Regional Cuisine Recipes

Poppy seed roll: an Eastern European yeasted bread wrapped around a rich poppy seed filling sweetened with honey and orange-lemon zest. Holiday classic.

Kuba, a traditional Eastern European barley and mushroom casserole with dried mushrooms, butter, garlic, and marjoram. A hearty, earthy side dish for holiday meals and special occasions.

Finska Pinnar are classic Finnish butter cookies rolled in pearl sugar - crisp, buttery shortbread fingers made in 30 minutes that yield 4 dozen cookies.

Ukrainian kutia is a traditional Christmas Eve grain dish of buckwheat, ground poppy seeds, honey, and walnuts. The first of 12 dishes served at Sviata Vecheria, eaten cold and symbolic of family unity.

A Slovenian and International recipe. Instead of lemon rind Grandma uses lemon juice. Grandma also waits until the dough is ready to slice the apples, that way they don't turn brown. She also uses the slicer on the side of a grater to slice the apples really thin.

Babute is a South African curried beef bake with chopped dried apricots, bay leaves, and a rich egg custard poured over the top. Simple comfort food with exotic spice and fruity sweetness in every bite.

Flaky whole wheat pasties stuffed with spiced vegetables and chickpeas. Portable, filling handheld pies with cumin, coriander, and garlic that bake up golden and crisp.

Crispy fried pastries shaped like elephant ears, dusted with cardamom sugar and toasted pistachios. Afghan teatime treats that puff up golden and shatter when you bite in.

Vospapur is a traditional Armenian lentil and spinach soup spiced with cumin, coriander, and paprika, finished with a bright squeeze of lemon. Hearty, healthy, and oil-free.

This quick-easy to make potato salad goes deliciously well with roasted lamb, chicken or simple fish dishes.

Portuguese biscoitos shaped into rings from hand-rolled dough ropes. A simple butter and egg cookie that bakes golden, lightly sweet, and crisp.

Usal is a spiced Indian mung bean curry with cumin, turmeric, coriander, ginger, and garlic simmered in tomato. Vegetarian, high-protein, and ready in 40 minutes. Serve with rice or flatbread.

Homemade strudel dough from scratch with just five basic ingredients. Kneaded until elastic, rested, then hand-stretched tissue-paper thin the traditional way.

Tender pork stir-fried with carrots and celery in tangy-sweet plum sauce. This Cantonese classic is packed with ginger flavor and ready in just 30 minutes.

Deluxe jalapeno cornbread bakes whole corn kernels, chopped jalapeno, buttermilk, and pimentos into a moist, tangy skillet bread topped with melty sharp cheddar. Southwestern bread with backbone.

Minced chicken and mushrooms baked under a bubbling layer of swiss and feta cheese. Nutmeg and sour cream add warmth to this quick Ukrainian-style gratin that's ready in under an hour.