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BUDMO!: Recipes from a Ukrainian Kitchen
Celebrate the rich culture of Ukrainian cuisine with these traditional Eastern European recipes infused with a fresh, contemporary approach for today’s home kitchen, from one of today’s most exciting young chefs of Ukrainian cuisine.
With its emphasis on fresh ingredients, time-honored heritage, and warm hospitality, Eastern European cuisine is having a culinary moment.
Meaning “cheers!” in Ukrainian, Budmo! is the first cookbook to celebrate classic Eastern European recipes with a modern, creative twist. Presented by Ukrainian-born, California-based chef, blogger, and culinary instructor Anna Voloshyna, bright flavors and vibrant ingredients sing from each plate. A gorgeous magenta pkhali comes alive with roasted beets and a tangy pomegranate molasses. Borscht is reinvented with green sorrels and semi-soft eggs. And Voloshyna even shares a personal recipe for her Ukrainian grandmother’s duck—roasted to a delicious crispy-brown perfection. These are the dishes that are perfect for gathering your favorite people with, and each one is bound to uncover the mouthwatering flavors and traditions of this endlessly fascinating part of the world.
With its emphasis on fresh ingredients, time-honored heritage, and warm hospitality, Eastern European cuisine is having a culinary moment.
Meaning “cheers!” in Ukrainian, Budmo! is the first cookbook to celebrate classic Eastern European recipes with a modern, creative twist. Presented by Ukrainian-born, California-based chef, blogger, and culinary instructor Anna Voloshyna, bright flavors and vibrant ingredients sing from each plate. A gorgeous magenta pkhali comes alive with roasted beets and a tangy pomegranate molasses. Borscht is reinvented with green sorrels and semi-soft eggs. And Voloshyna even shares a personal recipe for her Ukrainian grandmother’s duck—roasted to a delicious crispy-brown perfection. These are the dishes that are perfect for gathering your favorite people with, and each one is bound to uncover the mouthwatering flavors and traditions of this endlessly fascinating part of the world.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published September 6, 2022
3 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 15, 2022
This cookbook is gorgeous and has everything I want when it comes to cookbooks: pictures of every recipe, easy to follow instructions, recipes that look relatively easy to make and don’t call for ridiculous ingredients, and the chatter is kept to a minimum.
On top of all of the above, the recipes are from a cuisine that often gets brushed off as having one or 2 hits (borscht and vodka and Bob’s your uncle…or however you say that in Ukrainian). Instead, it shows the embarrassment of riches that is Ukrainian cuisine.
After all, Ukraine is called the Breadbasket of EUROPE for a reason.
Slava Ukraini!
On top of all of the above, the recipes are from a cuisine that often gets brushed off as having one or 2 hits (borscht and vodka and Bob’s your uncle…or however you say that in Ukrainian). Instead, it shows the embarrassment of riches that is Ukrainian cuisine.
After all, Ukraine is called the Breadbasket of EUROPE for a reason.
Slava Ukraini!
December 31, 2022
The title of the book is very deceiving. It said recipes from Ukrainian kitchen and it’s wrong . There are few Armenian and Georgian dishes along with truly Russian recipes.
The better title would be Recipes from the back in USSR.
I was growing up eating pretty much every single food from this book
The better title would be Recipes from the back in USSR.
I was growing up eating pretty much every single food from this book
May 1, 2025
This cookbook is a fantastic introduction to Ukranian cuisine, and it's got a wonderful range of dishes. She has a great memory or explanation for each recipe, and each one is DELICIOUS. I haven't gotten to cook everything in it, but the Pickled tomatoes and the kefir oladyky are new family favorites. They've earned a place at the top of the recipe box. This is a colorful and homey cookbook that I'll be recommending to anyone I know.
November 8, 2022
Anna, I am available as a taste-tester... call me
July 19, 2023
One of the most engaging Eastern European cookbooks I’ve ever read. Each very accessible recipe has a lovey layout with all necessary steps and ingredients at a glance paired with a beautiful photo of the dish. A great introduction to Ukrainian cuisine.
