Russian food doesn’t exactly top the popularity charts in America, which is a shame, really, because this huge country has a lot to offer besides vodka and caviar.
If you ever find yourself in Moscow, these are the 18 Russian foods you definitely need to dig your teeth into.
What does it taste like: Like a chunky, cold stew eaten straight from the tupperware at 2 in the night to satiate a midnight hunger run. The sour cream balances out the sweetness, and the red of the beet looks incredibly pretty.
What is it: Strips of beef sauteed in a sauce of butter, white wine, sour cream (called ‘smetana’ in Russia), mustard and onions. Eaten either straight or poured over rice or noodles.
What does it taste like: Wholesome and hearty. Although it derives its name from the influential Stroganov family in Russia and you can find variants in fancy restaurants, it still tastes like a no-fuss dish you’d make on a Sunday evening.
What is it: Cabbage cooked in red wine vinegar, applesauce, butter and onions. Diced apples, sugar, bay leaves and cloves added on top.
What does it taste like: Just as the name describes – sweet and sour. The apple and applesauce balances out the sourness of the red wine vinegar and complements the crunch of the cabbage.
What is it: A hearty soup made from thick chunks of beef and/or pork, cooked for hours over a low flame with garlic, tomatoes, peppers and carrots.
What does it taste like: This dish was originally from Georgia but can now be found all over Russia. It’s hearty and home-like. Eat it with Georgian lavash bread and it’s a meal by itself.
What is it: Shredded or minced beef wrapped in cabbage and steamed/boiled until cooked. Found all over Eastern Europe, though the Russians like to add some sour cream on top, which really brings out the flavors.
What does it taste like: The boiled cabbage texture can be off-putting for some, but the practice of adding sour cream on top makes up for it. Either way, you either love golubtsy and think it’s the greatest thing on Earth, or you hate it completely. There is no middle path when it comes to golubtsy.
What is it: Potatoes, pickles, bologna, eggs, and carrots swimming in a bowl of mayo.
What does it taste like: Olivie – or Olivier Salad – is the most quintessential of all Russian salads. Every cook has his own recipe and it’s a staple in every Russian home. It tastes like gooey goodness, especially when the mayo is fresh and homemade.
What is it: Thin, crepe-like pancakces made from unleavened dough, usually topped with savory or sweet toppings such as minced beef, caviar, or apples.
What does it taste like: Like crepes, but only more savory. A Russian favorite is to top blinis with caviar, which makes for very interesting breakfast fare.
What is it: A cold soup made from buttermilk, potatoes and onions, garnished with dill.
What does it taste like: Surprisingly delicious, given the simplicity of the recipe. The quality of the potatoes and the freshness of the buttermilk is what makes it. Okroshka soup can also be made from other vegetables, though Russian potatoes work best.
What is it: Mashed potatoes, ground beef, onions and cheese filled inside thick dough pastry and deep fried/baked.
What does it taste like: Like a cross between a calzone and a samosa. It’s stupid simple to make and you can find variants that include everything from fish to olives. A staple throughout Eastern Europe.
What is it: Dumplings of ground beef and cilantro.
What does it taste like: Like Chinese dumplings, except with more Eastern European flavors. The secret of their deliciousness is that the filling is not cooked before being filled into the dumplings. This way, when the filling cooks inside the dumpling, all the juices stay trapped inside.
What is it: Thick, crusty bread shaped like a boat and filled with varieties of melted cheese.
What does it taste like: Freshly baked bread is delicious. Freshly baked bread with 4-5 types of cheese on top is even more delicious. Some people like to throw in an egg on top, which takes the deliciousness level all the way to 11.
What is it: A stew made from beef, potatoes, carrots, parsley, and celery, lightly spiced with garlic, cloves, and dill. Served hot with sour cream.
What does it taste like: Like home. This is a Russian comfort food that is easy to cook and can accommodate tons of different ingredients. You’ll find the zharkoye on dining tables all across the country.
What is it: Dumplings made from thin, unleavened dough and filled with minced meat, onions, mushrooms, and sometimes, turnip.
What does it taste like: Like a particularly Russian variant of the Chinese dumpling. The dough is what makes this special. It’s also pretty flexible and can accommodate any kind of ingredient, which is why it is a favorite among bachelors and students in Russia.
What is it: A kind of shesh kebab made over an open fire. You can use any kind of meat, though Russians prefer pork. The marinade ingredients vary from region to region as well, ranging from red wine to vinegar to pomegranate juice.
What does it taste like: You can’t go wrong with grilled chunks of meat. Russia loves its shashlik and you can’t walk two blocks in Moscow without coming across a shashlychnaya – tiny restaurants that specialize in shashlik. Traditional Russian shashlik is made over a wood fire with herb leaves often tossed in to enhance the flavor.
