Russian cuisine is diverse, hearty, and reflects the vastness of the country’s geography and cultural influences. It is characterized by its reliance on staple ingredients like grains, root vegetables, and meats, as well as its emphasis on preserving methods. Traditional Russian meals are known for their abundance, with soups, stews, and hearty dishes taking center stage. The cuisine is a blend of Slavic, Baltic, Siberian, Caucasian, Central Asian, and Eastern European influences.
History of Russian Cuisine
Ancient Roots: Russian culinary traditions have deep roots in the agricultural practices of ancient Slavic tribes. Grains, particularly wheat and barley, were staple foods.
Mongol-Tatar Influence: The Mongol-Tatar invasion in the 13th century introduced new ingredients like rice, spices, and various cooking techniques. Russian cuisine adapted by incorporating these influences.
Tsarist Era: During the Tsarist era, Russian cuisine saw the introduction of more elaborate and refined dishes influenced by French and European cuisines. The aristocracy embraced French culinary styles, leading to the creation of dishes like beef stroganoff.
Soviet Period: The Soviet period brought changes to Russian cuisine due to economic factors. Convenience foods became more prevalent, but traditional dishes like borscht and pelmeni remained popular.
Post-Soviet Era: With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, there has been a revival of interest in traditional Russian cuisine. Chefs explore regional variations and incorporate modern cooking techniques.
Commonly Used Ingredients in Russian Cuisine
Buckwheat (Gretchka): A staple grain in Russian cuisine, buckwheat is used in kasha (porridge) and various side dishes.
Potatoes: Versatile and widely used in Russian dishes, potatoes are a key ingredient in soups, stews, and side dishes.
Cabbage: Both fresh and fermented cabbage play significant roles in Russian cuisine. Cabbage is used in soups like shchi and as a main ingredient in dishes like golubtsy (stuffed cabbage rolls).
Beets: The vibrant color of beets is a common sight in Russian cuisine. Borscht, a beet soup, is a classic example.
Carrots: Carrots are used in a variety of Russian dishes, adding sweetness and color. They are commonly found in soups and stews.
Meat (Beef, Pork, Chicken): Meat is a fundamental component of Russian cuisine. It is used in various forms, from hearty stews like beef stroganoff to grilled shashlik.
Fish: With access to rivers and the Baltic Sea, fish is an important protein source. Salted and smoked fish are popular, as seen in dishes like shuba salad.
Dill: A ubiquitous herb in Russian cuisine, dill adds a fresh and aromatic flavor to many dishes, including soups, salads, and sauces.
Sour Cream (Smetana): A staple condiment, sour cream is often drizzled over soups, blini (pancakes), and other dishes, providing richness and tanginess.
Mushrooms: Foraged wild mushrooms, such as porcini, play a significant role in Russian cuisine. They are used in soups, sauces, and various main dishes.
Popular Dishes in Russian Cuisine
Borscht: A hearty beet soup, borscht is often made with meat, cabbage, and root vegetables. It is served hot or cold, with a dollop of sour cream.
Pelmeni: Dumplings filled with minced meat, usually beef or a mixture of pork and beef. They are typically served with butter or sour cream.
Shchi: A cabbage soup that can be prepared with various additional ingredients like meat, mushrooms, or sauerkraut.
Beef Stroganoff: Sliced beef in a creamy mushroom sauce, typically served over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Olivier Salad: A festive salad made with boiled potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles, and mayonnaise. Often served during holidays.
Piroshki: Small, baked or fried buns filled with a variety of ingredients, such as meat, cabbage, or potatoes.
Kotleti: Russian-style meat patties, usually made with ground meat, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. They are pan-fried and served with a side dish.
Shashlik: Marinated and grilled skewers of meat, commonly enjoyed during outdoor gatherings.
Solyanka: A hearty and sour soup made with various meats, pickles, olives, and sometimes mushrooms.
Golubtsy: Cabbage rolls stuffed with a mixture of ground meat and rice, often served with a tomato sauce.
Pirog: A traditional Russian pastry, often sweet, filled with fruits, berries, or jams.
Kasha: A porridge made from various grains, with buckwheat kasha being a popular and nutritious choice.
Kholodets: A cold meat jelly made from pork or beef, usually served with mustard or horseradish.
Medovik: A layered honey cake, with sweetened sour cream between the layers.
Shuba Salad: A layered salad made with beets, potatoes, herring, carrots, and mayonnaise, often served during celebrations.
These meatballs are often cooked for breakfast. The taste is delicate and light. It is prepared very quickly. It’s very tasty, I recommend it! You will be delighted with the taste of this dish, and your children will ask for supplements.
Small round cutlets are considered small meatballs. In general, initially, in the XVIII century, these were chops from a whole piece of meat, hence the name “bit” – “chops”. They came to Russian cuisine from French chefs. And only in the XX century. sliced round cutlets were also called slices. Very juicy, soft chops. It is quickly and easily prepared, delicious both hot and cold. From the brisket of one chicken, a lot of pieces are obtained!
This is a simple but very tasty dish! For cooking chops, it is best to use ground beef and take forest mushrooms. To garnish them, you can serve mashed potatoes or rice.
Dorada is a very tasty fish, the meat is dense, sweet, there are almost no bones. Therefore, it is not difficult to prepare it, and the result is excellent. I suggest you try bream according to this recipe. It turns out very fragrant and delicious.
Delicious, juicy and light salad! Also very useful. We willingly ate with the whole family. The most important thing is that it is easy to cook. Thanks to the omelet with cheese, it turns out to be quite satisfying and can become a full-fledged dinner.
In just 10 minutes you will turn an ordinary omelet into a gourmet breakfast. You’re welcome. It is prepared very simply. The whole family will be happy.
Very tasty and hearty chops. It could replace dinner. It can be served with a salad of fresh vegetables or tomato sauce. Due to the viscosity, barley and potatoes retain their shape perfectly even without eggs.
Tender, soft, delicious chicken liver and potato meatballs. It is good both hot and already cooled. This simple, unpretentious dish of pickled cucumbers gives a slight piquancy and a kind of originality. Cook and enjoy your meal!
Very fast, delicious and bright. So feel free to prepare children before school, they just like it. Use any cheese, ideally hard, because it holds the roll together more, but I tried it with melted, it turned out more tender and juicier. Vegetables are also any, I did it with three different fillings, royal and red pepper and spinach, but you can experiment as you like, it’s a matter of taste.
In the summer I try to pamper my family with different salads. One of our favorite salads is an omelet with fried vegetables, mushrooms and delicious chicken. This salad is self-sufficient by itself, and you can even have a hearty lunch.
