Belarusian national cuisine

About food Belarusian national cuisine has existed for many centuries. Its influenced by events of the history of Belarus, geographical location, and climate. Agriculture causes using a lot of vegetables in cooking national dishes.

Country cuisine was nutritious, simple and fresh. A lot of dishes were served to table being hot. Dishes for the rich were more various and exotic. In Soviet Union times Belarusian cuisine was influenced by other nations. Ukrainian and Caucasian food was served in public places. In the 20 th century a lot of Belarusian dishes were from wheat flour but not from rye as it was earlier. There were also a lot of salads..

Nowadays cuisine Nowadays its hard to use the same products as our ancestors did. Some vegetables and beans disappeared. But many dishes have existed so far: pancakes, dumplings, pickles, kvass and beet soups, home sausages, lard, meat dishes. Potato is an ingredient that exists in many Belarusian dishes. There are a lot of potato recipes such as draniki, baked puddings, babka, fried and stewed potato. Interesting fact: In Belarus meat is eaten twice as less than in Poland.

Some meat dishes Bigos – stewed cabbage with meat

kolduny – potato fritters with meat

Machanka – a sauce from different sorts of meat, served with pancakes

smajanka – meat pie.

P ancakes People still argue about the appearance of pancakes. There are several ideas. Some suggest that pancakes were baked from rye kissel. Another believe that the word pancake appeared from the word mlin (mill). Earlier pancakes were baked from different sorts of flour. Now they are made mostly from wheat flour, yeast, milk, sour cream, kefir. Usually pancakes are eaten with various toppings, jam or honey.

Where you can taste it? In a menu of Belarusian restaurants you can find not only our national cuisine but European, Caucasian and oriental dishes. Dishes cooked according to old recipes can be tasted during an excursion to the Dudutki Museum of ancient crafts

However tourists should taste specific belarusian meals such as draniki, borshch, machnka, sour cabbage, pickled cucumbers and lard. All Belarusians like nutritious and tasty food. You can make sure if you visit local restaurants.

The end.