What is it: Spicy gingerbread made from honey and filled with jam or condensed milk. It is customary to imprint the bread with intricate designs and engravings.
What does it taste like: Spicy, sweet, and wholesome. The Tula Gingerbread is a very Russian take on the classic gingerbread recipe. It occupies a significant enough place in Russian cuisine that Tula even opened a museum dedicated to the bread in
What is it: Pastries filled with potatoes, meat, cabbage or cheese.
What does it taste like: Sweet and savory. The dough is the star and the meat is just the supporting actor in this recipe. Traditional pirozhki is glazed with egg and baked, though it isn’t uncommon to deep fry the pastry.
What is it: Russian ice cream. Creamier and richer than its American counterpart.
What does it taste like: Cold and creamy. Russians love their ice cream as much as they love their vodka. You’ll find little morozhenoe push carts on every corner in Moscow. The ice cream uses a lot of rich dairy and is usually topped with chocolate or strawberries.
What is it: Deep fried balls or little logs of unleavened dough and topped with hot honey syrup. The pile of honey coated dough balls is usually left to harden before eating.
What does it taste like: Deep-fried dough and honey is a combination everyone ought to taste at least once. Chak-Chak is particularly popular among the Tatars, where you can find it being sold in every city and village.
Russia is a huge country and this post doesn’t even begin to cover the variety of its cuisine. But if you ever feel like experimenting with Russian food beyond borscht and vodka, this list is a pretty good place to start!
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who said that Khinkali is russian food??:)
Yes, its Russian food. Although a lot of people say its Georgian food.
no no .. I am georgian and i know it is georgian food and also mTsvadi 🙂
I would love to go Georgia and try the best Georgian foods and make a list 🙂
sure 🙂 i can help u
American in Russia for 24 years. Yep It’s Georgian. Honestly? Georgian food is amazing. Russia has few tasty dishes, but Georgian food kicks butt!
Khinkali, Khachapuri and Mtsvadi (Russain says ShaShliki), they are Goergian food mand.
Khinkali, khachapuri, shashlik, chak-chak have nothing to do with Russian cuisine.
Okroshka is made with kvas.
Blini can be crepe-like or thick, doesn’t matter. Popular fillings are minced meat or curd, toppings are sour cream or honey. We make pancakes with basically anything that’s why thin ones are more popular. Pancakes with honey are #1 though, traditional for maslenitsa (Butter Week).
Who said khinkali, mcvadi or especially Khachapuri is Russian?? All of that is Georgian. The word khachapuri is made out of two georgian words Khacho and Puri, Khacho means cottage cheese and Puri means bread in GEORGIAN! And the type of Khachapuri shown here “Acharuli Khachapuri” is ofcourse also Georgian. Achara “Acharuli” is the name of a region IN Georgia and if you ever find yourself in Achara Georgia you will NEED to try the Acharuli Khachapuri since that’s where they make it the best!
Settle down, Beavis. Most Americans would flock to Atlanta to look for Khacho and Puri, no reason for you to blow a gasket.
I am sure you are right, but if foreigners are visiting Russia, they would like to know what might be on the menu in restaurants in Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi or wherever.
I am sure you would also agree that Port after a grand feast is a very English tradition, even if Port comes from Portugal….
ITT butthurted грузины, ибо грузины по-жизни butthurted.
Butthurt was your mom when she gave birth to poo like you
calm down and ask your mom, maybe she will tell better about Georgians :)))
Borscht, Solyanka, Golubtsy – ukrainian food, not russian
I could agree on Borscht but Solyanka not at all. Sour soups i.e with sorrel or pickles is pure Russian invention.
Well guess if go to the world cup I will try to eat as much as I can of this foods
OMG who wrote that? Khinkali and Khachapuri aren’t russian food… these are Georgian dishes !! Do not messe up this enymore and do not mislead people
Khinkali and Khachapuri aren’t russian food these are Georgian dishes
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian food
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian dishes.
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian food!!!!! 🇬🇪 NOT FUCKING RUSSIAN!!!! 😡😡😡😡
RRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
why does it look like a vagina
No need to go ape !!
fucking georgian c rap
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian dishes.
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian dishes, edit your post mate
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian dishes you morons!
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian!!!!🇬🇪 Not Russian!
Khinkali and Khachapuri aren’t Russian food..Theese are Georgian tradishional dishes..
This post contains wrong information. Khinkali and Khachapuri are georgian dishes!!!
Edit your article please! Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian cuisines! It’s all about lack of awareness!!!
Khinkali and khachapuri are Georgian food‼️🇬🇪🇬🇪😡😡not Russian‼️
Hey, maybe you did not know before, but you should check before you write. Khachapuri and khinkali are Georgian foods. I hope, you will edit this post 🙂
this fucking list is full of Georgian dishes. :)))) Only Russian national dish is SHIT
А ты дебил!
Khinkali and khachapuri are GEORGIAN food,not russian. Shashlik is CAUCASIAN,so edit this post and do not lie!
I want to make a correction, because number 10 and number eleven dishes belong to Georgian cuisine! ! !
Khinkali and Khachapuri, both are Georgian national and very old dishes, please correct!
fuck you Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian national dishes
if khinkali and khachapuri is your then russian girls are our
:(((
LOL…
Who told you that Khinkali & Khachapuri are russian? Then, add Sushi and Mcdonalds to this list, as you can buy them in Moscow, so you can say that it’s russian 😀
khinkali and khachapuri is Georgian food. Do you know history Aliosha? avoeee
Khinkali and Khachapuri aren’t russian food… :/
Khinkali and Khachapuri aren’t Russian food. They’re Georgian traditional dishes.So you have to edit this post!!!!
Khinkali and khachapuri are Georgian traditional food no-russian!
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian food motherfuckers
fuck you motherfucker. eat your shitty food with your crappy so called wine
What an stupidity … If you write about something… Check and study the topic in advance… khinkali and Khachapuri is GEORGIAN FOOD.. remember !!!
I am from Georgia and I demand from the author to edit this article and take out KHINKALI and KHACHAPURI from this list!!! They are Georgian traditional foods. All can check it in history of foods!!! Stop this shit😡😡😡
Half of the above mentioned food is Georgian and Russians(and not only) admire Georgian food.
Are u fucking crazy?!..Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian natioanl food..pls check your information for future..
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian food! 🇬🇪 NOT Russian food!!!!!!
Khinkali and khachapuri is Georgian national food!!! These are not russian!!!!!!
khinkali and khachapuri are georgian dishes not Russian. :)) correct this post!!!
Khinkali and khachapuri are GEORGIAN food, not russian😑
Are you crazy? Khinkali, Khachapuri and ShaShliki (in Georgia we call it Mtsvadi) are Georgian food. Delete this article!!!
Us, Georgian people.. we do NOT like somebody taking credit from us. If somebody has heard anything about Georgia, trust me one of the reasons is Kitchen! We are well known because of kitchen. So pleasee! Do not steal what we owe. Khinkali, Khachapuri and Mtsvadi (shashlik) is Georgian. Whoever made this article if he/she actually did proper research would know that , Khachapuri on a picture is Adjaruli Khachapuri. That even says what part of Georgia is the hometown for this type of Khachapuri! Adjara!
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian food!!!!!
Khachapuri and Khinkali are Georgian food!!!
Khinkali is russian? Khatchapuri is russian? No, maybe, your mother is russian, so you desided to still something from somebody, like russians do it all the time. BTW, Shahlik is also not russian. Greetings from Georgia to your mother.
Khinkali and khachapuri are Georgian 😎 WTF?
who the fuck said that Khinkali and Khachapuri are russian foods. delete or edit this list
Khinkali, Khachapuri and Mtsvadi(Shashlik) are Georgian food!!
After occupying the Georgian territories, they decided to steal Georgian food too, because its as sweet as the territories yeh? Hhh gays
its wrong information and its shame ! when u write the information it must be trusted and verified !!!!!! khinkali and khachapuri are gorgian national food ! both are more old than russia 🙂
Hey douchebag edit this stupid article! Khinkali and Khachapuri are part of Georgian cuisine!
Why is this post still alive? Edit or delete this!!!! Khinkali and khachapuri are georgian dishes!!!
khinkali and khachapuri are Georgian food.
Khinkali and Khachapuri are Georgian food. 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪 Not Russian bitches 😡
Thanks for the list of Delicious Russian and Georgian’s food. I am looking forward to eating that while living the world cup
Georgian’s stop being butt hurt! So what?! We all eat similar things. It’s food!!! As long as there’s food that’s all that matters!!! And stop this Russian crap! All you that are talking crap about Russia need to go on the BLACK LIST and NEVER BE ALLOWED IN RUSSIA!!! That way you can stay home and eat your own food! Taaa daaa. На здоровье!
calm down Georgians. 90% of Russians know that Khachapuri and Khinkali are Georgian. In Russia, you usually find them in Georgian restaurants and not in Russian restaurants. The guy wrote that Solyanka is “originally Georgian” although this is wrong too because Solyanka is Russian/Ukrainian. Stop freaking out because of a page with mistakes.
This list misses Shuba or “Herring under a fur coat” (shuba means fur coat in Russian) which is a salad made of herring, carrot, onion, potatoes, and mayonnaise. It is a very popular salad in Russia and the countries of the former USSR. To learn more about Russian food visit https://www.explorussia.com/single-post/2018/09/05/Food-during-the-Trans-Siberian-Railroad-Tour