Belarusian cuisine is considered to be one of the most diverse cuisines in Europe.

First of all I’d like to mention dishes from potato, which is called “the second bread” in Belarus. Potato is at the Belarusian table every season and in any state - fried, boiled, baked, stuffed. Potato is an ingredient for soups, salads and patties. The most popular dishes from potato are draniki, pancakes, babki, kolduny, kletski. The second place in Belarusian national cuisine belongs to meat and meat products, especially to pork and salted pork fat. Belarusians eat a lot of vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, radish, peas, etc. Belarusian national cuisine also offers fresh, dried, salted and pickled mushrooms and various berries.

When speaking about drinks, the specialties of the cuisine are myadovukha, berezavik, kvas. Kholodnik and okroshkaare traditional cold soups. My favorite dish is borscht which is a beet soup served hot or cold, usually with sour cream.

Topic: Traditional Dishes of Russian Cuisine

Topic: Traditional Russian cuisine

Russia is the world’s largest country, so if differs greatly from region to region. The same can be said about Russian national cuisine, which is rather varied and based on different cultural and historic traditions. Usually any national cuisine is formed under the influence of two main factors: religion, which prescribes eating certain kinds of food, and climate, which determines the availability of various vegetables, fruit, meat and fish products. Orthodoxy, which has traditionally been an official religion in Russia, doesn’t forbid any food. But long fasts prescribing abstinence from meat and other types of animal source food, explain why Russian cuisine includes many vegetarian dishes. And long severe Russian winters help to understand why hot fatty soups and broths are so popular in this country.

Russia is the largest country in the world, so its different regions are very different from each other. The same can be said about Russian national cuisine, which is very diverse and based on different cultural and historical traditions. Typically, any national cuisine is formed under the influence of two main factors: religion, which prescribes the consumption of certain types of food, and climate, which determines the availability of various types of vegetables, fruits, meat and fish products. Orthodoxy, which has traditionally been the official religion in Russia, does not prohibit any food. However, the long fasts, which prescribe abstinence from meat and other animal products, explain why Russian cuisine includes many vegetarian dishes. And the long, harsh Russian winters help us understand why hot, rich soups and broths are so popular in this country.

The most popular Russian soups, which are well-known all over the world, are borshch, shchi, and the cold summer soup okroshka. There are a lot of regional recipes for these dishes, but traditionally, both borshch and shchi are and are served hot with sour-cream and rye bread. Sometimes, for example, during a religious fast, meat can be substituted by fish or mushrooms. Borshch is always cooked with beet-root, which gives it a saturated red color, and shchi must be based on fresh or sour cabbage. As for okroshka, it is mainly cooked in summer. It is a cold soup, where instead of meat broth kvass is used. It contains cold meat (usually beef), boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, cucumbers and green onion. All the ingredients are chopped and mixed. Okroshka is usually served with sour-cream, mustard and horseradish.

The most popular Russian soups, which are well known all over the world, are borscht, cabbage soup and the cold summer soup okroshka. There are many regional recipes for these dishes, but traditionally both borscht and cabbage soup are cooked in strong meat or bone broth and served hot with sour cream and rye bread. Sometimes, for example, during religious fasting, meat can be replaced with fish or mushrooms. Borscht is always prepared with the addition of beets, which gives it a rich red color, and the base of the cabbage soup should be fresh or sauerkraut. As for okroshka, it is prepared mainly in the summer. This is a cold soup where kvass is used instead of meat broth. It contains cold meat (usually beef), boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, cucumbers and green onions. All ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Okroshka is usually served with sour cream, mustard and horseradish.

Pelmeni is one more famous Russian dish. Small balls from minced meat are wrapped into dough made of flour and eggs and then boiled in salted water usually with bay leaves. Pelmeni can be served with sour-cream, table vinegar or horseradish. The filling can be made of any sort of meat – pork, beef, lamb or chicken. a mixed minced meat, for example, pork and beef, or pork, beef and lamb. A vegetarian analogue of pelmeni is vareniki, which is more popular in Ukraine. Fillings for vareniki can be made of cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, berries and so on.

