Russian food and Russian beverages

In Russia, pasta meals are poor people or those people who want to cook the food quickly (for example, students or bachelors). Hot pasta flavored with butter and (or) ketchup, sometimes sprinkled with grated cheese or herbs.

Packages with instant noodles, we are called "hobo-pack", as they are affordable, even homeless people.

As a garnish are also used:
- Potatoes (boiled, fried in sunflower oil or lard, as well as mashed potatoes)
- Different cereals (buckwheat, rice), and boiled peas, cabbage or vegetable ragout

Semolina porridge and millet grains - is independent dishes. Also used as a separate dish vegetable stew very different composition, or made at home or bought in the form of semi-finished products.

The main course during the day is a meat soup. It's cooked vegetables in a meat broth. Meat from which broth is cooked, cut into small pieces and put in a bowl of soup or, more rarely, on a separate plate. Often cabbage soup with potatoes (shchi), or with the addition of beet (borscht), or with mushrooms. In general, various soups recipes there are so many. As great number of condiments, which are put into the soup - sour cream, mayonnaise, horseradish, pepper and bell pepper, fresh garlic or dry garlic.

Fish soup (ukha) is eaten less frequently, cook it, usually from river fish.

Generally meals without soup (dry rations), we considered harmful to health.

Russian eat a lot of salted and pickled vegetables - often cooked at home, rarely purchased in store or vegetable market. In the fall, home cellar, there were whole rows of glass jars with lecho, pickled tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini and other vegetables. Also in large quantities dried, salted and pickled mushrooms.

Especially prized homemade sauerkraut (although it is produced and in cooking workshops as preserves). I'm not mistaken if I say that in Russia in autumn harvested megatons of sauerkraut. In the Caucasus region enjoys great success sauerkraut, which produces a sect of the Molokans, who lives in Armenia - Molokan cabbage buys even the Ministry of Defence to supply the soldiers. Sauerkraut prepared in different ways - with horse-radish, red pepper, with cranberries. This product contains a lot of vitamin C, and vitamin U, which prevents the occurrence of gastric ulcers.

Of the meat products are widely used chicken as the cheapest. Pork is used in frying and in stewed, and boiled. Beef - often to the soup. Lamb and rabbit - a rarity in the diet. Sausages mainly pork, there are horse sausage. If funds allow, many people prefer products from a single meat - cold boiled pork or chop, smoked chicken. In selling a lot of factory chops, but much tastier home

Of particular note dumplings - portions of ground beef, wrapped in pieces of dough. This product is boiled in boiling water. Manufactured many varieties of ravioli factory in the form of semi-finished products, but some housewives make their own ravioli. There are also dumplings with cottage cheese, potato or mushroom stuffing

Marine fish used fried, stewed and boiled, as a main dish. There are several price categories of smoked fish, of which can be selected and the poor, and rich people. Caviar is also different - from the cheap (about $ 1.5 per 250 grams) to expensive ($ 150 per 1 kg).

The famous Russian pancakes - only fresh, this is usually a festive foods that make themselves housewives. Those spring rolls, which are sold in frozen form - just a means to quickly satisfied with a reasonable cost.

It is used a lot of milk. In the morning of the big farms in the city brought in barrels with fresh milk, which is sold on tap and sold out instantly. Also, these vendors bring cottage cheese, cream and sour cream, which are in great demand. In general, preference is given to dairy products that are made "here and now" and buy them from familiar suppliers. Factory dairy products - the second highest bid.

In Russia, made a lot of rye bread, which is considered the "main bread." Price loaf weighing 750 grams - about $ 0.7, depending on the variety. Wheat bread takes up less space than in Europe. While the cakes and biscuits very different people are loved.

Of course, drink coffee and we, as a powder, and instant. But the majority of drinking tea, black or green. Also in the course of herbal teas, including currant leaves, St. John's wort and other herbs.

Products made from corn, we are rare, mostly popcorn sold in movie theaters and several shops. Although canned corn is very popular as an ingredient of many salads.

The price of fresh vegetables in Russia is highly dependent on the season. For example, a wedding, we usually take place in summer or autumn, when you can buy cheaply a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables for the wedding table.

Influences of other people on a diet most of all Russian influence Ukrainians and people of the Caucasus - the Ukrainians 'gave' us soup and dumplings without meat, and Caucasians - kebabs, adjika, lobio, khachapuri and some other dishes. Dumplings with meat - it's Siberian invention.

Of course, there are regional differences, mainly depending on climatic zones and national characteristics.

The most "national" Russian drink - this kvass!

Factory kvass in bottles often do not deserve attention, there are a lot of stabilizers and other chemical additives. Dispensing kvass - mostly seasonal goods. Trade in kvass filling begins May 1 and ends on 1 September or later. Kvass trade of the yellow barrels on wheels with a capacity of 900 liters. 1 liter of kvass is $ 0.6.
In addition, many are made kvass at home, using ready-made starter, bought at the store, or cooked yourself.

Kvass not just drink - it is used as a cooking broth cold summer soup called "okrochka" ("hash"). Becomes a mixture of diced vegetables (radishes, cucumbers, potatoes, green and / or onions, lettuce, sorrel), sliced boiled eggs, chopped sausage or ham. This mixture is poured fresh kvass, and added more sour cream and salt to taste. Yum!

Beer in Russia sold a lot - and in glass bottles and cans. Basically it is a light beer and dark beer - a rarity.
Ordinary bottled beer produced in Russia (0.5 liters) costs from $ 0.85 to $ 1.25. Imported - expensive.
Connoisseurs and lovers prefer beer, more often than not filtered, the local production.

Sales of beer is limited by age. Drinking beer (as well as other alcoholic drinks) outside specially equipped areas is prohibited, it is necessary the penalty, but some people dare to enter into conflict with the police.

Grape wine is most often designed for the festive table, the price for a bottle capacity of 0.75-0.8 l starts at $ 5.
There is good wine in tetrapaks, for picnics and corporate events, ranging in price from $ 3 per liter.
And there is a very cheap low-grade types of wine, consumers who are almost exclusively alcoholics, they cost about $ 1.7 per liter.
Wine on tap is sold mainly in the southern regions of Russia.

Earlier in Russia was carried out quite a lot of fruit and berry wines (usually this was done by regional mills and shops and fruit farms) are often very good quality, tasty and pretty cheap. But now the production of wine is almost completely ruined.

Finally, the vodka. The legendary drink in Russia. The cost of ordinary vodka - from $ 7 to $ 8.5 per liter (a more expensive variety). Available mostly bottles of 0.5 liters. Depending on the location of vodka rather varies in quality. In Soviet times, was highly valued, "Wheat" and "Stolichnaya" vodka production in Moscow, and vodka Shatsky distillery (in a small town Shatsk, Ryazan region). Now to find a "normal" vodka is quite difficult. In selling a lot of so-called "scorched" vodka made in the republics of the Caucasus in violation of the rules of national standard, as well as counterfeit vodka and vodka with dangerous additives, alcohol intensifies the effect.

In addition, there is moonshine. In Russia, allowed to manufacture moonshine at home for their own consumption, but it is forbidden to sell it. However, illegal trade of moonshine exists liter of moonshine usually costs $ 4.2.