Russian Snacks – A Delicious Overview

The richness and diversity of ingredients used in Russian cookery are seen to be its key distinguishing characteristics. One thing you should know before getting to know popular Russian snacks is that dough is a crucial ingredient in many recipes, including handmade noodles and dumplings and breaded treats like pies, rolls, and cakes.

The country is located in the northern hemisphere, so the climate is pretty cold and harsh there. Because of this, the vast majority of ingredients in Russian snacks and food recipes are mushrooms, cheese, berries, and cabbage. Russian Snacks have a pretty long history, and, primarily because of the influence of the Soviet Union, the cuisine has spread in numerous countries.

Russian snacks are rich in flavor and are pretty nutritious. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss some of the most popular treats that originated in Russia. 

Russian Snack Names

1. Sushki
2. Syrniki
3. Bulochka C Makom
4. Pastila
5. Suhariki
6. Pierogi
7. Blini
8. Pirozhki

Sweet Russian Snacks

1. Sushki

Traditional Russian sweets known as sushki are little rings of sweet dough. They are made of flour, eggs, liquid, sweetener, and salt. This is then divided into rings, made into thin strips of roughly a centimeter in thickness, and quickly fried in boiling water that has sugar in it. Then it is baked in an oven. The rings typically range in size from 3 to 5 cm. Poppy seeds are occasionally sprinkled on top of sushki.

The term “sushki” refers to the very hard texture of these rings and comes from “sushit”, a Russian word that means to dry. These Russian snacks are often eaten as dessert and dipped into tea to soften them. However, they also go pretty well with fruit jams and sour cream. 

Sushki were typically sold in the streets or at the local markets, typically strung up on a string. Pre-packaged sushki that have been industrially made are currently available in grocery stores across the country. Markets that offer Russian goods can be found selling packaged sushki abroad.

2. Syrniki

Syrniki is a Russian-style donut-shaped pancake and is considered to be one of the most delicious morning snacks in Russia. They are also referred to as tvorozhniki in honor of the tvaroh cheese that is used in their preparation.

Syrniki is typically browned on both sides. Due to the cottage cheese in them, they have an airy texture that makes them appear light and fluffy. They are frequently served with varieties of jams, including raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, and cranberry.

3. Bulochka C Makom

As the name says, a “bulochka c makom” is a pastry filled with poppy seeds. The appeal of these delectable Russian snacks stems not from the poppy seeds used as a garnish or ornamental element, but rather from their being used as the filling itself. The poppy seeds, alongside other ingredients such as butter and sugar, create juicy, sweet fillings and are concealed between layers of baked dough. The ideal way to enjoy this pastry is with a glass of milk. 

This dish is not for you if you want something that is really sweet. But if you’re looking for a tasty treat that pairs well with coffee or tea, this amazing snack would work best for you.

4. Pastila

Pastillas is another Russian snack that actually comes from the 17th century period and is considered to be typical Russian snacks. Light and airy puffs are created by mixing sugar, egg whites, and various fruits. The sweet treat resembles Turkish delights because it is somewhere between candy and meringue biscuits.

The Kolomensky pastila recipe has been tightly guarded since the 19th century, and this particular one is regarded as the most delectable. In the original version, honey was used as one of the major ingredients. However, in the 19th century, it was modified, and honey was replaced by sugar. 

Pastila is traditionally prepared from tart apples or berries. However, other fruits may sometimes be utilized. The Antonovka apple was used in the recipe, and northern berries such as currants, rowan, or lingonberry were also often included. The mixture was then baked in the Russian oven for a long time, then placed in an alder box in layers, and finally allowed to cure and dry in the same oven.

Pastila was regarded as a costly treat in Imperial Russia. It was made by serf labor at noblemen’s manors and sold for one and a half roubles. The least expensive pastila was made without sugar and with honey. The fruit paste could be baked on the Russian stove for two days with gradually dwindling heat. A fine sieve was used to strain a Tatar variety, which helped preserve the apple seeds.

