{"id":13620,"date":"2020-12-23T08:15:18","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T08:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=13620"},"modified":"2021-01-11T04:53:14","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T04:53:14","slug":"what-goes-with-any-dish-in-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/what-goes-with-any-dish-in-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"What Goes With Any Dish In Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mayonnaise consumption in Russia ranks among the highest in the world. <\/i><\/span>O<\/i><\/span><\/span>n average 95% of Russians <\/i><\/span>eat<\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/i>it (even higher in some regions) and <\/i><\/span><\/span>per capita consumption in Russia is from 7 to 11 pounds of mayonnaise per year<\/b><\/i><\/span>!<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Russians are obsessed with mayonnaise <\/i>(<\/span>\u043c\u0430\u0439\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0437<\/i><\/span>)\u00a0<\/span>and use it in industrial quantities<\/span>. They add it to literally everything: meat, fish, <\/span>potatoes, sandwiches, and even to some pastries. On the festive table <\/i>(<\/span>\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0301<\/em>\u0437\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0447\u043d<\/i><\/span>\u044b\u0439<\/i><\/span> \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>, you can often see \u041c\u044f\u0301\u0441\u043e \u043f\u043e-\u0444\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0446\u0443\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0437\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/i>\u00a0(literally “<\/span>French-style meat<\/i>“, which refers to <\/span>a pork dish with cheese and mayonnaise) and fish baked with lemon, carrots, onions, and, of course, our favorite<\/span> dressing <\/i>(<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0443\u0441<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"Eggs

Image by cyclonebill<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Living in a cold country requires more nutritious food, and mayonnaise is rich in fats<\/i> (<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0440\u044b\u0301<\/span><\/em><\/i><\/span>)<\/span>. The m<\/span>ost common type of it is “<\/span>\u041f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0441\u0430\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u043b\u044c<\/i><\/span>” (<\/span>“<\/span>Prov<\/i>ansal<\/i><\/span>“),<\/span> with a 67% fat content.\u00a0It is almost the <\/span>same consistency as sour cream,<\/span> but<\/span> more piquant<\/i>\u00a0(<\/span>\u043f\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u043d\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/i><\/span>)<\/span> and saturated<\/i> (<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u0441\u044b\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0449\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>, so<\/span> it is used with a lot<\/span> of the same dishes<\/span>.\u00a0“\u0421 \u043c\u0430\u0439\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/span><\/em>\u0437\u043e\u043c \u0432\u0441<\/i>\u0451<\/i><\/span> \u0432\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043d\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/span><\/em>\u0435<\/i>” – “Everything <\/i>tastes<\/i><\/span> better with mayonnaise<\/i>,” Russians joke.<\/p>\n

\"Russian

Image by Andreas Kontokanis<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

F<\/span>ood preferences are formed during childhood, so<\/span> even new dishes repeat old tastes. For many people, mayonnaise is part of their daily diet. Others associate it with the winter holidays<\/span> since practically all of the most popular Russian<\/span> salads contain this ingredient. Mayo salad is best when it’s cold outside. “<\/span>\u041e\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044c\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/i><\/a>” (<\/span>“Olivier<\/i>“), “<\/span>\u041c\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/span><\/em>\u0437\u0430<\/i><\/a>“<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>“Mimosa<\/i>“), and “<\/span>\u0421\u0435\u043b\u0451\u0434\u043a\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0434 \u0448\u0443\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0431\u043e\u0439<\/i><\/span>“<\/span> \u00a0(<\/span>“H<\/i><\/span>erring <\/i>U<\/i><\/span>nder a <\/i>F<\/i><\/span>ur <\/i>C<\/i><\/span>oat<\/i>“) or simply “\u0428\u0443\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0431\u0430<\/i>” (“Fur coat<\/em>“) are the symbols of the traditional <\/span>Russian New Year.<\/p>\n

\"Oliv'e\"