Pelmeni is another famous Russian dish. Small balls of minced meat are wrapped in an unleavened dough of flour and eggs and then boiled in salted water, usually with the addition of a bay leaf. Dumplings can be served with sour cream, vinegar or horseradish. The filling can be prepared from any type of meat - pork, beef, lamb or chicken. However, the best dumplings contain mixed minced meat, such as pork and beef or pork, beef and lamb. A vegetarian analogue of dumplings is varenyky, which is more popular in Ukraine. The filling for dumplings can be made from cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, berries, and so on.

The most popular Russian national salads are vinegret, Olivier salad (abroad it is sometimes called Russian salad), and “dressed herring”. Vinegret is a purely vegetarian salad, which is cooked from chopped boiled vegetables (beetroot, potatoes, carrots), fresh or sour cabbage, pickled cucumbers and onion. Olivier and herring salads are mayonnaise-based and rather substantial. The first one is cooked from boiled vegetables, eggs and boiled meat (which nowadays is often substituted with sausages), and the second one is a layered salad made of pickle herring, boiled potatoes, carrots, beetroots and eggs. Sometimes the herring salad also contains apples.

The most popular Russian national salads are vinaigrette, Olivier (abroad it is often called “Russian salad”) and “herring under a fur coat.” Vinaigrette is a purely vegetarian salad that is prepared from finely chopped boiled vegetables (beets, potatoes, carrots), fresh or sauerkraut, pickles and onions. It is seasoned with vegetable oil. Olivier and “herring” are mayonnaise-based and very filling salads. The first is made from boiled vegetables, eggs and boiled meat (which these days is often replaced with sausage), and the second is a layered salad of salted herring, boiled potatoes, carrots, beets and eggs. Sometimes herring salad also contains apples.

Of course, as blini should not be left unmentioned. of cooking and filling, blini can serve as a dessert or an appetizer. Blini are made of batter, which is poured on a hot frying pan and fried. Blini can be cooked of wheat, rye, oat, or buckwheat flour. They are served with run butter, sour cream, caviar, vinegar pickled mushrooms, berries or jam. Traditionally, blini have been cooked during the Maslenitsa festival,

Essay in English Belarusian Food with translation into Russian

In English. Belarusian Food
Belarusian cuisine is considered to be one of the most diverse cuisines in Europe. It has been largely influenced by Baltic, Slavic and even partially German cuisines. Traditional dishes of this country mainly consist of vegetables, meats and breads. Today, visitors of Belarus can try peasant cuisine of the countryside as well as the sophisticated dishes for the nobility. A traditional peasant meal has included a soup and a main course. One of the most delicious Belarusian soups is called “khaladnik”. It’s a cold type of borscht, which is mainly eaten in summer. This beetroot soup is eaten with sour cream. Potato is the main ingredient of many dishes. It is known as the second bread of Belarusians. Perhaps, everyone has heard of “draniki”. These are thick pancakes made of shredded potatoes. Meat is also widely used in Belarusian cuisine, especially pork. One of the traditional holiday dishes is called “pyachysta”. It is a delicious stew made of large chunks of pork or beef. Slightly smoked salty pork with onions and garlic is also popular. Most meat dishes in this country are served with potatoes or other vegetables. Historically, Belarus has little access to any type of seafood however there are some special fish-based dishes. For example, “yushka” - a fish soup boiled without any seasonings. In general, seasonings are not very popular in Belarusian cuisine. The most famous hard drink in Belarus is “harelka”. It’s similar to Russian vodka, but can be flavored with birch sap or forest herbs. Other traditional Belarusian drinks include kvass, beer, myadukha, etc. Traditional desserts, that are famous far beyond the country, are sweet pancakes with cottage cheese.

Translating to Russian language. Belarusian food
Belarusian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse cuisines in Europe. It is heavily influenced by Baltic, Slavic and even partly German cuisines. Traditional dishes of this country mainly consist of vegetables, meat and bread. Today, visitors to Belarus can try both peasant cuisine from the countryside and gourmet dishes for the nobility. Traditional peasant food included soup and a main course. One of the most delicious Belarusian soups is called “kholodnik”. This is a cold variety of borscht, which is mainly eaten in summer. This beetroot soup is eaten with sour cream. Potatoes are the main ingredient in many dishes. It is known as the second bread of Belarusians. Perhaps everyone has heard of “pancakes”. These are pancakes made from chopped potatoes. Meat is also widely used in Belarusian cuisine, especially pork. One of the traditional holiday dishes is called “pyachysty”. This is a mouth-watering stew made from large cuts of pork or beef. Lightly smoked salted pork with onions and garlic is also popular. Most meat dishes in this country are served with potatoes or other vegetables. Historically, Belarus has limited access to any seafood, but there are also special fish dishes. For example, “yushka” is a fish soup that is prepared without any seasonings. In general, seasonings are not very welcome in Belarusian cuisine. The most famous strong drink in Belarus is “gorilka”. It is similar to Russian vodka, but can be flavored with birch sap or forest herbs. Other traditional Belarusian drinks include kvass, beer, myadha, etc. A traditional dessert that is known far beyond the country's borders is sweet pancakes with cottage cheese.

