Top 4 Far Eastern Russian Foods

Stroganina is the Russian version of sashimi. It is prepared with a whole fish that is frozen raw after which it is skinned and cut with a sharp knife into incredibly thin slices. The pieces naturally curl, and they should be served immediately after slicing. Stroganina originates from the Russian Arctic, and it is traditionally prepared with whitefish such as omul, nelma, or muksun. The name of the dish stems from the word strogat, meaning to shave. Stroganina is traditionally paired with vodka and comes served on ice, usually accompanied by a combination of salt and pepper. A less common version is prepared with raw reindeer meat.Expand

Indigirka is a Russian fish salad that has its origins in Yakutia (Sakha). It consists of diced frozen fish that is combined with onions, oil, salt, and pepper. The salad is typically made from whitefish such as broad whitefish (also known as chir), nelma, and muksun, and it is traditionally served in ice bowls. Indigirka salad first appeared in the middle of the 20th century and was named after the Indigirka River, one of the major Yakutian rivers. It is believed it was created by chef Innokenty Tarbakhov, who based it on a similar ethnic Yakutian dish made with raw fish called raw in the Yakut language or five minutes in Russian. The salad is occasionally accompanied by lemon wedges, but modern variations may include fish roe, fennel, as well as various dressings. This well-chilled appetizer ideally pairs with vodka.Expand

Kyorchekh is a traditional dessert originating from the region of Yakutia. This simple dessert is often made by Yakuts, indigenous people who live in permafrost conditions. It consists of a few simple ingredients – sour cream, fresh cow's milk, and berries. The ingredients are whisked and partially frozen right before serving due to the short shelf life of the dessert. Kyorchekh is typically served in traditional tea cups or wooden cups called kytyya. It's recommended to pair kyorchekh with bread, scones, and waffles.Expand

Sugudai is a Russian fish dish that originates from Siberia. It consists of pieces of raw fish such as muksun, cisco, or nelma that are cut into larger chunks and are then seasoned and topped with spring onions, lemon juice, butter, or optionally vinegar, basil, dill, as well as various sauces. In its original form, sugudai was a simple meal that only combined locally available raw fish and onions. Nowadays, this classic Siberian dish is gaining more popularity, and it is slowly becoming a staple in Russian fish bars.Expand