Top 20 traditional Russian dishes

Gastronomic tourism to Russia? Why not? It is the longest country in the world, and the abundance of climatic zones and numerous nationalities has seriously influenced the local cuisine diversity. Russian cuisine is based on vegetables and cereals, so you will find soups, porridges a variety and doughy treats with and without toppings among the classic dishes.

Therefore, we have prepared the top 20 traditional Russian dishes a list. Course, you can also find similar dishes in other countries, but this does not change the fact that they have been eaten in Russia for a long time. Moreover, they use special Russian cooking secrets.

1. Борщ / Borscht

Let’s start with first courses, because soups are very popular in Russia. And the first thing that comes to mind, even to foreigners, is this unusual red soup. And it is so red the main ingredients one because – beetroot. It also includes carrots, potatoes, cabbage (sour or fresh). It is cooked in the meat broth. In addition, Russians sometimes put beans and tomatoes in borscht.

2. Солянка / Solyanka

Again, soup. It’s usually quite thick, and the main feature is several kinds of meat: sausage, bacon, beef, ham. There are bound to be vegetables: potatoes, onions, carrots and pickles. In addition, don’t forget to add lemon a slice when serving. Alternatively, fish different kinds can be meat used instead in the hodgepodge. Some people like to add sauerkraut cucumbers instead.

3. Щи / Shchi

Another Russian-style cabbage soup. The essential ingredients are sauerkraut, potatoes, onions and carrots. It is cooked in meat broth. This soup the first mention goes back to the IX century. Some recipes call for the addition of mushrooms. When serving, you can add sour cream and offer black bread and garlic.

4. Уха / Ukha

If you like fish, you will love this soup. Fish soup is usually made with river fish: pike, catfish, and bream. Potatoes, millet or rice, onions and carrots are added to the clear broth. The carrots and onions are added to the soup at once, without frying.

5. Окрошка / Okroshka

The Russian soups number and variety is staggering. And the options for serving them are definitely beyond your imagination. Okroshka is a cold soup that is most often prepared in summer. In fact, it is a salad dressed with kvass or kefir. The main ingredients are potatoes, sausage or meat, boiled eggs, fresh cucumber, carrots and onions. If the salad is dressed with kvass, sour cream or mayonnaise is also added.

6. Оливье / Olivier / Russian Salad

The Olivier salad modern Russian version is nothing like the original salad. While in the past this salad was made up of grouse, crayfish necks, olives and veal tongue, caviar and other delicacies, today it’s simpler. Boiled potatoes, carrots, eggs and sausage, fresh or pickled cucumbers and sour cream or mayonnaise for the dressing are all you need. This salad is also often called ‘Winter Salad’ because it is prepared in winter for the New Year’s table.

7. Винегрет / Vinegret

This salad in its Russian form has departed quite far from its original Western European recipe. It is a vegetarian salad of boiled beetroot, potatoes, carrots, onions, pickled cucumbers (less often sauerkraut), dressed with vegetable oil. The pickles make it sour and salty at the same time, and it’s also very light and filling at the same time.

8. Селедка под шубой / Seledka pod shuboi / Dressed herring

Literally, this dish name can be translated from Russian to English as herring under a fur coat. It’s potatoes, salted herring, onions, carrots and beetroot and mayonnaisea layered salad, garnished with grated boiled eggs.

9. Шашлык / Sashlyk / Skewered meat

Meat, meat a lot, marinated in advance and then sliced, threaded on skewers and grilled over charcoal (on the barbecue). The most common marinades are kefir, soy sauce or lemon juice mixed with herbs, spices and sometimes vegetables such as onions, garlic or tomatoes. As an accompaniment, the Russians like to eat potatoes baked in foil over charcoal or grilled vegetables.

10. Пельмени / Pelmeni / Dumplings

Dumplings (Russian dumplings) are considered a national Russian dish, although there is still debate about their homeland. Dumplings are made from minced meat or fish mixed with herbs and chopped onions or garlic, wrapped in thin dough, fried or boiled. They can be served separately with butter or sour cream or in a soup broth.