What is “moloda kartopelka” in Ukrainian cooking?

Молода картопелька (moloda kartopelka) is the Ukrainian “young new potato,” the thin-skinned early-summer harvest. The word is a tender form of картопля (kartoplya), Ukraine’s word for potato. Ukrainian early-summer tables center on moloda kartopelka boiled with fresh dill, butter, and сметана (smetana, “sour cream”), often served with fresh radishes and green onions from the garden. The dish marks a specific moment of the year, and Ukrainian families wait for the new potatoes the same way Italians wait for the first fave in May.

This clip is a Ukrainian woman testing out a new air fryer for the first time. Her first dish: moloda kartopelka with chicken wings. The seasonal choice tells you the recipe is happening in early summer.