Baltic

Baltic cooking is simple, seasonal, and full of flavor. I grew up with Latvian cooking, and these are the kinds of meals I still make for my family today. You’ll find everyday dishes from Latvia and other Baltic countries, built around dark rye bread (rupjmaize), potatoes, cottage cheese, fresh dill, fresh fruit and sour cream. Breakfast often means open-faced sandwiches, like these cottage cheese and avocado toasts with crisp vegetable salads. Latvians really love their savory breakfasts! I’m sharing recipes like pīrāgi (those amazing bacon-filled buns), skābeņu zupa (sorrel soup), hearty soups, fresh vegetable salads like red radish salad and red cabbage salad, overnight oats with applesauce, and a copycat version of the famous Kārums cottage cheese snack that Latvians voted their favorite food. I also like to use fresh berries when I can, just like in traditional Baltic dishes. These are practical, flavorful meals made with ingredients you can actually find at home.