Moscow Street Food

Moscow Street Food

Moscow Street Food is diverse and multi-cultural, reflecting the vast expanse of land in Russia stretching from Europe to Asia. The harsh climate of Russia gave rise to simple, but often hearty food, made using whatever ingredients were in season. It also gave rise to foods that could be kept for long periods of time through salting, pickling, preserving, freezing or smoking. As the economic and cultural center of Russia, the city of Moscow has a vast array of traditional street food.

Food in Moscow can be found in food stands on the streets, kiosks within malls, in cafes, mid-range eateries or fine restaurants. Soups and salads play an intergral part in any meal, and are often served as starters / appetizers, followed by a main dish. On the flip side, desserts are rather uncommon. Ingredients that are commonly used include cabbage, trout, salmon, carrots, onions, cucumber, tomato, beetroot, beef, chicken, lemons, olives, sour cream, lamb, pike, carp, zander, potatoes, eggs, honey, sugar, butter, yellow turnip and grapes.

Snacking is common in Moscow, and various kiosks and food stands sell a wide variety of pastries throughout the day. The poor in Russia consume these pastries as meals itself. Alcohol, especially Vodka, is as common as water, and drinking is considered socially acceptable, a part of Russian culture. Not surprisingly, Russia has the highest alcohol consumption in Europe.

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Baked Eggplant With Walnut Sauce is a Central Asia dish of thickly sliced eggplants / aubergines and tomatoes arranged in a stack, then baked with coriander, and garnished with crushed walnuts and lemon juice.

Baked Eggplant With Walnut Sauce

Beef Stroganoff / Beef Stroganov is a classic Russia dish of sliced beef sauteed in sour cream. Popular variations of Beef Stroganoff / Beef Stroganov include onions or mushrooms. It is served as a main dish, with rice or bread.

Beef Stroganoff / Beef Stroganov

Alenka Chocolate is the most common chocolate in Russia and Moscow, having been in production as early as 1966. While it’s an ordinary milk chocolate bar, it stands out for the image of a young Soviet girl on the packaging, named Alenka / Elena, who eventually became a pop culture icon for prosperity and good times, as Russia saw great economic growth during the years this chocolate was released. Till today, the actual girl has yet to be identified, though many ladies have came forward claiming to be the girl in the image, and there are even rumors that the girl might be the daughter of Joseph Stalin.

Alenka Chocolate

Beer is plentiful in Russia, and readily available throughout Moscow. Khamovniki Unfiltered is a local, brewed in Moscow beer that has a deep amber colour, light malty taste and little bitterness. Pivo Shizune Vskoye (Shizune WCSS) is a Japanese style brew that is golden, but with a strong aftertaste. Beer Sibirskaya Korona (Siberian Crown) has a pale golden colour, light body, slight sweetness with no bitterness. Zolotaya Bochka Svetloye (Golden Barrel Light) has a golden colour, mild malty taste, and a clean dry finish.

Beer Khamovniki Unfiltered

Beer Pivo Shizune Vskoye (Shizune WCSS)

Beer Sibirskaya Korona (Siberian Crown)

Beer Zolotaya Bochka Svetloye (Golden Barrel Light)

Blini is a thin Russian pancake made from all purpose flour, water, salt, baking soda, eggs, sour cream, butter and wheat flour / buckwheat flour. They are rolled and stuffed with a variety of fillings. Savoury Blini often include sour cream, chicken breast, minced beef, smoked salmon, ham, mushrooms, cheese or caviar. Sweet Blini often include fruit jam, honey, sliced fruit or chocolate.

Blini

Blini Chicken And Sour Cream

Blini Minced Beef

Borscht is a popular Russia soup that uses beetroot or tomato as its main ingredient for the soup base, and may also include carrots, beef / pork, potatoes and garnished with sour cream and dill. Borscht can be served either hot or cold, although hot Borscht is more popular. Some variations include apples to sweeten the flavour.

Borscht

Borscht

Coulibiac is a popular Moscow pie that has a hard pastry shell, stuffed with salmon or sturgeon, white rice or buckwheat, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, cabbage and dill. Coulibiac is so popular that it has been adapted into French cuisine.

Coulibiac

Adapted from neighbouring Hungary, the Russia Goulash Beef is a hearty soup / stew of beef, carrots, potatoes, salt, water, onions, tomatoes, celery, vinegar, pepper and paprika. Sometimes, other ingredients are added such as bell peppers / capsicum, bay leaves, parsnip, chili, cabbage or sour cream. Goulash Beef can either be served as a starter / appetizer, or as a one dish meal.

