Russian Food Recipe Ingredients
As with most foods of the world, the Russian dining table was set by its geographical area, taking influences from other countries like Germany, the Ukraine and Italy. Because of Russia's extensive winter climate, foods that grow well in cold weather are most commonly used in lieu of fresh leafy vegetables and fruits. The list of common ingredients for Russian meals is short but lends itself to preparing a wide variety of items.
Fish
Many Russians are Orthodox Christians, and according to Russian-Crafts.com, during fasts and holy days Orthodox Christians abstain from dairy products and meat. Because of that, fish and vegetarian items are an integral part of the Russian diet and frequently used in daily cooking. Ukha is a fish soup traditionally made by fisherman with the catch of the day. Any whole, cleaned, small freshwater fish can be used in the soup, along with carrots, celery, garlic, onions, potatoes, bay leaves, dill and peppercorns.
Grains
Bread is a staple in the traditional Russian diet, enjoyed during mealtime and snacks. Some of the more commonly found Russian breads include Borodinskiy, Bun with Bran, Gortchitchniy, Nareznoy, Pletyonoe, Rzhanoy, Tchernavskiy, Ukrainskiy and Zolotistiy.
Russian meals often incorporate wheatberries and barley as side dishes. Grain flour is also used to make Pirozhki, a baked or fried stuffed pie, made either large or in individual portions. They are often filled with a combination of ground meat, mushrooms, potatoes and dill.
Hearty Vegetables
Heartier vegetables such as cabbage and root vegetables-beets, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes and radishes-easily withstand the Russian climate, hence have become a part of most family meals in Russia. Blini is a potato pancake that can be served as both a sweet and a savory dish depending on what it is dressed or stuffed with. Sauerkraut, another common Russian recipe ingredient, is made by pickling shredded cabbage with vinegar. Borsch is a popular soup using beets and a blend of hearty vegetables.
Tags: carrots celery, , Food Recipe Ingredients, onions potatoes, Orthodox Christians