Image by Marco Verch Professional Photographer<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

At the same time, due to a large amount of sauce<\/i><\/span> (<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0443\u0441<\/i><\/span>) <\/span>in such salads, no one will cook them in the summer – it’s too heavy on the stomach<\/i>\u00a0(<\/span>\u0442\u044f\u0436\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em> \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0436\u0435\u043b\u0443\u0301<\/em>\u0434\u043a\u0430<\/i><\/span>) in<\/span> hot weather. It\u2019s likely<\/span> eaten more<\/span> in those regions of the country with a colder<\/span> cold climate. In the late 19<\/span>90s, I lived near Siberia and don’t remember anyone who, at that time, would refuse meals<\/span> with this dressing. I only<\/span> started hearing about the potential dangers of fats and carbs after healthy eating became popular. Today, many nutritionists consider mayonnaise to be quite <\/span>unhealthy<\/i><\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>\u0432\u0440\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0432\u044c\u044f\/\u043d\u0435\u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0432\u044b\u0439<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>, but earlier, Soviet posters<\/span> named it as an excellent healthy condiment for all cold meat, fish, and vegetable dishes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Seledka

Image by Marco Verch Professional Photographer<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The original recipe for mayonnaise is very simple:<\/span><\/p>\n

– egg yolk<\/i><\/span> (<\/span>\u044f\u0438\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0436\u0435\u043b\u0442\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u043a<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>,<\/span>
\n– vinegar<\/i><\/span> (\u0443\u0301<\/em><\/i><\/span><\/span>\u043a\u0441\u0443\u0441<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>,<\/span>
\n– vegetable oil <\/i><\/span>(<\/span>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043c\u0430\u0301<\/em><\/span>\u0441\u043b\u043e<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>,<\/span>
\n– salt<\/i><\/span> (<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u044c<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>,<\/span>
\n– pepper <\/i><\/span>(<\/span>\u043f\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0440\u0435\u0446<\/i><\/span>)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Various flavoring ingredients such as <\/span>lemon<\/i><\/span> (<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u043d<\/i><\/span>) <\/span>or <\/span>mustard<\/i><\/span> (<\/span>\u0433\u043e\u0440\u0447\u0438\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0446\u0430<\/i><\/span>) <\/span>can be added. I<\/span>n the Soviet Union, the <\/span>powdered egg <\/i><\/span>(<\/span>\u044f\u0438\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u043a<\/i><\/span>) <\/span> was used instead of egg yolk, and <\/span>sugar<\/i><\/span> (<\/span>\u0441\u0430\u0301<\/em><\/span>\u0445\u0430\u0440<\/i><\/span>)<\/span> was added so that the sauce had a longer shelf life. On the other hand, it was free of coloring, stabilizers, and other chemicals. For example, in “Provansal,” the only preservative was spirit vinegar, thanks to which it had such a specific, easily recognizable taste.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chicken

Image by Jacob Dawson<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Having come a long way from France, mayonnaise has become a real legend of Soviet cuisine. At that time, it was one of the deficit products that could exclusively be obtained if you had the right connections. The country’s love for this sauce is also due to the limited food variety in stores back then. It was a creative way to give a meal a richer flavor. Since the late 1990s, it has been widely available. With the advent of new technologies, the food industry in Russia has developed greatly, and now you can find mayo for any taste. It looks like the consumption of this magic sauce will not decrease anytime soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, it\u2019s so popular, I\u2019ll wrap up with <\/span>a song about mayonnaise<\/i><\/span> performed by the <\/span>“<\/span>\u0423\u0440\u0430\u0301<\/em><\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u043f\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043c\u0435\u0301<\/span><\/em>\u043d\u0438<\/i><\/span>” <\/span>– <\/span>“<\/span>Ural Pelmeni<\/i><\/span><\/a>” team from the famous Russian humor TV show “<\/span>KVN<\/a>.”<\/span><\/p>\n