Smakota is a cooking publication in eight languages: Ukrainian, English, Spanish, German, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian and Polish. We gather the recipes people make at home again and again — from borscht and syrnyky to focaccia and tiramisu — and explain them so they work the first time. Every recipe is available in all eight languages.
How we write recipes
We base our recipes on published sources and classic technique, compare the ratios and bring them to the same rules for every dish (see our Editorial Policy):
- quantities in grams and millilitres, so results don’t depend on the size of your cup;
- honest timings, including proofing, chilling and marinating;
- steps with visible cues for doneness (“golden crust”, “the custard holds a trail”);
- safe internal temperatures for meat and poultry;
- tips, ingredient swaps and storage advice at the end;
- for preserves, processing times and acidity follow NCHFP and USDA guidance;
- before publishing, every recipe goes through a technical check: ratios, temperatures, timings, yield, and steps that match the ingredient list.
Who makes Smakota
Oleksandr Vasylchuk is the owner and developer of the site: the pages and kitchen tools, the technical check of recipes before publication, and the replies to readers’ letters.
The recipes are by Olena Vasylchuk, our head cook, with 20 years of experience in the kitchen: she gathers them, compares the ratios, cooks the dishes on our YouTube channel and corrects a recipe when something does not add up in an ordinary home kitchen.
About the photos
The dish photos on this site are made with the help of AI, in one consistent style, to show what the finished dish looks like. Your result may look a little different — that is part of home cooking.
Nutrition
Calories and macros are approximate, calculated per serving from standard ingredient reference data. If you track your diet for medical reasons, check against the products you use.
Your feedback
Cooked something? Rate it with the stars at the bottom of the recipe — it shows us what works best. Spotted a mistake or have an idea? Write to us.