7 Eastern European Dishes You Have To Try

Eastern Europe – countries such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; Russia, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary; Slovakia, Ukraine and Bulgaria, plus some – has a delicious cooking style all of its own. Eastern European dishes are hearty, with lots of belly-busting plates of tender meats, stews and soups. From blinis to beef goulash to borscht, the food in this part of Europe is a must-eat.

Here’s our top picks of some of the best dishes from around the region…

Best Eastern European Dishes

1. Easy Hungarian Goulash

Hungarian Goulash is a hearty and comforting beef stew made with tender chunks of beef, carrots, bell pepper, and sweet Hungarian paprika in a hearty tomato broth. Serve this delicious recipe with noodles, potatoes, or a thick slice of fresh buttered bread.

Recipe created by Jessica.

2. Romanian Vegetarian Sour Soup

This version of the classical vegetarian sour soup recipe that’s very popular in Romanian cuisine is simple to make and totally wholesome.

Recipe created by Marcel.

3. Latvia’s Apple Pancakes

Even though they call it a pancake the soft batter is almost thin enough to call a crêpe. Latvians love adding spiced apples to their pancakes. To be totally traditional, be sure to serve them with yogurt and a healthy drizzle of honey.

Recipe created by Sasha.

4. Bulgarian Beef Stew

A simple stew that is slowly cooked with red wine and pearl onions and which is ideally served with mashed potatoes. Utterly wholesome with meat that falls off the bone.

Recipe created by Love.

5. Polish Cucumber Salad

This Polish cucumber salad (called mizeria) is a light, refreshing and creamy sour cream and dill based salad. It’s a quick summer salad that’s great for picnics!

Recipe created by Erin.

6. Hearty Rustic Beef Borscht

This tasty Ukrainian borscht will exceed all of your expectations. From the chunky beef and rustic root vegetables to those roasted beets, this stew provides the perfect balance of warm and tangy. It truly is a masterpiece in a bowl!

Recipe created by Greg and Kari.

7. Cottage Cheese Kolaches

These Czech pastries featuring a sweet yeast dough, creamy filling and crumb topping are one of the tastiest and most delicious treats imaginable.

Recipe created by Alison.