Unusual Russian food (Part-)

Class 5 School N 70 Togliatti PLEKHANOV ARTEM

Unusual Russian Food (PART-1)

Top of the strangest dishes of Russian cuisine PART- 1

Top of the strangest dishes of Russian cuisine that baffle foreigners - get ready for a gastronomic journey beyond the usual! Russian cuisine is a bottomless well of flavors, aromas and, sometimes, completely unexpected culinary solutions for an unprepared person. Formed by the harsh climate, the need for long-term storage of products and the use of everything that nature (or farming) gives, it has given birth to dishes that can evoke a wide range of emotions in a foreigner - from mild bewilderment to a real cultural shock. Let's throw away the stereotypes about borscht and pelmeni - today we will immerse ourselves in the world of real Russian gastronomic wonders. Prepare your taste buds and your sense of humor!

1. Lard

Quote: "Lard is a distant relative of bacon, consists of layers of fat, usually salted and seasoned with black pepper. Lard is stored in the refrigerator and eaten raw. In fact, you are eating pure fat. With rye bread unrivaled!" According to a foreigner, it is worth trying lard, if only because it sounds and looks just terrible from the habit. But what a rich aroma, what a unique taste! "This is the perfect dish to get out of your culinary comfort zone," one travel portal recommends.

2. Dumplings

Dumplings are also described in a funny way because they are often served with sour cream, which doesn't have a specific word in English. "It's like cream cheese, but thicker, greasy, and heavy," they describe it. Therefore, sometimes the word "sour cream" is simply written in Latin. "They're like tortellini, but better," tourists write about dumplings. Or here's another one: "This is a specific Russian version of Chinese dumplings. They are made from thin, unleavened dough, similar to that used for pastries. The filling is made of minced meat, onions, mushrooms, and sometimes turnips." Dumplings with turnips are cool, right? Not all Russians have tried them.

3. Buckwheat

Every Russian knows how much nutrients buckwheat porridge contains, and we have already become accustomed to the unattractive brownish-gray color of this product, and we have even learned to create new flavors by adding mushrooms and onions or milk and butter to the porridge. However, for foreigners, this product remains a "strange mess," and they are even afraid to try it. No problem! We'll get more.

4. Liver

A storehouse of minerals and nutrients. People with low hemoglobin levels understand that this is not even a meal, but rather a "cure for all ills." And if the liver is well-roasted, seasoned with spices, and served with the same mysterious sour cream, it can be quite delicious. However, foreigners may be intimidated by the dark appearance and strange taste of this product. And when it comes to a combination of buckwheat and liver, for many, trying this duo on a plate is akin to jumping off a cliff.

5. Fish in aspic

“ What a nuisance this your fish in aspic!” says the sincere and disappointed Ippolit in “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!” And many foreigners will support him and be surprised that it could be otherwise. Is it really possible to eat cold slippery with a fish flavor on New Year’s Eve and enjoy it? Quite, if you add horseradish to it. Although a lot still depends on the talent of the hostess. After all, it can turn out and really not very edible.

6. Befstroganov

A dish that invariably plunges tourists into a stupor. It is unclear why, by the way. After all, in fact, Befstroganov is just pieces of fried beef in a sour cream sauce. Apparently, it's all about sour cream – since abroad there is no such product, then it will not be possible to cook beef in it. "Healthy and home-made dish. It is similar to what you cook for your family on Sunday evening", - recommend on forums.

7. Pancakes

Our pancakes are called crêpes by foreigners – these are such thin pancakes, which are prepared in central Europe. Some even call pancakes pancakes. And pancakes are actually closer to fritters. Describe this: “Pancakes are an important part of Russian cuisine. At the Russian festival called Maslenitsa, pancakes celebrate the beginning of spring. Pancakes are fatter and thicker than crêpes, they are served with meat, cheese or something sweet. It is best to eat pancakes with caviar or sour cream. Russians also add a disgusting herb called dill to their sour cream, which they put literally everywhere."

8. Golubtsy

"Ground beef wrapped in cabbage and steamed," describes the golubtsy. "Not everyone likes boiled cabbage, but the sour cream on top makes everything better. And you either love golubtsy or hate them. There's no middle ground when it comes to golubtsy." Additionally, foreigners note that without sour cream or tomato sauce, golubtsy look terrible: stuffed cabbage leaves, what's so beautiful about that?

The end of the first part…