1. Russian winters are cold, which means carbs, proteins and fats
These cute little ("ear-shaped") dumplings were traditionally made at the start of winter, and stored outside to freeze and were boiled as they were needed. They're made of a thin flour dough filled with filled with freshly minced pork, lamb and beef and usually served with melted butter, dill and a dollop of sour cream.
Ural pelmeni. Source: Anton Smart
2. Blinis are made to celebrate the end of winter and beginning of spring
and other pancakes are eaten year-round, but become mandatory during Maslenitsa or "Butter Week", a traditional pagan holiday that marks the end of winter. The round shape of the blini symbolises the sun, and whipping up a delicious batch was believed to bring health and prosperity for the year ahead. Toppings for blinis vary hugely, and may be sweet and savoury—caviar, mushrooms, fish, berries, sour cream, condensed milk, honey, jam, and .
Blinis.
3. Beef stroganoff was the most Googled dish of 2017
Believe it or not, the wasn't tuna poke bowl, cauliflower rice or fried chicken—it was the humble Russian comfort dish, .
Beef Stroganoff. Source: Julia Frey
beef stroganoff: big in 2017
What are the most Googled foods for 2017?
4. Piroshki are not Pierogi
In what are often confused - and almost sound like a slight mispronunciation of the same thing to newbies - are a matter of national pride to the Russians and the Poles. Both are dumplings that have a huge variety in filling, from fruit to meat, but pierogi are Polish dumplings that are made of a pasta-like dough that is typically boiled, and Russian piroshki are more like hand-pies, with a pastry or dough-like crust that is typically baked. Try the difference with vs .
Beef and cabbage parcels (pirozhki s govyadinoy i kapustoi). Source: John Laurie
5. Soups are an important part of daily eating
To most Russians, soup is an essential part of each day, eaten either for lunch, or served first at lunch and dinner before a main dish. Popular soups include borscht (beetroot soup), solyanka (a sweet and sour beef and pork soup), mushroom soup, and the country's oldest recorded soup, .
Russian fish soup (ukha).
5. Mayonnaise is all-mighty
Perhaps it’s the cold weather and need for extra calories, but mayonnaise has been the go-to roast marinade, salad dressing, bread topping, and general all-around condiment of choice for Russians since Imperial times. Sample a Russian-style mayonnaise-enhanced dish with this .
Beetroot, carrot and potato salad (vinegret).
6. Easter in Russia is a busy time for eating
Russian Orthodox Christians mark the end of 40 days of fasting during the Great Lent by preparing elaborate Easter banquets. In addition to staple favourites like beef stroganoff and chicken kiev, spreads may include homemade breads, pies and a range of desserts. On Easter morning, many families will start the day with and . 
Easter bread (kulich).
7. Chicken Kiev is a Russian dish, despite being the name of the Ukrainian capital
: A Russian dish that came via France and was given a Ukrainian name in New York. No one is entirely sure why it was given the name, but the origins of the dish are thought to be in early 19th-century Russia, when French food was extremely fashionable and Russian chefs were sent to Paris to train. In France the dish is made with veal, in Russia, it’s chicken.
Chicken kiev (kotleta po kievsky). Source: SBS Food
8. Buckwheat was a Russian superfood long before superfoods were a thing
It may be one of the hot-list grains of recent times thanks to gluten-free and grain-advocating wellness trends, but buckwheat groats (“kasha” in Russian) have been a long-time staple of the Russian diet. Harness the nourishment power of buckwheat with this Russian , a simple and comforting autumn-winter dish.
Kasha pilaf with hot smoked trout and chervil.
9. Syrniki are Russia's hotcakes
Both are sweet round cakes made of a fried batter eaten for breakfast (and sometimes as a treat at other times of the day), but what makes a syrniki different from other hotcakes? Syrniki are made from a beloved type of Russian farmers cheese called tvorog, similar to cottage cheese. Why not take a break from your regular hotcakes and whip up a batch of this weekend? You can expect soft, warm pillows of sweetened cottage cheese surrounded by a crisp, golden casing.
Russian sweet cheese fritters (syrniki). Source: Julia Frey
10. If you want to eat like the Imperial Russian aristocracy, eat Korolevsky cake
Korolevsky means King’s, making the a royal one, and it certainly has a royal lineup of ingredients: three layers of walnut, chocolate and poppy seed sponges, bound together by smears of caramel filling. It was traditionally made in the imperial cities of Russia, and eaten by the aristocracy.
Korolevsky cake. Source: Feast magazine
11. Potatoes aren't just for vodka
Russian produces almost 500 pounds of potatoes per person per year. Its hardiness means it can survive the harsh, freezing temperatures of Russia - in some areas the mean annual temperature is -15C. It's no surprise then that potatoes are ubiquitous in Russian cuisine - aside from vodka, they're used in soups, piroshiki, salads, and even creative applications like this .
Potato ravioli in beetroot broth. Source: Derek Swalwell
