Russia: Recipes and Cuisine
Russian cuisine is vast and varied, a reflection of the fact that its territory spans thousands of miles and numerous cultures. A large portion of Russian dishes — cabbage soups, black bread, buckwheat porridge — have origins in the peasantry. Still others — chicken Kiev, bef Stroganoff, veal Prince Orloff — reflect French culinary traditions imported to the imperial court by Catherine the Great. Root vegetables, poulty, wild game, fish, hearty breads and noodles are popular, as are never-ending shots of vodka.
Russian Recipes
Borshch
(Ukrainian Russian beet soup)
Borshch (борщ) is one of the classic soups of the Russian household. Ukrainians, however, swear that it was invented by them. Regardless, there are countless variations throughout the Slavic region of Europe, both with meat and without. Most, but not all, have a base of beets. Also spelled borsh, borsch, borsht (with the t silent). Called barszcz by the Polish. Read more »
Kasha
(East European buckwheat groats)
Although kasha is a word used to describe a wide variety of grain porridges in Russia, it has come to be most closely linked to this particular buckwheat (gretchka) dish. Kasha is a nutritious and excellent substitute for rice, especially when paired with beef or lamb. Read more »
Kvas
(Russian fermented rye beverage)
Kvas (квас) is an ancient and beloved beverage from Slavic Europe. While it is basically a low-alcohol beer, it is enjoyed as a soft drink, even by small children. Factory-made versions have been available for some time and many are quite good. But homemade will always be best. Often spelled "kvass." Read more »
Kvashenaya Kapusta Provansal
(Russian sauerkraut salad)
Kvashenaya kapusta provansal is a delicious salad to serve alongside a roast or with sausages. The word "provansal" in the name of the dish is a Russian way of indicating the use of olive oil. Use fresh sauerkraut for this recipe, the kind you find refrigerated in plastic bags. Avoid using canned sauerkraut. The quality just isn't as good. Read more »
Vinegret
(Russian cold vegetable salad)
Vinegret is a healthy, tasty Russian salad that goes well with some herring, black bread and, of course, ice-cold vodka. Because this salad was developed during Soviet times, when fresh vegetables were at a premium, vinegret is often made with canned or frozen vegetables. Read more »
