Explore Russia Through Their Traditional Foods

At first sight, tourists can view Russia as a monotonous country. But once you got a chance to explore the country, you would know that it has a rich and long history of forming their culture and traditions due to the influence of many nations. Along with seeing the famous landmarks and tourist destinations of the country, every tourist must also taste their authentic traditional foods.

Most of the traditional foods of Russia comes from the poor and middle-class people. With this, Russian meals are nourishing and delicious enough to serve large families. Also, the ingredients for their meals are affordable and always available in the market. Although their traditional foods originate from famished households, its taste and flavors can be somewhat wholesomely delightful with everyone’s taste buds.

Borscht

Borscht. Source: Flickr

Borscht or borshch is a Ukrainian food that was adopted by Russians. It is made up of beetroot and a variety of vegetables and meat that has an authentic and colorful taste and characteristic. It can be served as a hot or cold soup.

Shchi

Shchi. Source: Flickr

Shchi’s main ingredient is cabbage. It is one of the essential traditional foods of Russians that can be served at any season. Along with cabbage, other components of Shchi are potatoes, carrots, and onions. This meal can be transformed into a sour Shchi wherein fermented cabbage becomes the main ingredient instead of fresh ones. Sour Shchi has a strong smell but love by many Russians during the winter season.

Ukha

Ukha consists of various kinds of fishes that combined into a delicious and nutritious soup. Aside from fish, it also has several vegetables like carrots and potatoes.

Blini

Blini. Source: Flickr

Blini or blin is the equivalent of pancakes and/or crepe of other countries. The primary ingredients of this food consist of flour, eggs, and milk. Russians also like to have variations on the filling of blini. Some of the fillings can be caviar, sour cream, jams, or chocolate syrup. Making an even, thin, and lacy blini is essential to every housewife in Russia as it connotes pride and honor of the housewife.

Pirogi

Pirogi. Source: Flickr

Pirogi or pirozhki is baked foods that are made up of various fillings. Several famous fillings of this food are meat, fish, potatoes, cheese, and jam.

Shashlyk

Shashlyk. Source: Flickr

Shashlyk is the equivalent of kebabs of the middle east countries. Like the usual kebabs, it is made up of meat and vegetables.

Smetana

Smetana. Source: Pixabay

Smetana serves as a condiment of almost any kind of Russian foods. This sour cream has a vibrant and distinct flavor that adds taste into Russian dish.

Vodka

Vodka. Source: Pixabay

Vodka is a typical drink for Russians. With its popularity to Russians and foreigners, varieties of vodka have spread throughout the country.