Savory and Salty Russian Snacks

5. Suhariki

Suhariki is one of the famous Russian snacks that managed to become popular in eastern Europe and Asia. It is said that the original recipe for these crunchy bread treats involved toasting rye bread in the oven. 

Nobody knows for sure, but it is believed that these crunchy bread treats were first baked using stale rye bread. Instead of letting the bread go bad, those people found a wonderful way of “saving” the food. They seasoned it and toasted it. As a result, a delicious and crunchy Russian snack was created. 

Suhariki is still prepared from rye bread today and is available in a range of delicious flavors, including calamari, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and even crab. Those snacks are the ideal alternative to chips since they have the same level of crunch and flavor as chips.

6. Pierogi

A pierogi is a baked dough casing that can include a variety of fillings. These Russian snacks can be either sweet or savory, depending on the ingredients. The name comes from the Proto-Slavic word “pir”, which originally meant “banquet” or “festival.”

It is important to distinguish between the Russian word pierogi, which emphasizes the last syllable, and the Polish word pierogi, which emphasizes the letter “ro” and refers to dumplings resembling Russian pelmeni.

Pierogi can be round, rectangular, or oblong, with tapering ends. They also exist in other shapes and sizes. They can be either closed or can also come with an open top. Pierogi differ from pies that are in other cuisines by the specific type of dough.

The dough for this delicious Russian snack is typically made with yeast first. In the past, rye flour was primarily used to make pierogi. It was later combined with wheat flour. Nowadays, wheat flour is mostly utilized.

Pierogi fillings vary and can be made from plums, apples, cottage cheese, berries, as well as honey, almonds, or poppy seeds. Meat, mushrooms, fish, rice, cabbage, potato, or buckwheat groats may be used in savory variants. Pierogi with a savory filling is typically eaten alongside borscht, consomme, or broth. 

7. Blini

Blinis Pancakes are traditional Russian snacks that are traditionally made from wheat or less frequently, the flour of buckwheat. The snack is typically served with caviar, butter, Smetana, Tvorog, or some other garnishes. In Russia, blinis are among the most well-liked and often consumed foods.

Those pancakes are typically 2 to 4 inches in diameter. They are savory in taste and are cooked with leavened batter. Even though the smaller-sized leavened pancakes are also called blini and historically were considerably more prevalent, the term is most frequently used to refer to the pan-sized leavened thin pancakes in modern Russian. 

Due to their rounded shape, blini were regarded as the sign of the sun in pre-Christian times, especially by the eastern Slavic people. Traditionally, they were cooked at the end of winter to celebrate the birth of a new sun. Western Christians commemorate Pancake Day in honor of this custom. Blini in the form of drochena was often offered at wakes to honor the people who passed away.

8. Pirozhki

It is impossible to try it at least once and not love this famous Russian snack called pirozhki. Those delicious treats come in many different variations and can be either sweet, salty, or savory. They are frequently served as street food but may also be prepared at home. 

The small, oval-shaped pirozhki are yeast dough buns filled with a range of various ingredients, including eggs, meat, fish, vegetables, and rice for the savory variations, or fresh fruits, jams, and cottage cheese for the sweet ones.

An egg glaze can be applied to baked pirozhki to give them a golden hue. They might also be adorned with dough strips. Typically, pirozhki are hand-sized. A scaled-down version may go with soups.

They can be either baked or fried. Little pies are the direct translation of the term pirozhki. Pirozhki are frequently eaten as a snack and are a must-have food during picnics, birthdays, and celebrations.

Bottom Line

In this article, we discussed some of the most interesting treats- Russian Snacks. However, these particular ones are just a small list among this nation’s hundreds of delicious creations. The variations of each snack can be wide, and you can definitely find something you like here. Russian Snacks have deep roots in history and culture and, therefore, have become a significant part of people’s everyday lives and celebrations. 

Which Russian snacks sound most intriguing to you? Have you ever tasted any of them? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.