Olia Hercules' Eastern European recipes

Name: Olia Hercules' Eastern European recipes
Cuisine: Ukrainian

Olia Hercules

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Olia Hercules applies eastern European twists to British ingredients to create delicate, warming dishes, including Ukrainian cauliflower fritters, Georgian-style hake, buckwheat tarts and more

Looking for Ukrainian recipes? Want to cook a Georgian-style feast? Try Olia Hercules's warming recipes, then check out her guide to Ukrainian food. Plus, listen to our podcast interview with Olia about the beauty and diversity of Ukrainian cooking.

Find out how to support and get involved in the #CookForUkraine campaign here, or donate directly to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal. Listen to our Cook for Ukraine podcast in which we share ways you can support the #CookForUkraine initiative. Now learn about Polish desserts and sweet treats.

Olia Hercules's recipes

Ukrainian cauliflower fritters

In Ukraine, all sorts of things, from schnitzel to whole river fish are fried in batter. Here, cauliflower gets the treatment. These easy fritters with a simple dip make for great snacks, ready in just 25 minutes.

Olia says, “A simple batter is used all over Ukraine for frying all sorts of things, from chicken or pork schnitzel to whole river fish. I love vegetables fried in this way, and cauliflower is especially good. Normally, plain white flour is used, but buckwheat flour was a popular choice in the past and I tend to use it instead of wheat flour – it is much more flavoursome. Normally the fritters are eaten just as they are, but I like them with a spoonful of dill-and-garlic-spiked mayo.”

Ukrainian cauliflower Fritters

Georgian roast hake

This recipe for sweet nutty purée, flaky roast fish and zingy pickled radishes embraces traditional Georgian flavours to make a quick and easy but gluten-free family dinner.

Olia says, "I love homemade Georgian nut pastes, usually made with hazelnuts or walnuts; they add substance and flavour to simple vegetable and meat dishes. Squash and carrot work so well with almond served with fish and mouth-puckering lemony radishes."

Roast Hake with Butternut Squash Purée and Pickled Radish

Braised chicken with hazelnut and chilli paste

Olia takes the rich, colourful pickings of an autumn harvest and adds an Eastern European twist to create this warming chicken dish.

Two bowls filled with chicken and mushrooms

Buckwheat tarts with rice pudding and blackberries

Olia Hercules uses autumnal berries and adds an Eastern European twist in this gluten-free dessert.

Buckwheat Tarts Recipe with Rice Pudding and Blackberries

Marrow, potato and shallot bake with smashed garlic and soft herbs

This Georgian twist on an autumn veg bake makes a delicious low-calorie vegetarian meal idea.

Olia says, "This recipe is a combination of something my grandmother always made (when her courgette glut meant some had turned into fat, meaty marrows) and a west Georgian tradition of smashing soft herbs to be stirred into stews to give them an extra layer of head-spinning flavour. It tastes good warm, but I also love it cold with a hunk of bread after a long day."

Olia Hercules Potato Bake

Grilled lamb with roast fennel and spicy grape relish

Olia Hercules takes the rich, colourful pickings of an autumn harvest and adds an Eastern European twist to this impressive dinner for two.

Grilled lamb with roast fennel and spicy grape relish

Authors

Olia Hercules writing at a kitchen table with lace curtains in the background

Olia Hercules

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