Goulash Beef

Herbed Rye Bread is a common starter in Moscow, as Dark Rye Bread and Rye Bread are the most popular breads in Russia, baked fresh daily all over the city. Herbed Rye Bread is simply a slice of bread with olive oil and fresh herbs such as dill.

Herbed Rye Bread

The traditional Russia Honey Cake is a layered sponge cake infused with honey and separated by layers of sour cream. Honey Cake is made with eggs, sugar, butter, honey, sour cream, baking soda, all purpose flour and water. Sometimes, vanilla, cream cheese or whipped cream is added to make it lighter or more flavourful.

Honey Cake

Khachapuri Imeruli is a style of filled cheese bread which is circular in shape, and is considered a national dish of Georgia. Khachapuri Imeruli is made with all purpose flour, water, salt, oil, baking soda, cheese and full cream milk.

Khachapuri Imeruli

Kvass is a non-alcoholic drink made from fermented rye bread, and is a traditional drink of Russia. The colour of the bread determines the eventual colour of the Kvass. Kvass is sold in the streets of Moscow, and it has even entered popular culture.

Kvass

Pelmeni are Russian style dumplings, often consumed as a appetizer, though some may eat it as a main dish. The dough of the Pelmeni is made with flour and water, and it is stuffed with various fillings, such as salmon, beef, pork, lamb, trout, mushrooms, onions, cabbage or turnips. Unlike dumplings of other countries, Pelmeni always has a thin dough, a higher amount of filling to dough ratio, and is always savoury.

Pelmeni

Pilaf Rice is a simple, common dish in Moscow, and Pilaf Rice Vegetable is made with long grain white rice, string beans / French beans, raisins, cloves, bay leaves, salt, cumin seeds, onions and garlic. Pilaf Rice Vegetable usually has a fragrant aroma.

Pilaf Rice Vegetable

Pirozhki is a generic word that refers to any number of baked or fried stuffed buns in Russia. A Pirozhki can vary in shape, size, and variety of fillings. Some common savoury stuffings for a Pirozhki include beef, pork, chicken, salmon, trout, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, eggs, cabbage or cheese. Pirozhki is probably the most common and readily available street snack in Moscow, nearly every street corner has a kiosk or food stand that sells either the baked or fried version.

Pirozhki Baked

Pirozhki Baked

Pirozhki Fried

Pirozhki Fried

Besides being eaten plain, potatoes are often paired with cheese in Russia, to bulk up the meal. This combination of Potatoes And Cheese leads to a very heavy meal, and is typically served during lunch or dinner, never at breakfast.

Potatoes And Cheese

Rassolnik is a traditional hot, thin body soup / broth, which contains pearl barley, beef / pork / chicken, pickled cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, onions, potatoes and salt. It is also known as Pickle Soup, and has a sourish taste, but is rather light in consistency. Rassolnik is said to be good for pregnant ladies.

Rassolnik

Salad Beetroot is very common, sold in nearly every corner deli and served in almost all cafes and restaurants. Salad Beetroot is probably one of the top 5 most common salads in Russia, and is made with shredded beetroot, raisins, vinegar, shredded carrots and dill. Sometimes, Salad Beetroot is used an a garnish for some dishes, like Herring Under A Fur Coat.

Salad Beetroot

The creamy Salad Crab And Potato is made with de-shelled crab meat, potatoes, diced carrots, peas, pickled cucumbers and mayonnaise.

Salad Crab And Potato

Salad Olivier is an iconic Russia salad, made with diced potatoes, diced carrots, peas, hard boiled eggs, sliced ham / chicken, mayonnaise / sour cream and salt. Named after its creator Lucien Olivier, the Salad Olivier is commonly known worldwide as ‘Russian Salad’. It is the most popular salad in Moscow, and is traditionally served at all celebrations in Russia, especially during the New Year.

Salad Olivier

As the 2nd most popular salad in Russia, the Salad Vinaigrette is somewhat odd, as it contains no vinegar despite its name. Salad Vinaigrette is made with diced beetroot, pickled cucumbers, diced potatoes, diced carrots, onions, pickled cabbage and sunflower oil. Sometimes, peas or beans are added. Salad Vinaigrette is commonly served at most cafes and restaurants in Moscow, as well as sold at nearly every deli.

