
If you’ve never had salo before, it is definitely something you should give a shot. The definition of what it is may put some people off, but trust me it is delicious. Salo is just cured pork backfat, and can be eaten smoked, marinated, fried, or minced with herbs and spices. Outside of borsch it may be Ukraine’s most famous food. When minced with herbs and spices it is known as forshmak and often spread on toast.
Salo is one of the national dishes of Ukraine although it isn’t very well known outside of Eastern Europe. However I highly recommend trying it if you ever visit the country.
PÂTÉ: The Reason For It At Your Next Party
If you’ve read my article about PÂTÉ you know I’m a huge fan of meat spreads and pastes, and forshmak on toast is no different. Allow yourself this rich and savory delicacy as an appetizer, dip, spread on toast, or just eaten by the spoonful.
Ingredients
- 100 g High Quality Salo (Lard), can buy on Amazon here (only use the fat)
- 2 cloves Garlic; minced
- 2 tbsp Green Onion; chopped
- 1 tbsp Cilantro; chopped
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder; to taste
- Paprika; to taste
- Rye Bread
Instructions
- This can be made in a blender or a food processor to save time. In that case just add all the salo, garlic, green onion, cilantro, and black pepper to the processor and let is run until well combined. Spread it on freshly toasted rye bread and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and paprika to taste.
- If you want to do it by hand, finely mince the salo with a knife along with the garlic, green onion, cilantro, and freshly cracked black pepper. Once minced you can mash and combine it using two forks similar to mashing avocado for guacamole. When well mixed spread on freshly toasted rye bread and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and paprika to taste.
Notes
If you think this is quite an unhealthy meal, you would be a bit wrong. It has less saturated fat than butter, more mono-saturated fat than butter and more than twice as much Omega-3 fatty acids.
Sure you should not make this the only part of your diet, but if you normally have buttered toast, try substituting that butter for lard. (Not that butter isn’t one of the greatest ingredients known to mankind.

Forshmak On Toast
Equipment
- 1 Blender or Food Processor
Ingredients
- 100 grams Salo
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tbsp Green Onion chopped
- 1 tbsp Cilantro chopped
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder to taste
- Paprika to taste
- Rye Bread
Instructions
- This can be made in a blender or a food processor to save time. In that case just add all the salo, garlic, green onion, cilantro, and black pepper to the processor and let is run until well combined. Spread it on freshly toasted rye bread and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and paprika to taste.
- If you want to do it by hand, finely mince the salo with a knife along with the garlic, green onion, cilantro, and freshly cracked black pepper. Once minced you can mash and combine it using two forks similar to mashing avocado for guacamole. When well mixed spread on freshly toasted rye bread and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and paprika to taste.