Russian Foods You Should Try at Least Once
You would struggle to find a Russian that hasn't eaten pelmeni, beef stroganoff or blini, unless, perhaps, they're vegetarian! Find out about these three excellent Russian staples below.
Pelmeni are a kind of dumpling. They can have different fillings depending on which region they're from, but many have a mix of meat including pork, beef, lamb, and sometimes fish, or even venison.
The word pelmeni actually comes from pel'nyan', which means "ear bread" — probably because the dumplings can sometimes look like little ears! Boiled pelmeni are usually served with a topping, which can also be different depending on the region, but sour cream and dill are common choices.
Because pelmeni are easy to make, freeze and cook, they have become one of Russia's most convenient and popular fast foods.
This famous Russian dish was probably named after a member of the wealthy Stroganov family during the 19th century. The dish can be made in many different ways, but a popular version is made with pieces of beef cooked with onion and mushroom, then served in a sauce made with sour cream.
Today you can find it all around the world. But if you want to try genuine Russian stroganoff, Moscow's Café Pushkin is a great place to start.
Blini are thin pancakes, like French crêpes, that can be eaten with a huge variety of fillings or toppings. Some traditional options include sour cream and salmon, caviar or mushrooms.
People have been eating blini in Russia for over 1,000 years. The round pancakes are especially popular during the sun festival of Maslenitsa, which happens the week before the start of spring.
Blini are loved so much that even Russian writers, including Chekhov and Pushkin, have written stories about them. They also appear in poems and songs.
