{"id":1508,"date":"2010-10-15T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2010-10-15T10:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1508"},"modified":"2010-10-13T02:54:12","modified_gmt":"2010-10-13T02:54:12","slug":"joy-of-russian-appetizers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/joy-of-russian-appetizers\/","title":{"rendered":"Joy of Russian Appetizers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Last week I went to a \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian picnic] here, in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was done \u201cpot-luck\u201d style, so I had to think of something to bring for this \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u0435\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [meal in the open air]. As I was thinking up something \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [delicious], yet \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u044b<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0432\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [quick to make], it occurred to me that it had been a while since \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u044b <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0441\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438 <\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [we talked about food] here, on the Russian blog. (The picture above is from this picnic and was taken by the very talented Darya who, unlike yours truly, does not forget her camera at home).<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I quickly ruled out \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u0435\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb [<\/strong>baked goods] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [sweets] since my baking skills definitely can stand some improvement (a lot, actually). Although not a \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0435\u0433\u0435\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [female vegetarian; male – \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0435\u0433\u0435\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0446\u00bb<\/strong>], I am not big on meat, so I crossed that off my list of options as well. It seemed to me that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [appetizers or hors d\u2019oeuvres] would be a way to go.<\/p>\n

Now, Russian cuisine is famous for its approach to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [appetizers]. As a matter of fact, every time I come across an article in the English-language media about Russian cooking, it\u2019s really about \u00ab<\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [cold appetizers].<\/p>\n

There are just so many of them\u2026 Some are \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [vodka chasers], others are more suitable \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [for (drinking) beer]. But most don\u2019t need any alcohol to be fully appreciated.<\/p>\n

Basically, any \u00ab<\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [cold dish] can be considered a \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [starter, appetizer] and served as such. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u043e\u0433\u0443\u0440\u0446\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [dill pickles], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [pickled tomatoes], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [sauerkraut], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0447\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u044f<\/span><\/strong>\u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [brined apples], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u0431\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [dried fish], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043f\u0447\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043b\u043e\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [smoked salmon], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [roasted ham] – just reading through this list makes my mouth water. And we\u2019re just getting started here…<\/p>\n

Various \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u0448\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [pates and spreads], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [sausages], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0431\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [open-faced sandwiches], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0436\u043a\u0438<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [small pies] also come to mind. Oh, the list can go on and on without even mentioning such questionable (to an American taste) \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [delicacies] as \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [herring with onions], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0432\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [aspic] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0430\u0440\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0437\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [pickled watermelons]. (By the way, I firmly believe that Russians know a way to pickle and brine just about any fruit and vegetable)<\/p>\n

By personally I think that the most glorious achievement of Russian \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0438\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [appetizer assortment] is its salads. The two most well-known Russian salads are \u00ab<\/strong>\u041e\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044c\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [Olivier salad] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u00bb,<\/strong> known as \u201cRussian salad\u201d or \u201cbeet salad\u201d here in the US.<\/p>\n

To my mind, \u00ab<\/strong>\u041e\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044c\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> is a winter salad best-suited for ringing in a New Year (must be all that mayo in the dressing that reminds me of snow). The beet salad, on the other hand, is perfect for autumn<\/a> with its bright earthy colors and all the root vegetables that go into it.<\/p>\n

And so, my choice was made and I got ready to make \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u00bb.<\/strong> The problem with Russian salads is that, while delicious, they are very labor-intensive. You see, all ingredients must be \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u043b\u043a\u043e\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [finely chopped] or, in some cases, even grated<\/a>. Plus most ingredients have to be cooked first, usually boiled.<\/p>\n

But \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> is very much worth your time. Even though it sounds French, is really a traditional Russian \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0449\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [vegetable dish] that dates back to mid-19th<\/sup> century (at least that\u2019s when the name first appears, the salad itself likely goes back even further).<\/p>\n

What I like most about \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u043a\u00bb <\/strong>[that\u2019s diminutive of \u00ab\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0435\u0442\u00bb] is its flexibility and the fact that you can simply eyeball the amount of ingredients as long as you keep the basic ratio in mind. So, if you\u2019ve never made \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> before and would like to try it now, here is what you do:<\/p>\n

1. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041e\u0442\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [Boil] unpeeled \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u043a\u043b\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [beetroot<\/a>], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0440\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [carrots], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0440\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [potatoes]. Better yet, bake them for better flavor (at least the beetroot). You can boil carrots and potatoes in the same pot, but always cook beets separately to avoid premature color mixing. Make sure that the veggies are cool before proceeding further. Oh, as for the ratio – it\u2019s 1 medium beet to 1 medium potato to 1 small to medium carrot.<\/p>\n

2. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041e\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [Peel] prepared (boiled or baked) vegetables and finely chop them.<\/p>\n

3. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [Chop] 1 head of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043f\u0447\u0430\u0442\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043b\u0443\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [onion] or 1 bunch of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0435\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043b\u0443\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [scallions] and some \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u043e\u0433\u0443\u0440\u0446\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [dill pickles, make sure they are sour and not \u201cbread and butter\u201d style].<\/p>\n

4. Now for the fun part also known as \u201coptional ingredients\u201d. You can \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [add] some \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [sauerkraut], a finely chopped \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0435 <\/strong>\u044f\u0439\u0446\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [hard-boiled egg], a bit of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u043b\u043a\u043e\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [finely chopped] \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0434\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [herring filet] (in which case you don\u2019t need sauerkraut, but will need more potatoes and onions) or even a shredded \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f\u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [apple].<\/p>\n

5. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u0440\u0438\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [Prepare dressing] by mixing \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443<\/span><\/strong>\u043a\u0441\u0443\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> [white vinegar], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [vegetable oil], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [salt], and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0451<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0446\u00bb<\/strong> [black pepper].<\/p>\n

\u00a06. Now, mix everything in a giant \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [bowl] and taste. Ideally, it should be neither \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [bland] nor \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [peppery] nor \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [salty]. There should be a bit of a crunch from \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u043b\u043a\u043e\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u043e\u0433\u0443\u0440\u0446\u044b<\/span> <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043b\u0443\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [finely-chopped dill pickles and onions] without any single ingredient overpowering the rest. The dressing should just coat the veggies without pooling at the bottom of the bowl.<\/p>\n

Let it rest for 10-15 minutes while you\u2019re trying to get rid of beet juice stains on your hands. Then move the giant bowl to the center of your \u00ab<\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [appetizers table] and surround it with enough small plates of various appetizers that you can no longer see the table top. \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0438\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0430\u043f\u043f\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0430!<\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> [Bon app\u00e9tit!]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Last week I went to a \u00ab\u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043f\u0438\u043a\u043d\u0438\u043a\u00bb [Russian picnic] here, in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was done \u201cpot-luck\u201d style, so I had to think of something to bring for this \u00ab\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043f\u0435\u0437\u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u043b\u043e\u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0434\u044b\u00bb [meal in the open air]. As I was thinking up something \u00ab\u0432\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043d\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb [delicious], yet \u00ab\u0431\u044b\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0435 \u0432 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0438\u00bb [quick to make]…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[6448,11853,11854,385636,11855,11856],"class_list":["post-1508","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-picnic","tag-russian-appetizers","tag-russian-beet-salad","tag-russian-food","tag-vinegret","tag-11856"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1508"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1510,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508\/revisions\/1510"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}