Belarusian national cuisine has existed for many centuries. It’s influenced by , geographical location, and climate. Agriculture causes using a lot of vegetables in cooking national dishes. Mostly, it was local food that was used in Belarusian cookery but there is a little influence fr om migrants fr om the bordering territories.

History of Belarusian cuisine

Recipes of other nations (Baltic, Jewish, German) appeared in Belarusian cuisine since existing of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. For many centuries Belarusians didn’t consume a lot of meat but they ate lard as the Ukrainians did. It was picked with its skin. As a substitute for meat there were mushrooms however at that time they were not pickedled but dried.

Diary and sweet were almost not consumed in Belarusian cuisine. But there were sweet drinks such as kissel or shortening for a dessert.

Later on Belarusians used more meat in their ration. Usually meat dishes were cooked on holidays. The most popular kinds were pork, beef, poultry and game. Since that time there have been such dishes as machanka, verashchaka, smajanka, home sausages and pickled lard.

River fish was also widely used in national recipes. The most popular species were pike, sturgeon, blackhead, carp, perch, and zander. Soup and dumplings were prepared fr om fish.

Country cuisine was nutritious, simple and fresh. A lot of dishes were served to table being hot. Dishes for princes and gentry were more various and exotic. There were stuffed sanders and delicacy on magnates’ tables.

In Soviet Union times Belarusian cuisine was influenced by other nations. Ukrainian and Caucasian food was served in public places.

In the 20 th century a lot of Belarusian dishes were fr om wheat flour but not from rye as it was earlier. There were also a lot of salads.

Modern Belarusian cuisine

Nowadays it’s hard to use the same products as our ancestors did. Some vegetables and beans disappeared from our table. But many dishes have existed so far: pancakes, dumplings, pickles, kvass and beet soups, homemade sausages, lard, meat dishes.

Potato is an ingredient that exists in many Belarusian dishes. An average Belarusian eats a half of a kilo of potato every day. There are a lot of potato recipes such as draniki, baked puddings, babka, fried and stewed potato.

In Belarus meat is eaten twice as less than in Poland. By the way the most popular meat is not very useful but tasty pork.

The most popular meat dishes:

• bigos – stewed cabbage with meat;
• kolduny – potato fritters with meat;
• machanka – a sauce from different sorts of meat, served with pancakes;
• smajanka – meat pie.

The most popular modern Belarusian soups are uha, borshch, mushroom and bean soup.


As for alcohol drinks there are nastoykas from vodka, cranberry, honey such as zubrovka, crambambulya. Kvass and birch sap is also popular.

Deserts

Honey has been popular throughout all the history. Belarusians like pancakes with honey, honey cereals and pies. Soloduha (a sort of pastry), kissel, baked apples were cooked with honey.

Praniki is a sweet flour dish that was originally called “perniki”. People believe that it took its name from pagan times when people worshiped many gods and one of them was Perun, god of the Sun. At that time people brought something to Gods and especially figures of animals from sweet and tasty pastry. Later on the name changed as well as its taste because now they are made from wheat flour but not from rye.

Pancakes

Scientists still argue about the appearance of pancakes. There are several ideas. Some suggest that pancakes were baked from rye kissel. Another believe that the word ‘pancake’ appeared from the word “mlin” (mill). Earlier pancakes were baked from different sorts of flour. Now they are made mostly from wheat flour, yeast, milk, sour cream, kefir. Usually pancakes are eaten with various toppings, jam or honey.

Belarusian restaurants

You can taste national recipes at where you can find a lot of foreign guests who came to our country. There you can taste not only country dishes but also meals from princes’ tables.

