Traveling is fun, but you know what else is fun? Trying out new cuisine! If you’re a huge fan of cross-country trips, then you’ll attest that the local cuisine is what makes each trip worth it. However, nothing comes close to traditional eastern European food.
If you’re thinking of visiting Moldova to get a glimpse of beautiful Moldovan women, you should grab a larger pair of jeans because Eastern European cuisine is delectable. You’ll probably find yourself asking for more until you can’t eat anymore.
However, to help you navigate through the overwhelming barrage of tempting dishes, we have created an in-depth culinary guide for you. Here are some of the best European cuisine dishes you should try on your next trip to Eastern Europe:
Borscht
Borscht is one of the most popular dishes in Eastern Europe. Eaten mainly in Ukraine and Russia, this delectable soup is made of beets and other vegetables like potatoes, carrots, cabbage, garlic, spring onions, and tomatoes.
This versatile soup can be served up either hot or cold. If you visit Ukraine during the winter, hot Borscht can help to warm up your insides and drive the chills away. However, if you visit during the summer, the cold version might be a better option.
Although Borscht is typically made with a meat base, there are vegetarian-style options as well. Just serve it with a spoonful of sour cream and brown bread on the side, and your tastebuds will be in for a ride.
Okroshka Soup
If you prefer a less spicy soup that you can learn to make by following a simple YouTube tutorial, you might want to try out Okroshka. Typically eaten cold, this soup is just what you need on a hot summer day.
It contains vegetables like cucumbers and spring onions, usually mixed with small cubes of sausage and boiled eggs.
Okroshka can either be made with yogurt, mayonnaise, or kvass, a popular non-alcoholic drink made from rye bread. It is then garnished with dill leaves for the ultimate touch.
Pirozhki
So you want something different from soups and sauces? Well, fast food like Pirozhki can do the trick. A famous Russian and Ukrainian snack, Pirozhki is buns stuffed with meat, liver, and vegetables like cabbage, potato, and mushrooms. They can be complemented with tea or coffee for a hot breakfast.
This convenient snack is usually fried or baked and can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference. However, if you prefer to eat straight from the oven, you should watch out for your fingers as Pirozhki can be sizzling hot.
Blini
If you love the idea of Pirozhki, then you’ll love Blini. Blini is a popular street food in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. It is stuffed pancakes and can be either sweet or savory, depending on your preferred style.
Sweet Blini is typically filled with fruits like strawberries, bananas, or apples. On the other hand, savory Blini have fillings that include potatoes, meat, and cabbage.
If you’d like to eat this snack with dips, you can try sour cream for savory Blini or chocolate syrup for the sweet ones. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even switch the dips but this isn’t a great idea.
Chebureki
Looking for yet another street food that you can grab while walking through the busy streets of Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries? Well, you can never go wrong with Chebureki.
Chebureki is a deep-fried, crescent-shaped snack that is guaranteed to have your taste buds explode in a burst of flavors. It is usually filled with ground or minced meat and onions. This snack can serve as a great appetizer or main dish on your vacation. Just serve it with sour cream or any other dip of your choice, and you’re good to go!
Shashlik
Do you love meat – grilled, boiled, or fried? Then you’ll definitely love Shashlik. We’d love to describe this mouth-watering meal as grilled meat, but that’ll be too simplistic.
Also known as Shish kebab, Shashlik is marinated meat grilled specially over sizzling hot coals. It can be made using lamb, goat meat, or even pork. The process of making this dish is a slow yet tantalizing one.
First, the meat is diced into cubes and marinated in yogurt or vinegar-based sauce, ensuring that the flavor is deeply infused. After this process, the meat gets tender and ready to cook.
The cubes are then placed into a skewer and grilled until the insides are cooked thoroughly, and the outsides are slightly charred.
Shashlik is excellent for picnics or group tours.
Shuba
If you like healthy Eastern European food, you should try out Shuba on your next trip. Apart from its health benefits, this dish is also very colorful and appealing to the eye.
Shuba is a traditional Ukrainian and Russian salad that contains layers of cooked vegetables with mayo and seasoning. Usually, it includes a base of herring fish followed by onion, potatoes, eggs, and a topping of beets.
If you ever stumble into a party or gathering, you’ll most likely be offered this salad. It should be noted that most foreigners hate the taste of Shuba, but it’s best to keep an open mind until you try it.
Bottom Line
We hope this culinary guide has helped awaken your taste buds and open your mind to the best Eastern European traditional dishes. You could try out these dishes on your next trip or simply make them in the comfort of your kitchen.
Enjoy!
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