Kendiukh

Kendiukh (kovbyk, saltyson) is an old Ukrainian festive dish traditionally prepared for Christmas, weddings, and other great holidays. Its base is a carefully cleaned pig's stomach, which serves as a natural casing for a generous filling.

The stomach is filled with a mixture of boiled or raw meat, fatback, and offal, abundantly seasoned with garlic and spices. The stuffed kendiukh is sewn up and then boiled and fried until it is covered with an appetising golden crust. The finished dish is cooled under a press and served sliced — hot or cold. Hearty, aromatic, and impressive, kendiukh was a true adornment of the festive table and a symbol of abundance in the Ukrainian peasant family.