Christmas in Latvia cannot be imagined without baking tray upon tray of gingerbread (piparkūkas). It is a national pastime in the days leading up to Christmas...
Ziemassvētki (Christmas)
Christmas celebrations in Latvia are rich in tradition with a sprinkling of superstition. Although now Christmas has been tamed down to a quiet family celebration, it...
Sauerkraut (Skābēti kāposti)
Sauerkraut (skābēti kāposti) – something that has recently become a health food obsession, yet has been so common in Latvian kitchens for centuries. I have fond...
Cabbage filling for pīrāgi
Those who have visited Latvia know that there is more than one way to fill a pīrāgs. Bacon (or speck) and onion is the traditional way,...
Stewed Sauerkraut
Sauteed sauerkraut (štovēti kāposti) is my “must-have” Christmas dish. Ever since I can remember, my grandma would spend most of the Christmas Eve in the kitchen...
Hazelnut meringue chocolate cake (Cielaviņa)
Latvia is having a birthday next week, and I cannot think of many other occasions that could warrant making a lavish cake with delicate hazelnut meringue...
Chocolate kissel (Šokolādes ķīselis)
Recipe #322 in my 1926 cookbook Vārīšanas un cepšanas māksla is šokolādes ķīselis (chocolate kissel). The recipe goes like this: “boil 1 stops* of water with...
Mushroom soup (Sēņu zupa)
Despite Latvians being passionate and dedicated mushroom pickers, mushroom soup is not something you will encounter at cafes, bistros and restaurants often. I have only ever...
Red currant jelly (Jāņogu želeja)
Summer in Latvia brings an abundance of berries, fruit and vegetables. Anyone who has lived in Latvia for a while, especially if they had a kitchen...
White bread breakfast sandwiches
Continuing the breakfast and open sandwich theme, this post will contain all open breakfast sandwiches made with white bread. Surprisingly, vast majority – 8 out of...
Rye bread breakfast sandwiches
Open sandwiches. Food that is mostly associated with Danish cuisine, yet is so common in Latvia. So common, that it seems hilarious to find breakfast sandwich...
Honey cake (Medus kūka)
Honey cake… While living in Latvia, I often overlooked honey cake (medus kūka) as I preferred other pastries. Then this cake became more popular in Australia,...