Top 10 Russian Foods

1. Selyodka Pod Shuboy (Селёдка под шубой)
Also known in English as dressed herring, this Russian salad is pretty much a must at any Russian meal. The pickled herring is layered under potatoes, beets, onions, eggs, and other ingredients and provides a mouth-watering bite. The salad, hanks to the colouring from the beets is also known for its appearance. The pink salad is served on a plate and sometimes topped with some form of herb, usually parsley.

2. Pelmeni (Пельмени)
Pelmeni are the Russian version of meat dumplings which are shaped by using two small circular pieces of dough pressed together around a piece of meat. There are different types of pelmeni to suit different tastes, the most common being; beef, veal, and chicken although he most famous type is called Siberian which is a mix of the three different types of meat. Pelmeni is served either in broth or without, but almost always with sour cream.

3. Blini (Блины)
Blini are a form of pancakes that are very popular in Russia for any form of meal. Contradictory to the American thicker pancake, blini are more like their French counterpart, the crépe. They are on the thinner side and it is important to note that they are not sweet. This is helpful when adding topping into the pancake. Many like folding different ingredients into the blin (singular of blini). To list a few; sour cream, ground beef, caviar, jams, or to keep it simple, add nothing.

4. Shashlik (Шашлык)
Pretty much the Russian version of shish kebabs. These mouth-watering pieces of meat are cooked on an open grill fire and are skewered along with chunks of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms.

5. Solyanka (Солянка)
Solyanka is a traditional Russian soup that contains an assortment of meats and is tart-like to the taste. It contains capers, olives, dill pickles, and onions as well which are all diced into small pieces. This traditional soup is usually served with a lemon ring, parsley, and sour cream and is a popular starting dish to a meal.

6. Kompot (Компот)
Kompot is a popular traditional Russian drink that is made from the juice of boiled vegetables. It can be served cold or hot which usually depends on the season or traditions. It is quite common to find pieces of dried fruit served in the beverage such as dried apricots, raisins, dried apple slices and other types of dried fruits. It is an easy way to preserve food, in this case fruit, throughout the off seasons which is done by most families in Russia.

7. Vareniki (Bареники)
Vareniki are what are known as Pierogi in English but in Russian, Pierogi is a different food entirely. Vareniki are mainly known to contain potato filling in Western countries but in Russia, they are more commonly found with a jam filling such as cherries, blueberries, strawberries and other forms of berry jams. Vareniki are usually boiled but sometimes may be seared afterwards as well depending on the filling and preference.

8. Pirozhki (Пирожки)
Pirozhki in Russia are also known as Pierogi, which in English, is a different food. Pirozhki can be filled with a very wide variety of ingredients ranging from potatoes, cabbage, and meat, to jam, berries, and fruits. It is very common street food in Russia and is very filling. It is common for Russian families to meet up for “Pirozhki Night” in which they make Pirozhki together.

9. Golubtsi (Голубцы)
Golubtsi are a common main dish of a Russian meal. They are cabbage leaves which have been boiled and wrapped around a filling of typically ground beef and onions, although they can also contain other ingredients such as mushrooms. They can range from the size of three fingers to larger than a fist depending on the size of the cabbage leaves and by the preference of the cook.

10. Koreyskaya Markovka (Корейская Mорковка)
Koreyskaya Markovka translates to “Korean Carrots” and although very popular in Russia, this food is not very common in Korea. It is called “Korean Carrots” due to the seasonings and marinade used which gives this salad a kick of spice. The carrots are also very thinly sliced into rectangular, noodle-like forms. This salad is served in its marinade, which is also drinkable but requires an acquired taste.