6 Must Try Traditional Russian Cuisines

Russian people traditionally like to eat home-cooked food prepared with fresh home-grown products or bought fresh at local markets. Russia may not be the first place to come to your mind when you think of a food destination but be prepared to be surprised by the country’s plentiful delicious traditional Russian cuisines offer you a variety of flavours to satiate your taste bud. Here is a list of must-try traditional Russian cuisines especially selected for you to make your Russian Trip a memorable experience.

# Pelmeni

Pelmeni is the Russian version of boiled dumplings and is also known as Russia’s national dish. Pelmeni is small bite-sized treat made from unleavened dough with a stuffing of ground meat or even fish and flavoured with onion, garlic, pepper & spices. They are most commonly served with a side of sour cream but this may vary depending on the region where you go to enjoy this. Be sure to try this delicacy especially the Siberian-style Baikal fish Pelmeni if you happen to be in Siberia where Pelmeni is stated to have originated.

# Borscht

Borscht is a beetroot soup and is one of the most famous traditional Russian cuisines. This hearty soup has deep purple-red beet broth as its base and is filled with meat and sautéed vegetables including cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes, and is served with a dollop of fresh sour cream on top. It is usually served hot but can also be enjoyed cold. For the full-Russian experience, it is accompanied with a black Russian sourdough bread ‘Borodiksy’, shaved frozen fat ‘Salo’, a clove of fresh garlic, and a shot of ice-cold vodka.

# Blini

One of the most popular Russian cuisines is Blini or Russian pancakes. Blini is heavily influenced by religious tradition and is so popular that Russians celebrate pancake week or ‘Maslenitsa’ every year one week before the start of spring. Blini are made of yeasted dough that makes them lighter than French crepes and comes with a variety of sweet and savoury fillings like ground meat, egg salad, or sweet cottage cheese. Blini are deliciously served with caviar, sour cream, and honey and there is no reason why you should miss trying such a traditional, popular Russian dish.

# Kotleti

Kotleti is another of popular delicious Russian dish that you must try. These are fried meat patties, which come out particularly juicy because of the minced onion and bread crumbs added to the meat. Meat Kotleti is prepared with beef, pork, chicken, or a combination of the above. You can also opt for fish Kotleti, where pike is probably the most popular variety, though you can also find cod or Pollock Kotleti. Kotletis are served with a side of rice or mashed potatoes.

# Beef Stroganoff

Though off-limit for many Indians, beef stroganoff is another Russian dish that has received global recognition. It is made with finely sliced beef fillet, onion, and mushrooms, all sautéed in white wine and sour cream. There are many variations on the recipe of this dish, with some preferring the addition of tomato paste, mustard, or paprika. You can choose your preferences accordingly.

# Mushroom Julienne

For those of you not comfortable with beef, Mushroom Julienne is a favourite alternative that you should opt for. This Russian dish is similar in taste to stroganoff but without meat. Mushroom Julienne is made with thinly sliced mushrooms, cheese, sour cream, and cream broiled/grilled for a crusty top. While mushroom as you see is the basic dish here its ingredients can be replaced by chicken or seafood to enjoy variety.