{"id":1635,"date":"2010-12-02T10:00:32","date_gmt":"2010-12-02T10:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1635"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:14:25","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:14:25","slug":"%d0%ba%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bb%d0%b5%d1%82%d0%b0-it-is-what-hamburger-always-wanted-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/%d0%ba%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bb%d0%b5%d1%82%d0%b0-it-is-what-hamburger-always-wanted-to-be\/","title":{"rendered":"“\u041a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435\u0442\u0430” – It is What Hamburger Always Wanted to Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you love Russian language? Of course or else why would you be reading this blog, right? Do you also love \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [to cook] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [to read about food]? Then \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u043a\u043e\u043c\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> [I strongly recommend] to immediately get a copy of a wonderful book called \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0430 <\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0432\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Book About Delicious and Healthful Life].<\/em><\/p>\n

This is not at all a typical cookbook or even a food diary. Instead, as the authors explain, this \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0432\u044f\u0449\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e <\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>, <\/strong>\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u043c\u0443<\/span>, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u044e <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043e (<\/strong>\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u044e <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0451<\/span>)\u00bb<\/strong> [book is dedicated not just to food, but to everything connected to food (and everything\u2019s connected to food)].<\/p>\n

But why am I talking about this book? Well, as days have been getting \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [ever shorter] and the temperatures have been dropping \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0436\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [ever lower], I\u2019ve been craving some good ol\u2019 comfort food of my childhood. I\u2019d close my eyes at imagine a bowl of steaming \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u043e\u0440\u0449\u00bb<\/strong> [borscht] or fluffy \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0440\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u044e\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [mashed potatoes] served with \u00ab\u0432\u044b\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043e\u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443 <\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0437\u0435\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u00bb<\/strong> [sour green tomato that causes one\u2019s mouth to pucker].<\/p>\n

Well, we\u2019ve already talked \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e <\/strong>\u0431\u043e\u0440\u0449\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [about borscht<\/a>], Russian mashed potatoes aren\u2019t much different from the American ones and Brighton Beach, NY is still the best place outside of Russia to get your sour tomatoes (or any other pickled veggies) fix. So instead, why don\u2019t we talk about \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [ground meat patties]<\/p>\n

But first, let\u2019s get something straight: with the exception of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e-<\/strong>\u043a\u0438<\/span>\u0435\u0432\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Chicken Kiev], Russian \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> are not \u201ccutlets\u201d. Russian-style \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> are \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u043b\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438\u0437\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [culinary creations] made out of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0444\u0430\u0440\u0448\u00bb<\/strong> [ground meat] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0431\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u044f<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [minced meat].<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> is unglamorous. In fact, none of the \u201ccoffee-table\u201d style books on Russian food that I own even mention the humble \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>. I should probably double-check for recipes for \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0438\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [small round ground meat patties] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0444\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [small meatballs, usually steamed] that are essentially \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> that have taken on a different form.<\/p>\n

Back to the \u201cHealthful Living\u201d book. Here\u2019s what it has to say on the subject: \u00ab\u041a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430 – \u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0449\u0430 \u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0430: \u043f\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0439 \u0445\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0431\u0430 \u0431\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435, \u0447\u0435\u043c \u043c\u044f<\/span>\u0441\u0430.\u00bb <\/strong>[Ground meat patties are food for the poor: sometimes they contain more bread than meat.] Not to mention the kind of meat that\u2019s used for the purpose, definitely not \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0438\u0444\u0448\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0441 <\/strong>\u0438\u0437 <\/strong>\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0437\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [filet mignon].<\/p>\n

Yet, the book goes on to say that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0418 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u0439! <\/strong>\u0418 \u0432 \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0435 \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043e\u0442\u0430<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> [Even a ground meat patty can be good! There\u2019s beauty even in the ground meat patty!]<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to the cook to uncover this gustatory beauty and bring it to the table. Properly done, humble \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> can be remarkably \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb <\/strong>[tender], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [here: rich], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [moist], and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [zesty]. It\u2019ll be nothing like \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u0436\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u00bb <\/strong>[lit: routine patty] – a tasteless and flavorless lukewarm creation served by many \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0431\u0435\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [fast food places]. Instead, it can be \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u043d\u043e\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u0448\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0440\u00bb<\/strong> [magnum opus of gastronomy].<\/p>\n

There are quite a few \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> recipes out there, varying in complexity, number of ingredients, types of ground meat used, etc. But the basic ratio stays the same – 2.2lbs of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u044f<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [meat], 2 \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f\u0439\u0446\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [eggs], 1 medium \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0446\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [onion] (grated finely), 1 medium \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0440\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0435\u043b\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [potato] (also grated finely) and 2 slices of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0451<\/span>\u0440\u0441\u0442\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0445\u043b\u0435\u0431\u00bb<\/strong> [stale bread] (soaked). Oh, and of course, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [salt] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0446\u00bb<\/strong> [black pepper].<\/p>\n

Note that you can use whatever meat you prefer – \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [beef], a mix of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [pork], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [chicken], even \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u0431\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [fish]. You can even skip meat altogether and make purely vegetarian \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> (although then you have to modify this recipe significantly and grate lots and lots of veggies).<\/p>\n

To these basic ingredients you can then add \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0451<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [grated] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0431\u043b\u0435\u043d\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [finely chopped] vegetables – beets, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, even swiss chard. You can try different spices. You can use either \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [white loaf] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0451<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0445\u043b\u0435\u0431\u00bb<\/strong> [rye or even pumpernickel bread] and soak it in either \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [milk], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443\u043b\u044c\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [stock] or even \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [water]. You can add chopped \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [butter] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [bacon or lard] to the mix. As you can see, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0437\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0443 <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437\u0433\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [indeed, the sky is the limit].<\/p>\n

Then you form little oval patties (please, do NOT flatten them hamburger-style; they are meant to be plump), coat in \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0443\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [flour] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0443\u0445\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [bread crumbs] (you can skip the breading step entirely), and fry in \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [oil] until browned on both sides.<\/p>\n

Speaking of sides, perfect and perfectly nostalgic sides to \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> include mashed potatoes or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [buckwheat], \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [sauerkraut] or something else crunchy and pickled, and maybe a simple \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0430\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442 <\/strong>\u0438\u0437 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043e\u0433\u0443\u0440\u0446\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [tomato and cucumber salad], dressed with \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043c\u0435\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [cr\u00e8me fraiche]. Oh, and do me a favor, leave that ketchup bottle in the fridge just this once. \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0438\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0430\u043f\u043f\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0430!\u00bb<\/strong> [Bon Appetite!]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Do you love Russian language? Of course or else why would you be reading this blog, right? Do you also love \u00ab\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0435\u0434\u0443\u00bb [to cook] or \u00ab\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043e \u0435\u0434\u0435\u00bb [to read about food]? Then \u00ab\u044f \u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e \u0440\u0435\u043a\u043e\u043c\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0434\u0443\u044e\u00bb [I strongly recommend] to immediately get a copy of a wonderful book called \u00ab\u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043e \u0432\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0438 \u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0439…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1036,12814,385636,1248,12813],"class_list":["post-1635","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-cooking-russian-food","tag-russian-cookbooks","tag-russian-food","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-recipes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1635","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=1635"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6237,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1635\/revisions\/6237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}