Although food may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Russia, this country offers a wide array of traditional dishes for everyone. Russian cuisine was influenced by its neighboring regions of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Those who try Russian food get surprised by the taste of classic recipes that are usually made with wheat and vegetables – from different kinds of soup, porridge, to stuffed dough.
Here are some of the tastiest food you must try while studying in Russia:
Pelmeni
Considered as Russia’s national dish, pelmeni is a pastry dumpling filled with minced meat and wrapped in thin dough. You can have pelmeni served on its own, in a soup broth, or covered in butter and topped with sour cream. Pelmeni is a crowd favorite in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Borscht
Originally from Ukraine but adopted by Russians as a specialty, borscht is a beet soup full of meat and sautéed vegetables. Beets may seem like a strange choice for soup, but it became a popular soup dish for Russians and other nationalities. You can have your borscht served hot or cold. It is best eaten with a dollop of sour cream on top.
Solyanka
Solyanka is a thick, sour, and spicy soup consisting of different meats such as beef, ham, bacon, and sausage, as well as vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and onions. This dish is a meal in itself and is common in Russia, Ukraine, and the former states of the Soviet Union.
Shchi
A cabbage soup, this Russian food can either be sour shchi when sauerkraut is used or green shchi when spinach, sorrel, and other greens are used. This soup typically has potatoes, onions, carrots, and meat in it.
Blini
If you’re waiting for something sweet on this list, then try some crepe-like blini. A blini is a pancake made with wheat that is rolled with fillings such as cheese, jam, sour cream, or chocolate syrup. Blini is so special and important for Russians that a festival named Maslenitsa celebrates the beginning of spring with blinis.
Ukha
For seafood fans, you should try ukha, a fish soup with clear broth. It can be made from fish such as ruffe, northern pike, bream, and wels catfish. It also has vegetables such as leek, bay leaf, potato, parsley, and tarragon.
Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is a Russian dish made with lots of beef strips in mushroom sauce or smetana (sour cream), paired with rice, potatoes, or noodles. This dish traces back its roots to the mid-19th century and became a world-renowned Russian specialty.
Shashlik
Shashlik is the Russian version of kebabs. It consists of grilled cube meat and vegetables just like the usual kebab.
Pirozhki
Popular street food in Russia and Ukraine, pirozhki became an easy comfort food for locals. These are fried puff pastries either baked or fried, filled with meat, cabbage, potatoes, or cheese.
Learn about the Russian culture and why international students choose Russia as a study destination by reading our articles here at MSM Unify overseas education consultancy.
