A year in review ✨

The 10 most popular recipes of the year + a thank you

Hi friends,

Well, here we are with just a couple of days left of 2024. As always, it feels like January was only yesterday.

I want to take this quick moment to thank you for being a part of the TNB community - for reading my newsletters, trying my recipes, and offering your feedback. It really means the world that you’ve opted in to hear from me every week!

Publishing things on the internet can often feel lonely, so when I see an email reply or a comment from you, it truly makes my day, and reminds me that there are real, live people on the receiving end of it.

I have lots of exciting recipes planned for the upcoming season, as well as a brand new project I can’t wait to share with you soon!

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Now let’s look back at this year’s recipes. I dug into my analytics and found that the 10 below were the most popular. Surprisingly, my takes on Eastern European dishes appear to have gotten the most attention, while tempeh, beans, lentils, and mushrooms seem to be everyone’s favorite ingredients (they’re mine too!).

Buckwheat Kasha with Creamy Mushrooms

Aside from potatoes, buckwheat is probably the most common side dish in Ukrainian cooking. My take gets an upgrade with creamy mushrooms and lots of dill.

Summer Pearl Couscous Salad

Tiny spherical pasta mingles with crispy chickpeas and golden raisins, plus a kaleidoscope of summer veg, in this Mediterranean-inspired salad.

Ukrainian Kompot

This classic Eastern European drink is literally just boiled fruit with sugar. Strawberries are my personal favorite base ingredient - just look at that color! - but you can make it with almost any fresh fruit you have.

Tempeh Curry

A hearty, Thai-inspired curry with crumbled tempeh, potatoes, peppers, and onions in a rich coconut-peanut broth.

Golubtsi (Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls)

The classic filling for these tomato-braised cabbage rolls is rice and ground meat. My plant-based version has white beans and mushrooms instead, plus a splash of soy sauce for a hit of umami.

Lentil Patties

Adapted from Michał Korkosz’s book Polish’d, these “meaty” patties are made of lentils, brown rice, mushrooms, and walnuts. Gluten-free + perfect for tucking into lunch boxes throughout the week.

Turmeric Brown Rice

This bright yellow, aromatic rice blows regular rice out of the water. It’s amazing what adding just a few ingredients to the ubiquitous side dish can do!

Polish Pickle Soup

Dill pickle soup is a Polish cuisine staple designed to use up ingredients from the winter cellar. A must-try for pickle lovers, it’s extra tangy thanks to both grated pickles and pickle brine.

Soy-Maple Glazed Trumpet Mushrooms

If you were seduced by trumpet mushrooms at the store but have no idea how to cook them, this is the perfect easy technique for beginners.

Cannellini Bean Salad with Leeks and Dill

Another Ukrainian-inspired number, this hearty salad relies on sautéed leeks and lots of dill to transform canned beans.

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