5 dishes of typical Belarusian food

Restaurants & Food 19/01/2022
K. Hernandez
Photo: iStock/JackF

There are many incredibly tasty dishes, which certainly deserve to be tried by everyone who sets foot in this beautiful country.

Belarusian foods share many similarities with the cuisines of other Eastern, Central and North Eastern European countries, relying mainly on meat and various vegetables typical of the region.

Belarusian national cuisine has evolved over the centuries. Belarusian culinary traditions represent a mix of simple recipes used by commoners and sophisticated cuisine of the nobility, extensive use of local ingredients and unusual way of cooking.

Belarusian cuisine consists mainly of vegetables, meat (especially pork), and breads. The foods are generally either lightly cooked or stewed. A typical Belarusian eats a very light breakfast and two large meals, dinner being the main meal of the day.

Popular drinks in this country include Russian wheat vodka and Kvass, a drink made from wholemeal bread or rye flour and malt.

That is why we show you five typical dishes of Belarus:

Kasha

In Belarus, kasha is served as a side dish and as a main dish. In Belarus, kasha is any type of grain boiled in water or milk. Due to its popularity in Eastern European countries, kasha is also available as a "stand-alone" dish. The most popular kasha in Belarus uses buckwheat, but other types of grains such as wheat or barley can also be used.

Kasha
   Photo: Capture from Viajerocasual.

Borscht

Belarusian beetroot soup has ingredients such as meat, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and onions. Belarusian borscht is not as fatty and spicy as the Ukrainian version and has more vegetables than the Polish version. Belarusian restaurants often serve borscht with sour cream and black bread.

Many restaurants in Belarus also serve cold borscht in the summer months with pre-cooked beets, eggs, fresh vegetables and cucumbers. The cold version has chopped ingredients and kefir, a refreshing fermented milk drink.

Borsch
   Photo: Capture from Viajerocasual.

Machanka

Machanka is both a soup and a stew consisting of homemade sausages, broth, and thick pancakes that are dipped in the finished broth. This traditional dish is typically served at Maslenitsa, a holiday of pagan origin that is still celebrated today in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.

Machanka
   Photo: Capture from Viajerocasual.

Zhurek

Typical of Poland and Belarus, zhurek is a soup made from oatmeal and black bread. Cooks place the oatmeal and bread mixture in a warm place for three days and then filter it before mixing it with meat, vegetables and garlic. The soup is cooked over low heat.

Zhurek
   Photo: Capture from Viajerocasual.

Karavai

It is a symbol of hospitality and respect for those people for whom this bread has been baked. The bread has a rich and very mild flavor, which is achieved by adding a large number of eggs and milk. Another feature of the Karavai is its unique appearance.

Karavai
   Photo: Capture from Viajerocasual.

 

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