Smalets

Smalets is pork fat rendered from fatback, one of the most ancient cooking fats of Ukrainian cuisine, which for centuries was the mainstay of rural households when vegetable oil was expensive or unavailable.

Smalets is obtained by slowly heating finely diced fatback until the fat becomes liquid and clear; after cooling it sets into a soft white mass. It is widely used for frying and stewing, since it withstands high temperatures, and also in baking, where it lends dough a special crumbliness. Smalets seasoned with salt, garlic, and cracklings is a popular spread on bread, especially in Western Ukraine. It is a nourishing, aromatic, and remarkably versatile product of traditional cooking.