a hearty breakfast or lunch, Chicken Kiev is the dish to try.

Chicken fillet is pounded and wrapped in cold butter before being coated with egg and bread crumbs and either fried or baked to create Chicken Kiev, also known as Chicken Kyiv. In Russian and Ukrainian cuisine, stuffed chicken breast is known as côtelette de volaille.

Usually served with green salad, roasted vegetables, fluffy white rice, or pasta, this meal is just incredible in taste and fillings. This is one of the dishes you must try in Ukraine!

Popular Ukrainian breakfast

10. Nalysnyky

Nalysnyky are basically small, delicate pancakes with a cheese filling that are baked till tender and covered in butter.

The most well-liked dessert in Ukraine is probably sweet nalysnyky, especially when they are stuffed with farmer’s cheese. As they say in Ukraine, farmer’s cheese and sour cream are always fantastic ideas.

Making sweet nalysnyky for the entire family is a common way for Ukrainians to start their weekend mornings. Nalysnyky is a popular breakfast dish in Ukraine that can be enjoyed as a snack or part of a full meal.

11. Kiev Cake

Back in the 1950s, Kyiv Cake first appeared in Kyiv, Ukraine. If you went to Kyiv and didn’t bring back the cake to give to your friends as a souvenir, it was practically a crime.

As with its few other siblings, Pelmeni (actually Russian), and poppy seed buns, it has gained popularity through time and is currently a top option among the meals that Ukrainians enjoy the most.

Light sponge layers, a layer of crispy hazelnut meringue, a jam filling, and a creamy buttercream-like icing make up this Kyiv cake.

If you’re in the mood for something different for breakfast, Kiev Cake is a great option! This flourless chocolate cake with nuts and frosting is a delicious way to start your day. You can have it as part of your dessert or snack time, or even enjoy it for breakfast!

12. Salo

It’s not a joke; rather, it’s a developed gourmet oddity that salo, a common Ukrainian dish, is served both raw and cooked and eaten with both salt and sweetness. Pig fat is served in Ukraine both as a stand-alone dish and as various seasonings with several cuisines.

Salo can be eaten uncooked, salted, or smoked. You can cook it to make potato or bread cracklings or use it as pie filling.

Salo is an essential component in Ukrainian cuisine and must be used in many recipes, including meat and potato stew, garlic-laced rissoles, buzhenyna (baked ham) stewed with cabbage, and kruchenyky (pork or beef buns with varied fillings).

The beef is larded and rendered more juicy using salo. If you haven’t tried salo yet, then it is time for you to try salo if you’re in Ukraine!

13. Pampushky

Yeast rolls made similarly to American-style pull-apart bread are known as “pampushky,” also spelled “pampushki.” These Ukrainian treats are salted and topped with sunflower oil, fresh dill, and crushed garlic after being baked until they have a golden crust.

The ideal way to serve pampushky is with hot soup for dipping. Both traditional meat-and-bone-in borscht and creamy vegetarian borscht are excellent choices.

Salo (pork belly prepared in the Slavic style), chicken roulade, and handmade kielbasa are additional appropriate complements. If you like bread, this will be perfect for you!

14. Nachynka

If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious breakfast that will keep you full all morning, try Nachynka. This dish is made from cornmeal, onion, canola oil, and eggs which combine to form a delicious cereal-like meal.

It has been discovered that corn and cornmeal can decrease cholesterol and enhance cardiovascular health. Eggs are also a good source of protein and essential nutrients like vitamins B6 and E – both of which are important for staying energized throughout the day.

Finally, nachynka can be enjoyed as either a light breakfast or snack – perfect whichever time of the day suits you!

15. Walnut Stuffed Prunes

If you’re a fan of Ukrainian cuisine, then you’ll love walnut stuffed prunes!

Walnut stuffed prunes served with cream are a traditional Ukrainian dish. This dessert is exceptional since it is not only tasty but also filling and the ideal way to cap off any formal dinner or celebration. The prunes help with digestion and are wonderful for your stomach.

It should come as no surprise that plums and walnuts work so well together that they are frequently used in desserts, pastries, and even meat dishes. If you like breakfast with a unique twist, I recommend you try this!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do Ukrainians eat every day?

The diet of the typical Ukrainian consists of cheap, bland staple foods, traditional Ukrainian cuisine, fast food, and a few personal preferences. Bread, oats, rice, buckwheat, porridge, noodles, sunflower oil, seasonal vegetables, sausages, eggs, sauces, and other low-cost staples are examples.

2. What is the typical Ukrainian meal?

Borscht is reportedly the cuisine consumed most frequently in Ukraine. Both meat eaters and vegans can find satisfaction in the hot beet soup known as borscht.

3. What is the most eaten food in Ukraine?

Foods like okroshka, borscht, solyanka, kotleta po-kyivsky, deruny, holubtsi, banush, and kutia are typically favorites among Ukrainians.

4. What food do Ukrainians like to eat?