The authors voice comes across wonderfully in each section and introducing each recipe. If you are a fan of Zuza Zak’s excellent triumvirate of Polish/Baltic cookbooks, then this Ukrainian selection will be a wonderful addition to the pinnacle of Eastern European cookbooks for the home chef.
The standout sections are “Breads, Crepes, and Dumplings”, “Pickles, Sauces, and Drinks” and “Desserts” - oh, those desserts! Almost every ingredient listed should be readily available at most grocers in any decent sized American city. Some speciality items might necessitate a trip online to Amazon or a Slavic grocer if available in your area.
I truly love it when I feel so engaged while reading a cookbook that I start planning meals - both weeknight fare for family and for larger weekend gatherings. Though I initially picked this cookbook up at my local public library system, I will absolutely purchase it to add to my personal library. I foresee many meals with the flavors of Ukraine in my family’s near future.
The authors voice comes across wonderfully in each section and introducing each recipe. If you are a fan of Zuza Zak’s excellent triumvirate of Polish/Baltic cookbooks, then this Ukrainian selection will be a wonderful addition to the pinnacle of Eastern European cookbooks for the home chef.
The standout sections are “Breads, Crepes, and Dumplings”, “Pickles, Sauces, and Drinks” and “Desserts” - oh, those desserts! Almost every ingredient listed should be readily available at most grocers in any decent sized American city. Some speciality items might necessitate a trip online to Amazon or a Slavic grocer if available in your area.
I truly love it when I feel so engaged while reading a cookbook that I start planning meals - both weeknight fare for family and for larger weekend gatherings. Though I initially picked this cookbook up at my local public library system, I will absolutely purchase it to add to my personal library. I foresee many meals with the flavors of Ukraine in my family’s near future.
January 3, 2023
See my full review here.
I picked this up from our library's new book shelf, attracted to the gorgeous cover. I was delighted to find items familiar to Grand Forks’ Doukhobour roots: varenyky, pyrizhky, cabbage rolls, vegetarian Russian potato salad and more, as well as fascinating fare like a very pretty green sorrel borscht, Georgian eggplant rolls and “Mom’s Famous Spicy and Sour Tomatoes.” There are hearty meat-based options like pork shank and chicken and mushroom crepes, but true to its peasant roots, most of the offerings are vegetarian or easy to make without meat. Few of the recipes take more than a page, which I appreciate, and every one has a photo. Again, thank you! The index is nicely done; recipes are listed in both English and Ukrainian, along with ingredients, so you can find inspiration when you find yourself with an eggplant or want to make something with canned beans. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its adult nonfiction collection.
I picked this up from our library's new book shelf, attracted to the gorgeous cover. I was delighted to find items familiar to Grand Forks’ Doukhobour roots: varenyky, pyrizhky, cabbage rolls, vegetarian Russian potato salad and more, as well as fascinating fare like a very pretty green sorrel borscht, Georgian eggplant rolls and “Mom’s Famous Spicy and Sour Tomatoes.” There are hearty meat-based options like pork shank and chicken and mushroom crepes, but true to its peasant roots, most of the offerings are vegetarian or easy to make without meat. Few of the recipes take more than a page, which I appreciate, and every one has a photo. Again, thank you! The index is nicely done; recipes are listed in both English and Ukrainian, along with ingredients, so you can find inspiration when you find yourself with an eggplant or want to make something with canned beans. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its adult nonfiction collection.
July 31, 2023
An impressive collection of exquisitely delicious recipes from Ukraine (and a bit beyond)
This book has something for everyone. There are recipes for omnivores and vegetarians alike. There are a handful of vegan recipes, but many others can be made vegetarian or vegan with some minor adjustments.
The list of common pantry staples can mostly be found fairly easily. There's also a glossary of 12 Ukrainian words that appear frequently in her stories about the food.
