Russians eat a variety of hearty and traditional foods that include both staple grains and diverse dishes. Common foods include:
- Pelmeni: Dumplings filled with meat, usually served with sour cream.
- Blini: Thin pancakes, served sweet with jam or savory with caviar or sour cream.
- Buckwheat porridge (kasha): A staple nutritious grain dish.
- Soups such as borscht (beet soup), shchi (cabbage soup), and okroshka (cold soup).
- Meat dishes like beef stroganoff and chicken Kiev.
- Pickled vegetables such as cucumbers, mushrooms, and tomatoes which are also consumed as snacks or accompaniments.
- Potatoes in various forms (boiled, fried, mashed).
- Various salads like Russian salad (Olivier) with vegetables and meat or eggs.
- Seasonal fruits and berries.
Meals often include bread, sour cream, and dill as herbs for seasoning. Russian cuisine is traditionally filling and reflects the use of local ingredients including meat, grains, and vegetables, suitable for the cold climate.
