Russian cuisine is as rich and diverse as the expanse and multiculturalism of Russia itself. Its foundations were laid mainly by the rural population living in often harsh natural conditions in combination with plenty of fish, poultry, game, mushrooms, berries and honey. The crops of rye, wheat, barley and millet provided the necessary ingredients for many types of bread, pancakes, yeast, beer and vodka. Soups and sauces of various flavors were based mainly on seasonal or stored foods, fish and meat.
Typical dishes of Russian cuisine
Soups have always played a major role in Russian cuisine. Traditional Russian soups were from 18.-20. century added by European Central Asian types of brown soups, clear soups, sauces and many others.
Russian soups can be divided into seven groups:
- Cold soups based on yeast
- Light soups and sauces based on water and vegetables
- Noodle soups with meat, mushrooms and milk
- Cabbage soups
- Thick soups based on meat and sweet and sour base
- Fish soups
- Soups based on grains and vegetables
Borsch
Russian borsch is the most famous Russian soup, based on beets, cabbage, beef and pork. Nowadays, there are several types of recipes for how to prepare borscht in combination with various types of meat, vegetables or supplemented with sour cream.
Bořšč is very good for warming the body and nourishes it for a long time.
Historic food of Russian and Ukrainian national cuisine.
Russian eggs
Russian eggs are a type of dish that is part of a cold kitchen.
As the name suggests, the dish will include eggs, which are combined with either potato or walnut salad, supplemented with ham. Russian eggs in aspic are also known, when Russian eggs are actually supplemented with gelatin.
Russian steak
Recipe of Russian cuisine. It is a flavored mixture of minced meat in the shape of steaks served in a spicy cream sauce with mushrooms and capers. The side dishes are mostly dumplings.
Shashlik
Shashliks - Shashlik is a type of kebab, marinated meat grilled on a skewer where alternates meat with onions. Shashlik is most often prepared from bigger pieces meat the size of a larger nut, marinated overnight in a mixture of red wine, vinegar and spices. The meat is pinned up alone or in combination with seasonal vegetables (in the Caucasus and with fruit) on flat needles (skewers ) and roasted over hot coals, preferably from birch. The stationary grill for preparing shashlik is called mangal. Roasted Shashlik is served with strong sauces, green herbs, or pomegranate grains.
“Pirohy” or “Pirožky”
Pirohy and pirožky are often confused and we should distinguish these dishes from each other. Pirohy are Central European, crescent-shaped and can be stuffed with anything from cabbage, meat and cheese to fruit. Russian pirožky is the name for stuffed pastries such as cakes or buns. Many people do not distinguish these names from each other, so it is speculated whether they come from Russia or Poland
Syrniki
Syrniki are basically fried cottage cheese pancakes, which are served with jam, sour cream, honey and apple puree. In Russia, it is also known as Tvorozhniki.
Pelmeni
Pelmeni is the national food of Russia, but also of neighboring countries.
They are actually meat dumplings, more precisely dough bags stuffed with meat and cooked in water. They are usually made with minced meat filling
The biggest difference between pelmeni and other types of dumplings is in their shape and size - typical pelmeni are crescent-shaped and have a diameter of about 2-3 cm, while most other types are mostly oblong or round and larger.
Pelmeni are prepared from dough, similar to noodle - the dough must be very stiff, even inflexible. Sometimes milk or water is added to it. Pork, lamb, beef or any other meat can be used for the filling; also mixing several species is very popular.
Soljanka
Solyanka is a traditional Russian-Ukrainian soup from the 17th century. The soup is thick, spicy and also sour. The sour-salty taste is caused by the addition of tomatoes, olives, lemon or cucumbers.
We can find it again in several variants:
- Meat brine (combination of meat, chicken, beef, ham, sausages)
- Fish Soljanka (prepared from sturgeon and salmon, supplemented with lemon juice)
- Mushroom Soljanka (mushroom cabbage dish, which is often eaten as a main course, accompanied by side dishes such as boiled potatoes)
Food prices in Russia
Today we can get 103 rubles for 1 GBP. Rates change every day. Card payments are commonplace in larger cities. Always have cash with you when you go to the countryside. Russia is one of the destinations where food is much cheaper than in our country. Prices are slightly higher in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but in the countryside or in smaller cities it is cheaper and you will see the difference at a glance.
Russians don’t go to restaurants much, and if they go out for food, they’re cheaper canteens called “stolovnaja”. Here you can eat quickly, cheaply and deliciously, the food tastes like most Russians cooked at home. In Stolovnaja we find mainly traditional dishes. We can eat around GBP 1,5-2 here. If you go to a classic restaurant, you will pay GBP 3-4 for a large portion. If the food is more expensive, the restaurant is more luxurious, but it doesn’t ruin us either, the food costs around £ 5-6, which is still a very good price for us.
Food prices:
- 1kg of apples - 65 RUB, £ 0,8
- 1kg chicken breast - 255 RUB, £ 2,8
- Bread - 35 RUB, £ 1,2
- Butter - 45 RUB, £ 1,5
- Honey - 400 RUB, £ 4,5
- 250g hard cheese - 40 RUB, £ 0,5
- Wine 0.7l - 240 RUB, £ 2,7
- Vodka 0,5l local - 50 RUB, £ 1,7
- Cigarettes, 60-70 RUB, £ 1,3
- Homemade beer 0,5l - 60 RUB £ 0,7
- Mcdonald’s menu - 300 RUB, £ 3,4
Where can you eat well in Russia
You will eat well, quickly and cheaply in the dining room called Stolovnaya. In Stolovnaja we find mainly traditional dishes. We can eat around GBP 1,5-2 here. If you go to a classic restaurant, you will pay GBP 3-4 for a large portion. If the food is more expensive, the restaurant is more luxurious, but it doesn’t ruin us either, the food costs around £ 5-6, which is still a very good price for us.
Restaurant in Moscow
- Odessa Mama - Ukrainskiy Blvd., 7, Moskva 121059 Rusko
- Rumka Vodki Leps - Petrovka St., 30/7, Moskva Rusko
- LEPIM i VARIM - Mira ave., 26/1, Moskva 129090 Rusko
- Rake Food Bar - Solyanka, 1/2, Moscow Russia
- Stolovaya 57 - Krasnaya Sq., 3 Inside GUM, Moskva 109012
Restaurant in St. Petersburg
- Cafe Beirut - Stremyannaya St., 11, St. Petersburg 191025 Russia
- Vse Khorosho !! Restaurant & Club - Bukharestskaya St., 31, Petrohrad 192071 Rusko
- Mr. Bo - Manezhny Ln., 2, Saint Petersburg 191014 Russia
- Pelmenya - Reki Fontanki Embankment, 25, Petrohrad 191023 Rusko
