Best Russian Cuisine Food Recipes 2024 - Step by Step with Pictures

Russian Cuisine

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.

Tea Cocktail Recipe

November 13, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

My daughter does not like to drink milk, but after preparing this drink, I was surprised. The kid drank it with great pleasure. The taste is very delicate and pleasant. In a word, these are “healthy drinks”.

Cocktail “Natural Vitamins” Recipe

November 13, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

Autumn is the time of the freshest fruits and vegetables, so, girls, today we will prepare a real source of beauty and health. There is a long winter ahead – the bears are fattening up, and we are stocking up on natural vitamins, strengthening our health and at the same time losing excess fat.

Hot Drink “Anti-Colds” Recipe

November 12, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

It’s already autumn in the yard, it was cool in September, colds clung again, and the virus penetrates into the blood. But we won’t let them! Drink to calm down instantly! Honey is the neck that we need for nutrition – apples in a glass! Currant is like a vitamin, with her disease we will quickly win! Cinnamon – immediately warms the blood, cloves – gives flavor. Lingonberries drive away the liquid, and vodka should help her! And tea is extremely pleasant.

Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine from Hibiscus Recipe

November 12, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

There are a lot of mulled wine recipes on the site, but I will venture to offer another one – non-alcoholic. This mulled wine has many advantages. Firstly, it is anti-cold and warming, which is very useful in cold and frosty weather, and secondly, the drink is an aphrodisiac, and this, you will agree, is very important in the light of Valentine’s Day. And, thirdly, even if we exclude the first two points, this drink is simply very tasty and can be drunk even by children.

Cocktail with Viburnum Recipe

November 12, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

Not everyone likes tea with viburnum because of its specific smell and bitter taste, but everyone knows about the healing properties. Viburnum tea is useful for boosting immunity and for fighting the autumn cold. There is a saying: not to be a Viburnum is a raspberry. But this is not the case. Viburnum surpasses raspberries in its medicinal properties. Viburnum has diaphoretic, antipyretic properties, it is a good antiseptic. Viburnum berries kill mold, bacteria and colds. If it is not possible to filter or boil water, you can put a bitter bunch of viburnum at the bottom of the vessel and after 2 hours you can drink water without harm to your health. Viburnum berries can be added to regular tea and drunk with honey.

Tea Cocktail “Warming” with Nuts Recipe

November 12, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

I invite everyone to a cup of warming and simply enveloping warm drink. It tastes a little unusual, with a slight astringency and a subtle aroma of nuts. You can say, for a lover of fleeting bitterness in tea.

Simple Lemon Tea Recipe

November 12, 2018February 15, 2023 | By Editor

What can we say about this drink? It performs two important functions – it keeps us in shape and protects us from colds! Especially good in the cool season, in case of frost or dampness… or in the evening, when the hands themselves reach for the refrigerator… In general, help yourself!

Tea Cocktail “Autumn’s Kiss with a Citrus Flavor” Recipe

November 8, 2018February 12, 2023 | By Editor

For me, autumn is an abundance of citrus fruits. And the color of autumn, and the smell – all of them! And what if it’s still quite green in the South, and autumn is only on the calendar? Therefore, my autumn cocktail with a citrus note, it is exciting, fresh, insanely fragrant and full of vitamins that are so necessary in autumn.