Salad Vinaigrette

Salmon is one of the most common and readily available fish in Moscow. Salmon Baked consists of a salmon fillet, baked with olives, bell peppers / capsicum, salt and parsley.

Salmon Baked

A Moscow style Salmon Hot Plate And Potatoes With Cream Sauce, garnished with fried onions.

Salmon Hot Plate And Potatoes With Cream Sauce

Sourdough bread is also quite common in Moscow, and a canape such as Salmon Smoked And Cucumber On Sourdough Bread is sometimes served as a starter or light bite.

Salmon Smoked And Cucumber On Sourdough Bread

Sharmel’ Pastila S Aromatom Vanili (Sharmel Pastilles With Vanilla Flavour) is a popular Russia candy, similar to a soft nougat or gummy, with a creamy vanilla taste.

Sharmel’ Pastila S Aromatom Vanili (Sharmel Pastilles With Vanilla Flavour)

Shashlik, or Shashlyk, are skewers of meat, fish, or vegetables, grilled over a charcoal fire. Shashlik is usually marinated in a vinegar along with herbs and some spices, unlike other forms of skewered meats from other countries. Ingredients for Shashlik may include lamb, beef, pork, chicken, mutton, salmon, trout, mushrooms, bell peppers / capsicum, onions, tomato and cucumbers.

Shashlik

Shashlik Chicken

Shashlik Salmon

Shashlik Mutton With Bukhara Rice And Pickled Onions

Shchi is a traditional soup with cabbage as the base, along with mushrooms, onions, garlic, carrots, bell peppers / capsicum, parsley and beef / pork / chicken / lamb. Sour cream is added as a garnish before serving. Shchi is distinctive for its sour taste and light body, and is considered a poor person’s / farm meal.

Shchi

Smetana Sour Cream is the most popular condiment in Russia, and is made by souring heavy cream. Smetana Sour Cream is served with nearly all soups, and with most starters / appetizers.

Smetana Sour Cream

Solyanka is a thick and sour soup, of which there are 3 versions. Meat Solyanka contains beef, chicken, or sausages. Fish Solyanka contains salmon, trout, or sturgeon. Mushroom Solyanka contains mushrooms, butter, breadcrumbs, tomatoes and vinegar. All 3 versions of Solyanka contain cabbage, pickled cucumbers, lemon juice, mushrooms, olives, capers and dill.

Solyanka

Sorrel Soup is a simple but rather uncommon soup in Moscow, made with sorrel leaves, water and salt. Sorrel Soup can be served either hot, or cold, and often include various other ingredients to bulk up the soup such as potatoes, beef, hard boiled eggs, carrots or parsley.

Sorrel Soup

Split Pea Soup is a country style soup, often consumed by peasants in the past. Today, it is still served in ‘home style’ cafes. Split Pea Soup is made with water, salt, yellow split peas, carrots, potatoes, pork, onions, chicken stock / vegetable stock and pepper.

Split Pea Soup

Trout is one of the most commonly consumed fish in Russia, due to its wide availability. Trout Salted is one of the more common means of preserving the fish for a long cold winter.

Trout Salted

Ukha is a thin, clear and light Russian fish soup. Ukha usually contains a few root vegetables and spices, such as carrots, potatoes, leak, bay leaf, dill, salt, pepper, fennel seeds and water. Various types of freshwater fish are used to flavour Ukha, including sturgeon, salmon, cod, trout, bream, catfish, ruffe, perch, burbot and tench.

Ukha

Vodka is a fermented distilled beverage, consisting of mostly water and ethanol with some flavourings or impurities, an alcohol content of around 40%. Vodka is considered the drink of choice of many people in Russia, and accounts for about 70% of all alcohol consumed. Along with the Russian culture of drinking being socially acceptable, this means Vodka is readily available anywhere in Moscow, and supermarkets have dedicated sections with over 50 different brands of Vodka.

Vodka

Vodka

Zander Fish is a freshwater fish with firm white flesh, few bones, and delicate flavour. This makes it highly sought after as a food source, and Zander Fish features on many restaurants menus, such as this Zander Fish Cutlet Stuffed With Crab, Mashed Potato With Cheddar Cheese, Asparagus In Creamy Seafood Sauce.

Zander Fish Cutlet Stuffed With Crab, Mashed Potato With Cheddar Cheese, Asparagus In Creamy Seafood Sauce

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