Let's eat Russia!
With influences from here and there, due to the number of territories that were part of the country in the past or that have been incorporated into its borders, ** Russia offers the most gluttonous traveler a gastronomic diversity full of nuances.**
On your first time in the largest country in the world, you will be surprised by (almost) everything. Regarding gastronomy, too: there they accompany most of the dishes with Rye bread (which is even cheaper than white wheat bread) ; they have plenty of dairy products (from its ubiquitous sour cream, called Smetana, to various types of kefir – such as smoked-flavored Ryazenka – to different varieties of cottage cheese and yogurts) ; they do not conceive a lunch without soup as a first course and for dessert they usually have some sweet accompanied by black tea with lemon, who drink all the time.
They are also very typical drinks such as Kwas, a kind of beer but without alcohol, fermented and containing wheat and rye; the compot, which they make as if it were a jam, with fruit (apple, pear, plum, strawberry, raspberry or currant), water and sugar or the kissel, a thick drink with a viscous texture.
What does Russia taste like?
And we come to his famous caviar: The two best known types of this delicacy are the red –from salmon– and the black –from beluga or sturgeon–.
For Russians, at home, it is most common to eat red caviar (the most affordable) on a slice of white bread without toasting with butter. Black is reserved for special occasions, such as Christmas.
And what about the vodka ? Always cold, alone and without ice. To take it, they have their own protocol: first of all, you should exhale through your mouth, then drink it in one gulp and then take a deep breath.
The next rule is that you should always, no matter what, eat something. For them, the most usual thing is to eat a bite of Salo (pork bacon), pickles or salt herring.
Once the introductions are made, here we go. We know that it is very daring on our part, with the gastronomic richness that Russia possesses, to list the main typical dishes, but let's start with a few our culinary journey through the largest country in the world:
SOUPS LIKE BORSCH OR SHCHI
Russians eat soup all year round, not only in winter. It is his favorite first course (or entree) before any meal.
They have, of course, soups to fight the cold, which are the strongest, as borsch –beetroot with meat and sour cream– or Shchi –instead of beets, it has cabbage or cabbage–, but also other lighter ones like Rassolnik –with potato, rice and pickles– and Solyanka and even cold soups like Okroshka, with Kvass and vegetables.
Where to try them: ask for Borsch in Teremok, the typical Russian fast food chain that has the best reputation in the country for quality and price and Rassolnik in Kokoko, but only if you don't hate offal, since their version incorporates chicken hearts.
OLIVIER SALAD
They call that what we know as Russian salad. According to them, its name is due to the chef of French origin who popularized it.
Surprised, right? They usually eat it mostly in special occasions: It cannot be missing, for example, on a Christmas table, just as it happens with champagne or tangerines.
Where: order it at the ** Ruski Restaurant **, while you enjoy their views of the whole of Moscow, at 354 meters from the ground, since it is located in one of the skyscrapers of the Moscow financial area.
SELEDKA POD SHUBOY
It is another of the most famous (and colorful) salads in Russia, made with salted herring, boiled egg, raw onion, carrot, beetroot and mayonnaise.
In English, you will find it as Dressed herring and its name means “herring under fur coat”.
Where: try to try the landlady in the house of some Russian.
BLINIS
this kind of Crepes, they serve mostly with butter and dill, with marinated salmon and even with caviar, although those with a sweet tooth can also accompany them with smetana, jam or cottage cheese. The options are endless!
Where: mostly in St. Petersburg, in any street Blinnaya (similar to a creperie) .
PIROZHKÍ AND PIROGÍ
They are very reminiscent of English pies or pies and Americanos or our stuffed dumplings. exist so salty (the most common are meat or potato with egg and cabbage) like sweets (of plums, apple or cottage cheese, especially) .
Where: we recommend the ones at ** Grand Café Zhivago **, those at Pushkin Coffee or those of kokoko , since they have them in mini size, in a single bite... and so you can try more!
KHOLODETS OR MEAT JELLY
We are not going to deceive you: its appearance is not very appetizing, but accompanied by mustard, hren sauce (bitter radish) and the typical black bread, it is a delicacy. Look for it in the cards like 'meat jelly'. Something similar, which is also eaten as a starter, is the salo (pork bacon), of Ukrainian origin.
Where: ** Ruski Restaurant. **
BEEF STROGANOFF
This is one of its most typical dishes: you will find it in almost all restaurants. The beef or beef It is cut into strips and accompanied by a sour cream sauce and mushrooms.
Where: At **Stroganoff Steak House**.
PELMENI
They are kind of ravioli usually stuffed with pork, beef and lamb, which are garnished with a sprinkle of sour cream or served in a hot broth and eaten with a spoon.
In the English menu of Russian restaurants, if they have one, you will find them as Dumplings.
Where: at ** Cafe Pushkin **. Also try their version of salmon or mushrooms.
COTLIETA PO KIEVSKY
It will amuse you to know what we call Russian steak: namely, the hamburger without bun. They have many types of 'Cotlieta' but this one, in particular, is from butter chicken.
Where: Try the ** Kokoko , with foie gras ** and accompanied by potatoes and mushrooms.
GOLUBTSY
It's kind of meat ball wrapped in cabbage leaves, with a clear Mediterranean influence, reminiscent of the Romanian Sarmale or the Greek dolmades. And, if we sweep home, it is very similar to putxero's pilota (ball of stew), typical in Alicante towns of the Marina Alta such as Senija.
Where: if you want to try the traditional ones, nothing like homemade but if you dare with something different, order it at ** Pirogi Vino I Gus ** : they make it with goose meat and rolled in lime leaves.
SYRNIKI
Similar to pancakes or pancakes, but smaller, thicker and made with cottage cheese. Treat yourself and spread them with sour cream, honey or jam. They are a very good choice for breakfast.
Where: at **Schastye** or at **Grand Café Zhivago. **
KASHA
Another very typical breakfast in Russia: it is a kind of porridge but not with oatmeal, but with rice or wheat semolina and cow's milk. Butter and nuts are usually added.
Where: Kokoko
CAKES LIKE PTICHYE MOLOKÓ, MEDOVIK OR NAPOLEÓN
Dessert time! Russians are very fond of sweets and they show it with their wide variety of cakes, such as Ptichie Moloko (What does it mean “bird milk” and is prepared especially on birthdays), Medovik (a honey cake) or Napoleon (what we know as mille-feuille).
Other sweets such as Khalva, a kind of nougat based on sunflower seeds and nuts of Arab origin; prianik, some very consistent cookies or Pastila, sweets made with fruit and sugar.
Where: At **Francois Bakery**
After this banquet, you probably want more than ever to **visit (or return) to Russia. ** It's never too late, traveler.
What to eat in the largest country in the world