What Is Russian Food Like?

If you are thinking about developing a serious relationship with a Russian woman, or maybe already have a Russian bride, it is not a bad idea to learn about what Russian food is like. If you get married to a Russian woman, good chances are that this is what you are going to be eating. At least until she learns how to cook something else.

Russian pancakes

Russian (Ukrainian, Belorussian) food is full of carbohydrates and fats. It is amusing to see how much grease Russians eat and still stay skinny. You can rarely find fat-free stuff on the shelves of Russian stores.

Russians eat a lot of mayonnaise, sour cream and butter. It is hard to find a salad recipe without these ingredients. “Salad” in Russians’ understanding is something filling and meaty covered in mayonnaise. What Americans call salad, many Russians sarcastically call “grass”. Lettuce, spinach and the other salad greens, which are common in the American cuisine, are not very popular in Russia.

Probably the most popular Russian food products are (besides sour cream, mayo and butter): bread (filling and fresh – nothing like American Wonder Bread ), potatoes, eggs, meat, cabbage, milk and buttermilk (kefir). Fruits and vegetables are popular as well, but Russians buy and eat them in season. So if you are a tomato lover traveling to visit your Russian bride in winter, be prepared that you will not have any.

The best part about Russian food is that most of it is organic. Russians don’t use nearly as much chemicals and preservatives as Americans do, so their food is much healthier. This might be one of the reasons why despite of the diet rich in fat and carbs, Russians don’t get fat.

Due to lack of preservatives, food spoils quickly. If you like milk, be prepared to buy it every other day. Bread will stay fresh only for a few days and apples will not last you for three months.

If you are staying at your Russian brides home while visiting her in Russia, expect to eat like a pig. Especially if she lives with her mother. Russians (as well as Ukrainians and Belorussians) are very hospitable and potential mother-in-laws as a rule tend to over feed their male guests.

There is a number of Russian food recipes and cookbooks online, so if you really want to show your Russian woman your love and devotion, learn how to cook something Russian. She will be very impressed.