There are a lot of and wh here you can taste fresh baked bread, meat sausages, home cheeses, desserts from honey and fruits.

In a menu of Belarusian restaurants one can find not only our national cuisine but European, Caucasian and oriental dishes. Dishes cooked according to old recipes can be tasted during an, which you can book directly on our website.

However tourists should taste specific Belarusian meals such as draniki, borshch, machnka, sour cabbage, pickled cucumbers, lard and national nastoykas.

All Belarusians like nutritious and tasty food. You can make sure if drop in one of the local restaurants.

Modern Belarusian cookery is based on old national traditions. Dishes from potatoes are very common in Belarusian cuisine. Potatoes are called “the second bread” in Belarus. There are special potato cafes in the country where you can try various potato dishes. Potatoes are included into many salads, served together with mushrooms, meat; different pirazhki (patties) and baked puddings are made from it. The most popular among the Belarusians are traditional draniki, thick pancakes, prepared from shredded potatoes. A lot of place in the diet of the Belarusians belongs to meat and meat products, especially to the pork and salted pork fat. Belarusians eat fresh, dried, salted and pickled mushrooms, and also berries such as bilberry, wild strawberries, raspberries, cranberry and some others. Zatirka is the most popular of flour dishes. Pieces of specially prepared dough are boiled in water and then poured over with milk. An integral part of any dinner is soup. It can be hot or cold. Belarusians are fond of borscht, a thick and rich beet and cabbage soup made with grains, potato and meat. The Belarusian khaladnik, a cold borscht made of beets, beet leaves and served with sour cream, hard-boiled eggs, and boiled potatoes will be pleasant on a hot summer day. Every possible salads are prepared from cabbage, carrots, beans. Bon appetit!

Do you like cooking?

No, to tell the truth I don’t like cooking. It takes a lot of time and frankly speaking I am not very good at cooking and my dishes are not always tasty.

What questions can you ask a friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party?

What dish shall I bring?

Where will the party take place?

Shall I bring some plates or cups?

Shall I bring some drinks?

Who else is invited to the party?

What questions can you ask a waiter when you are ordering a meal in a café?

What would you recommend me to order?

Have you got any vegetarian dishes?

What is the specialty of your café?

Is this dish rich in calories?

What national dish can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?

I would recommend to sample “draniki” To my mind this dish is a specialty of our country, it is delicious. You can also taste borchs and holodnik.

Scientists say that fast food is unhealthy but teenagers can’t stop eating it. What do you think about it?

Personally I try to avoid fast food because it is high in calories but lacking in nutrition. Fast food is high in saturated fat and this type of fat is associated with a greater risk of cancer. What is more, eating a lot of fast food leads to high levels of cholesterol in the blood, which can cause heart diseases. Moreover, if you consume a lot of fast food you are likely to gain weight. So, I think teenagers should make an effort and try to limit the amount of fast food they eat.

Do you personally follow the rules of a healthy way of life? Why(not)? Yes, I personally try to follow the rules of a healthy way of life, I try to avoid junk food, sweets, soda, eat more vegetables and fruit, have regular meals, spend some time in the open air, and take enough exercise.

Can you tell me how to cook one of your favorite dishes?

Frankly speaking I am not very fond of cooking but I can tell you how to prepare draniki.

First you should peel some potatoes, then you should grate them, add an egg, some flour, some salt, mix everything and make little pancakes on a frying pan. Serve your draniki hot with sour cream or butter. Bon appetite!

5.Most of the families want to have a big kitchen in the flat at the same time they have a meal together less and less often. What do you think about it?

To my mind it, is a pity if a family don't have time to have a meal together because it could be a very nice tradition when people can become closer, share their experiences, learn more about each other's lives and enjoy a delicious home -made meal. It also units a family when the members of the family cook, lay the table, and wash up together. It is a pity in my family we rarely have meals together, we get together on some special occasions such as birthdays, holidays and I wish we could have more meals together.

What cafes would you recommend to visit in your place?

I would recommend you to visit sportcafe Pautina because the food is delicious there, you can eat sushi there, the food is not expensive, and the interior is modern and beautiful.

Do you know many recipes?

To tell the truth I am not fond of cooking, it takes a lot of time, and I am not good at it. So I cannot say that I know a lot of recipes but I think that if I need some recipe I will be able to find it on the Internet.