Our Tour Leader, Taras, is not just great at making sure you have an amazing experience while on tour, he is also a Ukrainian food specialist and master chef in the kitchen!

Today, Taras shows us some wholesome fall recipes to make with your harvest and serve on your Thanksgiving table!

Join Taras as he cooks up some delicious Pumpkin soup, and “Banosh”, a wholesome cornmeal dish from the Carpathian Mountains. Served with sour cream, crumbly cheese and bacon bits, this unique dish from the mountains will fill you with warmth!

Keep reading for our recipes for:

1) Pumpkin Soup

2) Banosh (Cornmeal)

See the full cooking class video for both recipes here.

Scroll further down for the recipes! 

Recipes below:

Directions: 

1. Peel and chop all the vegetables. 
2. Preheat oven to 175C (350 Fahrenheit). Place all the vegetables on a lined baking tray, toss with olive oil and spices. Bake for 15 minutes. 
3. Remove from oven and add to a 1l pan of boiling water. Add salt & pepper to taste.  
4. Add butter to the pan. Cook for 10 minutes, then blitz in a blender, until smooth and creamy. 

5. Serve & garnish the soup with toasted pumpkin seeds.

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Banosh/Cornmeal

A wholesome cornmeal dish from the Carpathian Mountains!
You can find this recipe in Taras’ Book “Ukrainian Cooking in Taras’ Kitchen” on
page 62. 

Ingredients: 

• 250-300g medium grind cornmeal 
• 2 cups sour cream 
• 3 tbsp butter (optional)
• 150 ml water
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar

For garnishes: 

• 10-12 Mushrooms
• 1 cup sour cream 
• 1/2 pound fatty bacon/back bacon/ ham
• Soft crumbly Cheese (goat, feta or similar)

Directions:

1. In a large pot bring water to a boil, add the sour cream until well mixed. Then add butter, salt, and sugar, and mix until dissolved. 
2. Gradually incorporate the cornmeal while mixing constantly. 
3. Cook on low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once you see a ring of butter around the pot – your banosh is ready! 

For Mushroom Sauce

1. Slice mushrooms. 
2. Add 1 stick butter to a pan heated on medium heat. Melt butter down.
3. Add mushrooms to pan. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Fry until soft. 
4. Add 1 cup sour cream to mushroom pan. Cook for approx. 10 mins, remove from heat.

For Salo/Bacon bits/ “shkvarky”

1. Take 1 piece ham/fatty bacon and slice into small cubed pieces. 
2. Heat a frying pan with 1 tbsp oil on medium heat.
3. Add the bacon and fry approx. 10 mins until cooked/crispy.

Serve your Banosh with garnishes of mushroom sauce (below), bacon bits, (below) and cheese/or sour cream. Enjoy! 

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Ukrainian cuisine is a delicious combination of traditions, history, and the abundance of our land’s natural wealth. Historically, Ukrainian cuisine and all the dishes we cook day-to-day combine many cultural and culinary influences from various European countries, whilst also being unique in themselves.

“Ukrainian Cooking in Taras’ Kitchen” provides a variety of recipes from across Ukraine to satisfy everyone’s appetite!

Christmas & Easter are beloved celebrations not only in Ukraine, but all around the world. These days are special, as they bring entire families together. Christmas Eve dinner usually consists of 12 traditional dishes – Taras lays out his favourite 12 Christmas dishes in this holiday cookbook, followed by a guide for the essential elements for your Easter basket. Enjoy traditions, holiday recipes, and time spent with family – cooking with Taras’ Kitchen!

Check out some of Taras’ other recipes:

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