What I like About this Cookbook
- There are vibrant, colorful, full-sized, mouthwatering photos with each recipe.
- Clear and concise directions. Helpful notes are often included.
- Each recipe contains a personal story.
- Most ingredients are easy to find. For those that aren't she suggests where to look.
In some cases there were ingredients I can't find and she didn't offer substitutions. For instance, I will not find nettles where I live. Not even at farmers' markets. But those ingredients were the exceptions.
The recipes I've tried have worked out as described and they have been delicious.
Ultimately this cookbook is a lovely ode to the beauty of Ukraine, its people and its culture.
This book has something for everyone. There are recipes for omnivores and vegetarians alike. There are a handful of vegan recipes, but many others can be made vegetarian or vegan with some minor adjustments.
The list of common pantry staples can mostly be found fairly easily. There's also a glossary of 12 Ukrainian words that appear frequently in her stories about the food.
What I like About this Cookbook
- There are vibrant, colorful, full-sized, mouthwatering photos with each recipe.
- Clear and concise directions. Helpful notes are often included.
- Each recipe contains a personal story.
- Most ingredients are easy to find. For those that aren't she suggests where to look.
In some cases there were ingredients I can't find and she didn't offer substitutions. For instance, I will not find nettles where I live. Not even at farmers' markets. But those ingredients were the exceptions.
The recipes I've tried have worked out as described and they have been delicious.
Ultimately this cookbook is a lovely ode to the beauty of Ukraine, its people and its culture.
April 9, 2023
Lovely pictures and recipes! There were definitely a few things that did not tickle my fancy but the “breads, crepes, and dumplings”, “pickles, sauces, and drinks”, and the “desserts” chapters, along with all the delicious salads, make this a staple cookbook I need in my collection. I’m also pretty excited to make the beet pickled deviled eggs for my family very soon. I feel a bit like this is a beet, potato, walnut, and vodka lovers cookbook, which I am!
November 14, 2023
While some recipes didn't come out as pictured, or were garnished differently than indicated, the end results were always delicious. Especially loved the apple vodka, beet deviled eggs, sauerkraut, beet walnut spread, sour cream ice cream, and honey cake.
The vyshyvanka jam bar dough recipe was dry as written and did require the addition of water to make the dough come together.
The vyshyvanka jam bar dough recipe was dry as written and did require the addition of water to make the dough come together.
September 29, 2023
Lavish, gorgeous, packed with information! A bit more high end than Asala's homey "stocking stuffer" Ukrainian Recipes. Something I've found helpful in a different context is the inclusion of the dish's name in the original - in Cyrillic, not transliterated.
January 7, 2025
Based on my perusal of this book I’m not sure Ukrainian food is for me (outside of the bread section at least) but it’s a beautiful well payed out cookbook. It has such bright vibrant colors and maybe the next reader will have a more expansive palette than me
July 15, 2023
“Read” a cookbook? Ok, I reviewed this book page by page that I got from the library. The pictures are colorful and the recipes are easy. Now I have to get my own copy.
September 30, 2023
This book is bursting with life and is not intimidating the way so many cookbooks are!
January 14, 2024
Delicious recipes from Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
February 15, 2025
A celebration of cabbage, beets, dill and farmer's cheese. I learned about some new dishes and am inspired to revisit some favorites like pelmeni and borscht.
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November 4, 2025I love looking at beautiful cookbooks and pretending I have the time and money to make all of the amazing recipes. Maybe someday!
October 14, 2025
5* Gorgeous and full of hearty traditional recipes with Ukrainian and Slavic history. I was fascinated by all the pickling and fermenting! Plentiful use of cabbage, beets, potatoes, and herbs - all ingredients I enjoy using. Some recipes I want to try or imitate, and others I simply devoured in my imagination. These dishes are the most colourful I have ever seen (living up to that bright book cover) and that's why Budmo! gets 5 stars from me.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews