Russian cuisine

Russian food… What is the Russian food? One can say that Russian food is what Russians originally eat. However, lunch of a person who lives in Moscow differs much from lunch of a person who lives in Siberian countryside. Russians eat various dishes and traditional meals aren't the only ones they like. So, Russian food in general is a set of traditional meals which most Russians eat not too often.

Russia is mainly a northern country with long-lasting cold winter. The food should give the Russians much energy and warmth to survive during the winter time. So, the essential components of Russian cuisine are those which provide more carbohydrates and fat rather than proteins. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rarely used in food. So, the top five components of a Russian meal are: potatoes (boiled, fried, baked, potato chops, potato pancakes, potato soup, mashed potatoes), bread (bread, toasts), eggs (boiled, fried), meat (pork and beef - chops, stakes), butter (usually added in all meals and spread on bread).

Also popular: cabbage, milk, sour cream, curds, mushrooms, lard, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, berries, honey, sugar, salt, garlic, onions.

Salads are often prepared with mayonnaise. The most favorite salad in Russia is called "olivier" and its recipe was created by a French cook living in Russia in the 19th century. This salad is known in the West as "Russian salad". The Olivier salad is made of boiled vegetables, eggs and meat seasoned with mayonnaise.

Soup is an important part of every meal in Russia, usually eaten in the afternoon. Borsch is the famous Russian soup made of beet root and meat, usually served with sour cream. Vegetable soup shchi is the soup made of cabbage, potatoes and meat. There is also a specification called "lean shchi" which is the same soup but without meat.

Main courses are eaten at dinner (afternoon meal) and supper (evening meal). Most often they include meat (beef, pork, chicken, fish) or vegetables and are served with various garnishes and dressings. Pelmeni are the small balls of minced meat covered with pastry. Vareniki look like pelmeni however inside the pastry there is no meat but berries, potato or curds.

Desserts are usually eaten after the main course or at breakfast. The favorite desserts are: bliny (pancakes) - served with sour cream, honey or jam; oladi - the same as pancakes, but smaller and thicker; pirozhky (pastries) - pastries with apple are most popular; honey (honey from Altay region is considered to be the best); cottage cheese, usually served with honey or berry jam; syrniki can also be called "curd burgers" because they are made of curds and fried on a saucepan after. They are usually eaten with honey, sweet dressings, or jam.

Russians like authentic beverages, like vodka or mors (a berry drink). Also, coffee and tea (with sugar and lemon) are popular. The most popular beverages are: kvas - the bread based sweet beverage, the most popular original beverage in Russia; medovuha - the honey based sweet alcohol beverage; kompot - water with boiled fruit and sugar, served cold; vodka - the most popular Russian brand; beer - Russian beer in general is a bit acid.