Russian Food

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

So as I stated in a previous blog that I have some Russian blood within me and I have to say I must have some of my mom’s skills when it comes to cooking. I have to say I love food! I love Russian food especially because I grew up with those sorts of foods. From pelimini, piroshky, blini, and tasty kvass. What are these foods, you may ask? Well like each country has their signature dishes like India has Biryani, Dak makhani, and Malai Kofta. They are absolutely delicious.

Now you may be thinking that these foods are no way these foods are a staple in Russian life, of course I cannot say that it is in Russia but this is what I grew up with. Pelimini are a small meat, fish, cabbage, potatoes, or rice filled dumplings, of my favorite is sausage meat and rice. You may be wondering why I didn’t put chicken meat or any other poultry mix? It’s because I’ve never had any pelimini what has any poultry but now you have given me a wonderful idea. Someday soon I will attempt to make some poultry filled pelimini at my new residency; but I may need to get a meat grinder which can get into serious dough… Anyone have any suggestions for a cheap desent meat grinder for a good price? Thank you for all your help!

Now piroshky are made with regular pizza dough and are made in two different styles. The deep fried variety and the baked variety. Now personally I like the baked piroshky because it has a fresh taste. Now what meats do we put in the piroshky? Well it’s very similar to the pelimini fillings though I have to say my favorite type of piroshky is the one my baba’s mushroom and bean sprouts if you guys don’t know what baba means, well the familiar translation, grandmother. When we sit down to eat this tasty meal we use condiments like ketchup, soy sauce, sirrachi, and sour cream.

Blini are one of the top favorite Russian foods because they are made with a crepe batter (don’t crepes come from France?). They may be a little thicker than crepe batter but they taste just as good, Nummy! When creating the blini we use filling such as cottage cheese, sausage meat, beef and cheese, and then the regular beef. When I cook my blini, especially the beef and cheese, I use some tomato sauce or juice and smother the blini in the tomato’s sauce and leave it to bake for an hour. Once it comes out of the oven the melty cheese mixed with the tomato sauce is just divine. It reminds me of enchilada that are a staple in Mexico.

I don’t know if many people know about the drink known as braga but kvass is very similar; it is created via fermented fruits. Isn’t it funny that wine and kvass are actually created by rotting fruits? Weird? Well kvass is a very versatile ingredient or you can just drink it straight. It’s difficult to make this drink properly due to the face that you cannot shake it when you pour it or you’ll have frizzy stuff all over the place.

Thanks to my Russian decent I have learned quite a lot about the food and culture of my roots. Pelimeni, piroshky, blini, and kvass, nummy tasty food! I love food!