Golden, crispy, and proof that potatoes have always deserved better than being mashed. Known as kartupeļu pankūkas in Latvia and bulviniai blynai in Lithuania, these pancakes have cousins across Central and Eastern Europe. Potato pancakes are everyday comfort food across the Baltic region and far beyond it. They are inexpensive, filling, and built from ingredients […]
Latvia’s electric-pink answer to a hot summer day. In Lithuania, its close cousin is called šaltibarščiai. Aukstā zupa, literally “cold soup,” is a Latvian summer staple. It belongs on the everyday table when the weather is warm and nobody wants to stand over a hot stove, especially in homes without air conditioning. Built around kefir, […]
Lithuania’s giant potato dumplings, filled with pork and finished with bacon, sour cream, and absolutely no restraint. Also called didžkukuliai, meaning “big dumplings.” Cepelinai are among Lithuania’s best-known national dishes. Named for their long oval shape, which resembles a Zeppelin airship, these oversized potato dumplings are traditionally filled with minced pork, though mushroom and curd-cheese […]
Growing up in the Netherlands, apples were by far the most prevalent fruit. In elementary school, kids always bring a piece of fruit to school as a snack at 10 a.m.! We learn from a young age that, to be healthy, you need to eat two pieces of fruit per day. I remember appelflappen was […]
When it’s cold in the Netherlands (and it’s cold a LOT), there is one dish that every Dutch person loves to make: snert. It’s a hearty pea soup with lots of meats. I remember when my dad would make this dish, I would eat three bowls at once as a 10-year old. That’s not an […]
Bitterballen are the snack I missed the most after moving to the US. The good news: you can make them yourself, and once you do, you can make a lot at once. This batch gets you 40 to 50 bitterballen. After you eat 10 of them, you’ll have eaten plenty. So you can freeze the […]
The easiest recipe on this list and honestly one you can make every night is fried sweet plantains. They’re sweet on the inside, caramelized on the outside, and the perfect balance to savory dishes. You’ll find them served alongside meals like bandeja paisa, grilled meats, rice and beans, or even enjoyed on their own with […]
If you ask me what my favorite Colombian food is, my answer will always be arepas. I could honestly eat them every single day. They’re simple, comforting, and somehow always taste like home. Some of my favorite memories are of watching my grandma make them from scratch. She never measured anything … she just knew […]