Russian self-catering recipe ideas
The world's largest country, spanning Eastern Europe and northern Asia, Russia is a bewildering land of striking beauty and diversity, with an array of rivers, forests and towering mountains. From magnificent cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, to traditional Siberian cities, Russia has much to offer to both nature and culture enthusiasts. The country amazes with its diverse landscape, luxurious palaces, colourful churches and lost-in-time wooden villages. For cultural and architectural aficionados, European Russia offers plenty of inspiration; alternatively, for those eager to get off the beaten track, the vast spaces of Siberia along with the country’s top ski resorts and raft-friendly rivers are not to be missed. But there is much more to Russia than just a mesmerising travel experience. Visitors are often surprised at the variety and flavours of its traditional foods too. Due to the country's cold winter, Russian traditional dishes are rich in carbohydrates and fat to provide both energy and warmth. Staple foods usually include potatoes, bread, eggs, meat (especially beef) and butter, while crops of rye, wheat, barley and millet provide the ingredients for a plethora of pancakes, cereals, beer and vodka. Soups and stews, centred on seasonal or storable produce, fish and meats, are also extremely popular, along with other ingredients like cabbage, milk, mushrooms, lard, cucumbers, tomatoes, berries, honey, garlic and onions.