Saturday 24 August marked Ukrainian Independence Day, so to celebrate, Save The World Club dedicated their Cultural Day on Saturday to Ukraine.

The event was held at Save The World Club's venue on Southsea Road.

It consisted of bringing the local community together to prepare and try traditional Ukrainian food, followed by attendees being invited to sit down and enjoy Ukrainian music and watch Ukrainian films.

Attendees of Save The World Club's Ukrainian Day got together to prepare and enjoy traditional Ukrainian food (Credit: Save The World Club)

According to Save The World Club, the day was a great day with 32 Ukrainians in attendance.

32 Ukrainians attended Save The World Club's Ukrainian Day event (Credit: Save The World Club)

Attendees prepared and enjoyed a variety of traditional Ukrainian dishes including Borscht, a Ukrainian soup traditionally made with meat stock and vegetables, and Ukrainian dumplings.

Ukrainian dumplings (Credit: Save The World Club)

This borscht dish takes 25 mins to prep and 40 mins to cook, making ten servings.

Ingredients include:

• Sausage: This Ukrainian borscht recipe starts with a pound of pork sausage.
• Vegetables: You'll need beets, carrots, baking potatoes, cabbage, and an onion.
• Canned tomatoes: Use drained diced tomatoes and canned tomato paste.
• Vegetable oil: Cook the onion in oil.
• Water: You'll need almost nine cups of water for this big-batch soup.
• Garlic: Three cloves of garlic add bold flavour.
• Sugar: A teaspoon of white sugar lends subtle sweetness.
• Seasonings: Season the borscht with salt and pepper to taste.
• Sour cream: Top the borscht with sour cream.
• Fresh herbs: Garnish the soup with fresh parsley or dill.

How to make Borscht

• Cook the sausage and set aside.
• Boil water, add the sausage, then add the vegetables and diced tomatoes.
• Cook the onion, stir in the tomato paste, and thin with water. Transfer to the pot.
• Add the garlic, cover, and turn off the heat. Stir in the sugar and seasonings.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish with sour cream and fresh herbs.
• Tip from recipe creator Patti: "This soup can be served vegetarian-style by omitting the sausage."

Borscht can be stored in the freezer or in in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Borscht is a traditional Ukrainian soup (Credit: Save The World Club)

An Allrecipes community member said: "This was the first time I've had borscht and now I see why so many people love it. I can't believe how good it is."

Ukrainian Day attendee, Olechka, said: "Just perfect. Classic recipe, great taste, my favourite."

Laura Anderson-Bradfield said it was the "best borscht ever".

She said: "I have made many different beet soup recipes over the years.

"The addition of an acidic ingredient (tomato) still allowed the beets to shine but removed the heavy, sometimes too earthy taste common to borscht."

According to Dr Tariq Shabbeer, Secretary General of Save The World Club, there are around 1200 Ukrainian refugees in Kingston, so it was important to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day in the area.

There are around 1200 Ukrainian refugees in Kingston, which equates to 500 familes (Credit: save The World Ckub)

One attendee of the event said: "We move our country towards the victory, that's why it's super super important we get together not only for Independence Day, but to be a community in each part of the world to support Ukraine and Ukraine requires much support."

Attendees of Save The World Club's Ukrainian Independance Day sat down together to enjoy Ukrainian music (Credit: Save The World Club)

Dr Shabbeer said: "" It was fantastic to have many local Ukrainians come together to show us how to make Borscht, share music and meet each other to build solidarity."

Hugh Williams, CEO, said: "We hope to organise a second Christmas folk song and dance event with the Ukrainian community in December, inviting all."

The date for the Ukrainian Christmas event will be announced soon.