If you’ve spent any time at all in Ukraine, you’ll be familiar with salo. Loved by many, and hated by plenty, salo is the national dish of Ukraine and a still a favorite among tourists and locals alike. It’s inevitable that when dating a Ukrainian girl, you’re going to have a chance to try it. Today, we’re going to discuss salo, how to eat it, where to try it, and why it is so important to Ukrainian culture.
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What is Salo, Ukraine’s National Dish?
So…get ready for it.
Salo is, basically, thinly sliced pork fat.
That’s it. Salty pig fat, most commonly served on bread with a shot of vodka.
I know, I know. As a Westerner, this may sound pretty weird to you. In many ways, it is.
You can think of it in the same way that you do bacon or ham, except is has been either cured or smoked to the point where it’s safe to eat raw.
Sometimes, salo has a small amount of pork meat on it as well, but this is rarer. Typically, salo is served with no extra meat on it, unlike American bacon. It’s also important not to confuse it with lard, which is rendered and has a completely different taste.
Believe it or not, salo is enjoyed across virtually every Slavic culture. Each country has its own way of preparing it. If you go further east, you’ll find Salo that is cured with paprika. Go to Southeastern Europe, and you’ll find Salo that’s been smoked.
There’s no denying salo is a rather niche type of foodstuff. That being said, salo certainly wasn’t created by accident and is a hugely important part of Ukrainian history and culture.
History of Salo
First thing’s first, it is important to realize that salo actually wasn’t created in Ukraine.
In fact, salo was first created in the XIV century in Italy (of all places). Yes, the land of spaghetti and meatballs created the national dish of Ukraine…
But, salo wasn’t being served to Italian royalty. Salo was seen as a cheap, nutrient-packed item of food that was most often fed to slaves and other farmhands to keep them strong and healthy.
While many people may not consider salo to be the spitting image of health food, it is important to remember that animal fat is a hugely nutritious food source. It was over 700 calories in just 100 grams, as well as 12 grams of protein and 14 grams of carbohydrates.
For you non-gym goers: that’s a ton of nutrition.
While many people may not find it to be the world’s most appetizing dish, salo is indeed a food that makes survival during thin times easy.
Ukraine has been a poor country for many centuries, necessitating the people of the country to make use of every animal part they could during times of food shortage. Nothing went to waste, and though Ukraine has come a long way from needing to resort to grubbing on pig fat for survival, it’s become an important part of Ukrainian food culture.
On top of that, we have to remember that Ukraine has one of the coldest winters on earth. Though the country is known for extremely fertile farmland, people needed to stay fed outside of the harvest season.
That, my friends, is why salo has become a staple part of the Ukrainian diet.
A Versatile Food Source
Better yet, unlike the lean meat of a pig that expires relatively quickly, salo can be kept for months on end with or without refrigeration. It is a thick, calorie-dense food, something of a perfect food source for people in the unique economic and geographical constraints that Ukraine has historically felt.
Salo can even be melted down and used as cooking oil. In fact, it’s a personal favorite of ours to make potatoes fried in salo. The Ukrainians are indeed a crafty people, with some particularly frugal village people even using salo that’s truly gone bad as a water repellant for their boots!
While I’m guessing you probably won’t be spending so little money in Ukraine that you have to use expired salo to keep your boots fresh, it’s still important to give it a try while visiting Ukraine.
Preparation of Salo
Unless you’re a serious foodie, the chances of you making your own salo are pretty slim. Preparing salo the Ukrainian way typically means butchering a pig, and curing the fatback itself using salt in a cool, dry area for over a month.
The best way to try salo in Ukraine is to head out to a local pub with some friends, or your Ukrainian girlfriend, and enjoy it alongside some vodka.
How To Eat Salo in Ukraine
Salo is a multipurpose food. But, as a foreigner living in Ukraine, chances are you’ll be enjoying it as a snack alongside some alcoholic beverages.
Salo is most commonly eaten with some rye bread, garlic, and a little bit of paprika. If you order salo in a restaurant, chances are you’ll have it served to you like this the above photo.
I’d advise you to start slow with salo at first. It can really be an acquired taste, especially if you’re not the type of person who likes eating big portions of fatty meat.
Even still, salo really does go best when served with some vodka. The richness of the fat is balanced out nicely whenever you have a nice palette cleanser to wash it down with.
Personally, I enjoy eating salo with some rye-bread, a heavy dose of salt, and some spicy pepper slices. This makes a lovely little thing to munch on.
Chances are, most women you meet are not going to be big salo fans. Just like most Ukrainian women don’t like drinking vodka, they also don’t enjoy eating salo. It’s considered to be a dense, masculine food that puts meat on your bones, and it certainly is.
There’s no denying that eating salo is somewhat of a Ukrainian stereotype. The locals are known to make jokes about it, just because of how ridiculous of a foodstuff it really is.
But, that’s all the more reason you need to give it a try!
Where To Eat Salo in Ukraine
To be perfectly honest, you don’t need much of a travel guide to find good salo in Ukraine. Preparing it is as easy as plating it up with a few nice condiments. Even still, our favorite restaurants for chowing down on Ukraine’s national dish are as follows…
Kyiv: Every time we’re in Kyiv, we make a stop at Hatynka. While not quite an institution in the city, it’s just under the radar enough to prove one of Kyiv’s finest dining options.
Lviv: The best Salo in Lviv is often said to come from Kumpel, a legendary brewpub right in the city center. While there are plenty of tourist traps that promise to sell you the best salo in the city, take it from us, you can find it here.
Salo is Part of the Culture – Enjoy It!
Salo might not sound like the most appetizing dish in the world. Surely, it’s no comparison to eating pizza in Florence, or khinkali in Georgia. But, you must remember that traveling internationally is all about trying new things!
Even if you’re not super keen on this idea, I suggest you give it a whirl. Better yet, a plate of salo is usually no more than $3-$4. If you only try a few bites, I’m sure your waiter won’t blame you.
PS: If you’re curious about Ukrainian women, I highly suggest you check out this website.
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