15 Traditional Russian and Ukrainian Recipes

Growing up in a Slavic household, I was exposed to recipes from many European cultures, primarily Russian and Ukrainian. In cuisine, the dishes and desserts made are often very similar, with only minor differences & recipe changes. I’ve compiled a collection of some of my favorite Russian-Ukrainian recipes to share with you from my childhood!

Table of Contents

Simple and Classic Red Borscht

This Classic Red Borscht has always been a staple in my life, so it would be hard to start off this menu selection without it! It fills you up and beets are chock-full of benefits, too.

borscht in a bowl with sour cream and dill on top and a spoon on the side.

Simple Traditional Herring Salad with Layered Vegetables

Beautifully layered, this Traditional Herring Salad combines fresh veggies and herring fish to make this colorful salad super easy!

a piece of herring salad on a beige plate with the layers showing with a fork on the side.

Hearty Turkey Meatball Barley Soup with Potato and Pickles

this Hearty Turkey and Barley Soup is so easy to put together and combines ingredients that fill you with lean protein and fiber.

Easy Piroshki / Pirozhki with Mashed Potato Filling

If you ever visit a true Slavic grandma, she sure will have some Classic Piroshki filled with potato, meat, or maybe another filling. They’re a fried treat that are easy to fill up on!

piroshki in a grey bowl with white paper.

Simple and Classic Olivier Salad

This traditional Olivier Salad has so many varieties, whether you like to add more of one ingredient or another, but what stays true is the general collection of ingredients: from fresh to cooked, this salad is always a hit.

olivier salad in a white bowl on a wooden board with green onions on the side.

Best One Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe (Chicken Pilaf or Plov)

This traditional One Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe (aka Pilaf or Plov) is an amazing and savory one-pot meal with rice, chicken, onions and carrots.This chicken recipe has been passed down from relatives. I used to eat this a lot as a child, and it’s just a great easy dinner meal all in one pot.

chicken and rice recipe of pilaf on a white plate piled high with two forks.

Simple and Light Russian Vinaigrette

A simple Russian Vinaigrette sometimes is complicated by tons of different recipes: but this Dairy-Free & Vegan recipe is simple and easy!

chopped vinegret salad on a white plate.

European Biskvit Cake with Easy Cream (Sponge)

This perfect European Biskvit Cake is one of the easiest cakes I’ve ever made. It always pleases and can be paired with almost any sweet flavors!

biskvit cake slice on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background decorated with strawberry halves.

Bread Machine Sweet and Soft Russian Walnut Roll Pastry (Orechovnik)

Nothing completes a traditional holiday spread quite like a walnut roll. This roll goes by many names, but for Russian-Ukrainians, it’s simply our Sweet Walnut Roll.

russian walnut roll slices on a wire rack.

Simple and Delicate Puff Pastry Cones with Cream (Cream Horns)

These Simple Cream Horns are pleasantly soft and airy with a velvety delicious cream filling. With only four ingredients, these are one of the easiest Slavic desserts to make, and they always disappear quickly.

cream horns in a black basket with parchment paper on a towel with powdered sugar in a sifter on the side.

Blueberry Cheese Cake for Breakfast

When I have fresh berries in the house, this Breakfast Blueberry Cheese Cake recipe comes out. It is fluffy, moist, and absolutely delicious and so easy to make.

blueberry breakfast casserole in a glass pie dish with blueberries in a bowl on the side and a slice of the cake on a plate with a spoon.

The Best Crunchy and Sweet No-Bake Chocolate Salami (Shokoladnaya Kolbasa)

A warm cup of tea and a table of friends are the perfect companion to this Sweet Chocolate Salami recipe! Slices of this dessert is the perfect combination of crunchy and soft. They’re a Russian-Ukrainian staple during the holidays.

chocolate salami slices on parchment paper.

Russian Sweet Cheese Filling Buns (Vatrushka Buns)

Sweet Cheese Vatrushka Buns are somewhat similar to a cheese danish or a brioche bun. They are great for on-the-go, breakfast, camping or road trips, and pair well with coffee or tea.

sweet cheese filling vatrushka buns close up.

How to Make Easter Bread in A Bread Machine(Paski)

Loved by both Russians and Ukrainians, this Easter Bread (Paski) recipe is a special Easter holiday recipe! It’s a soft bread with a sweet glaze on top.

easter bread with sprinkles sliced with raisins.

Sugarless Dough Rogaliki (rugelach)

Easy to make and easy to eat, Sugarless Dough Rogaliki can be filled with so many options, but whatever you choose, you know that this Russian treat will be well-loved at the dessert table.

rogaliki stack on a plate with a halved rogalik on the side.

This tasty menu moves from soups, salads, appetizers, and then to the tasty desserts, ranging from cakes, quick tea bites, holiday favorites, and tasty breakfast options. All of these are the flavors of my childhood and ones that I like to pass on to my kids, too. I believe it’s important to retain your culture & family traditions to share them with others.