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...
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...
Pickled cucumbers
I once wrote that Latvians would pickle, marinate or otherwise preserve anything that grows (or breathes). While summer is in full bloom and gardens and markets...
Tomato salad
Tomato salad, especially when made with homegrown heirloom tomatoes, is one of my favourite summer comfort foods; it is unpretentious, yet satisfying. The best part always...
Rye Bread
Rye bread (rupjmaize, rudzu maize) always has been a staple of Latvian diet. Traditionally, Latvians ate whatever was available during the season – cereals, legumes and...
Milk vegetable soup
Milk vegetable soup (piena dārzeņu zupa) is a must have for summer when carrots, potatoes, peas and cabbage are just coming in season. But really, it...
Beef turnovers
Beef turnovers (buljona pīrādziņi, literally “broth pies”) are distant cousins of popular bacon pies (pīrāgi); they are more delicate and slightly more time consuming. Nevertheless, they...
Sorrel Soup
Nettle, sorrel and dandelion may be considered as weeds in most parts of the world, but in Latvia all these plants are part of a diet....
Bean salad
Bean salad (pupiņu salāti), in my opinion, is Latvian equivalent of fast food: it is cheap, fast and easy to make, but without the greasy aftertaste....
Latvian cheesecake (biezpienmaize)
Biezpienmaize, literally cottage cheese bread, is my favourite cake in the world. My fondest cake memories are from the high school, when my friends and I...
Jāņu siers (Latvian cheese)
Līgo and Jāņi or summer solstice is one of the biggest Latvian celebrations. Celebrated on June 23 & 24, it is two days and a night...
Frikadeļu zupa (Meatball soup)
Let’s talk soup. Without much exaggeration, Australians only eat pumpkin or pea & ham soup, only in winter and usually both are blended to the consistency...