Piquant Fried Zucchini

Victoriya, whose recipe this is, has a large extended family that she spoils rotten. Many of them now live in different countries, but last year they gathered in one house for the all-important New Year’s celebration. As she did for every family gathering, Victoriya had worked on the menu for weeks, even bringing some special ingredients from Odesa, frozen and carefully vacuum-packed.

Victoriya acquired her cooking skills by osmosis, simply by growing up in a family that worshipped