Ukrainian Braised Potatoes are a comfort food favorite! This braised potato recipe is a slow-cooker version that is slowly cooked to tenderness. Perfect for weeknight dinners or lunch since you can set it and forget it! Need Potato Dinner Ideas? We got you covered! Slavic people eat potatoes a lot and it’s a staple vegetable to keep on hand for dinners like these Boiled Baby Potatoes with Bacon Butter Sauce or Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Chicken and Mushrooms!
Slavic Braised Potatoes
Tushenaya Kartoshka (Braised potatoes), is a Ukrainian potato dish, simmered in liquid with chunks of meat. This stewing method of cooking makes for fork-tender meat. Thankfully today, cooking oven braised potatoes can be cut in half with machines like an instant pot or oven.
This is my Mom’s Braised Potatoes Recipe that I’ve tried recreating in a pressure cooker too. If you plan ahead this slow cooker version can be very handy and makes for the perfectly stewed potatoes.
Baking braised potatoes in the oven or pressure cooker can sometimes overly brown the potatoes which could be a result of high temperature. The slow cooker cooks the potatoes low and slow and makes the perfectly golden potatoes with little effort.
This Ukrainian Potato Dish is best served with a side of Dill Pickles, Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread, or a Pickled Vegetable like this Pickled Cabbage Salad. And of course, the children have no problem dipping potatoes into Ketchup!
Q&A
What is Tushenaya Kartoshka?
Tushenaya Kartoshka is a Braised potato dish, simmered with liquid and chunks of meat. It’s popular Ukrainian comfort food that is hearty enough to eat as a main dish! Both Russian and Ukrainian cuisine make this comfort food.
Tushenaya means braised and Kartoshka refers to potatoes in Ukrainian. The potatoes simmer in the liquid until tender. Slavic braised potatoes get their deep orange color from ketchup or from using pepper paste (sold in European markets in glass jars.) A lot of times carrots and onions are sauteed for extra flavor.
This stewing method of cooking makes for fork-tender meat. Thankfully today, cooking oven braised potatoes can be cut in half with machines like an instant pot or oven.
What’s in Braised Potatoes? You’ll find potato chunks, mayo, ketchup (color enhancer), spices, and meat in this Braised Potatoes recipe. Vegetarian? Saute a carrot and onion instead of the meat to transform it into a vegetable dish.
Stewed Potatoes or Braised?
Surprisingly both cooking methods are the same! Some stew dishes call for more liquid than other recipes. It’s up to the cook to determine how much cooking liquid to use.
Ingredients:
The ingredients for this potato dish are very versatile. To make this recipe you will need a 5lb bag of potatoes, spices, and meat. Make your dry gravy mix or just sprinkle flour over the potatoes. The goya Sazon seasoning can be substituted with paprika and salt to taste.
- Potatoes- Yukon gold or golden potatoes are the best for this potato recipe!
- Meat- use beef or pork.
- Mayonnaise- a Ukrainian staple! We put in salads and even meat patties!
- Ketchup- gives the potatoes a golden orange hue.
- Spices- like bay leaves, salt, pepper, Chicken seasoning, gravy mix, and Goya Sazon are used.
- Cooking Liquid- I like this with part heavy cream and water.
Vegetarian Note: omit the meat and fry 1 carrot and onion instead. Proceed with the recipe.
How To Make Ukrainian Braised Potatoes:
The slow cooker version comes together easily with one pan! The only ingredient you need to fry is the pork and everything else like the potatoes goes in raw.
- Season and sear the meat over high heat in a lightly greased skillet.
2. Place all the ingredients into a slow cooker and toss to coat.
3. Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours. After 4 hours, set on mid or low for an additional 2 hours.
Oven Braised Potatoes: bake the potatoes in an oven-safe dish, covered for 1 1/2-2 hours at 350°F.
What Potatoes To Use?
Yukon Gold standard or Golden Potatoes work best for braised or stewed potatoes. Russet potatoes on the other hand are very starchy and flake when cooked tender.
How To Store Braised Potatoes?
Leftover braised potatoes can keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing this potato dish.
To Reheat heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a few tablespoons of oil and place leftover potatoes into the skillet. Cover and heat thoroughly until steaming hot.
Braised potatoes can also be Microwaved over high until hot.
Variations:
Here are some flavor combinations to transform this potato dish, into what you have on hand and still keep it authentic.
- Carrot and Onion Variation- make it vegetarian by omitting the meat and adding these veggies or add it to the meat for additional flavor. Many Russian braised potato recipes call for onion and carrots.
- Mushroom Braised Potatoes- saute a pound of mushrooms instead of the meat.
- Sweet Pepper Braised potatoes- add a heaping tablespoon of pepper paste or saute sweet bell peppers with the meat.
- Basic Braised Potatoes- my recipe calls for some spices that you may not have on hand, to make it simple use 1 tsp of ground paprika, salt, and pepper. Keep the bay leaves, mayo, and ketchup, and omit the dry gravy mix and Sazon packet.
What to Serve With Stewed Potatoes?
We can eat this potato dish with Dill Pickles, Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread, and a Pickled Vegetable like Pickled Peppers.
How Long Do You Braise Potatoes?
Since raw potatoes are combined with the liquid they need a substantial amount of time to cook down.
- A pressure cooker can braise potatoes the fastest way– in as quick as 50 minutes!
- Oven braised potatoes will take anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours at 350°F.
- Slow Cooker Braised potatoes will take anywhere from 4-6 hours.
Handy Tools To Braise Potatoes:
- 6-quart Instant Pot– to make a one-pot braised potato dish easily!
- 7-Quart Slow Cooker– go for a manual one you can adjust.
- 12-inch Cast Iron Pan– to fry the meat chunks.
Tips To Braising Potatoes:
- Brown the meat first! It’s a big jump ahead to cooking the potatoes low and slow and creates a nice brown crust.
- To get that Ukrainian and Russian orange potato hue use ketchup or red pepper paste (sold in European Markets.) Paprika can also be used to give the potatoes an orange color.
- Saute onion and carrots for extra flavor!
- Use a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or Braise the potatoes in an oven!
How To Braise Potatoes:
Ukrainian Braised Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
- 6-quart slow cooker
- 12-inch skillet
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 4 1/2 lbs potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- 1 lb pork (cubed)
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 1 packet Goya Sazon seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 black pepper
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp dry gravy mix*
- 1 tsp Montreal chicken seasoning
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
Directions:
- Place the cubed potatoes into the slow cooker.
- Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch skillet over high heat. Season the meat with salt and pepper to taste and sear on all sides. Transfer into the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients into the slow cooker and toss to combine. Cover and set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours. After 4 hours cook for 2 hours on low.
- Potatoes are done when they are fork-tender and develop a deep orange color.
Notes
- Oven Braised Potatoes: bake the potatoes in an oven-safe dish, covered for 1 1/2-2 hours at 350°F.
- Make your own dry gravy mix: by combining 3 T of chicken bouillon, 3/4 cup flour, and 1/2 tsp pepper.