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Ever Heard of Kvass

So, I know I said I was wrapping up this series a while ago (okay, more like months ago), but please don’t judge! We’re all living on the same planet, right? Then you get it. [laughs] When I originally wrapped up the series, I hadn’t finished the interviews highlighting three other cultural cuisines. I decided to let those go—until my next guest told me she was still really interested and was no longer traveling for work. So, now that I’ve explained all of that, let’s dive into another great interview! Today, I’m chatting with one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Our daughters swim together on the same team, and they’ve become fierce competitors, as well as great friends.

In this interview from my Nutrition: Food & Culture series, I have the pleasure of introducing a truly remarkable woman from Russia, the gracious and kind Uliana.

I’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My name is Uliana. I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. I moved to USA 20 years to pursue my graduate studies and have been living in Atlanta ever since. Currently, I work as a chemist.

A chemist! Wow! Oh, so you’re really smart? [laughs]

Some people may say that and some may not. [laughs]

Uliana, I believe you’re just being humble. [laughs] Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to share details about the cuisine of your homeland. So, let’s get right into it.

Please share the top three to five traditional dishes in Russian culture and their ingredients with my readers.

Traditional dishes that come to mind are:

1. Blini which are thin crepes that usually are served with fillings. Fillings can be fried mushrooms with onions, sweet cottage cheese, minced chicken or beef, or vinaigrette. Vinaigrette is a salad that contains chopped beets, potatoes, pickles, onions, peas, and sometimes sauerkraut with sunflower oil dressing.
2. Ukha which is a fish soup with clear broth and potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, and herbs, parsley or dill.
3. Pelmeni which are traditional Russian dumplings that can be filled with meat or fish fillings.
4. Syrniki which are fried patties made from sweet cottage cheese that also contain egg and flour.

Are there believed to be any medicinal/healing attributes to the traditional foods of Russia? If yes, please explain.

One example that comes to mind is traditional Russian drink called kvass. It’s made using bread fermentation process and is known to be rich in antioxidants, vitamin B, folic acid and other nutrients.

Oh, thank you for sharing that. I’ve never heard of kvass. From what you’ve explained, it sounds like it is nutrient-rich, which is protective, and is a probiotic source, which is beneficial and supportive.

Is Russian food healthy? What are some staple/essential ingredients? If yes, please explain.

I would give a moderate score in terms of being healthy. Historically, Russian cuisine featured a lot of meat and carbohydrates, with a limited variety of vegetables due to the cold climate in many regions. This resulted in a seasonal availability of fresh produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables were mainly available during the short summer months, which is why traditional Russian food is often rich in jams, preserves, and pickled vegetables. While nowadays access to fresh produce year-round is no longer an issue, traditional Russian dishes still tend to be less reliant on fresh vegetables compared to some other cuisines.

That’s interesting. How are traditional Russian meals typically prepared? What is the preparation like? How long does it take? Please describe.

Many dishes are quite elaborate and take time to prepare. Usually, preparation is done by chopping the ingredients, boiling, or frying.

In your opinion, would traditional Russian food work for meal prepping?

Even though prepping Russian dishes may take time, many dishes such as pelmeni or syrniki can be frozen and reheated later on very quickly making them ideal for quick homemade weekday meals.

Can you share with my readers what sets Russian cuisine apart from other cuisines?

While not as many spices are used compared to some other cuisines, Russian dishes provide hearty delicious comfort options with delicious taste achieved by a complementary combination of ingredients.

That’s nice! Let’s talk about food in America—what do you love? What do you not love?

I love that there is a huge variety of different cuisines from all around the world that have influenced the food in USA. I personally love exploring new restaurants and also adopt various types of foods, ingredients, and spices and introducing them in my kitchen.

Spices are great, right? Would you say it’s been easy adjusting to American cuisine, and if not what are some of the biggest adjustments you’ve had to make?

It was very easy to adjust as I love trying new recipes and types of food.  

That’s awesome! Again, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I am so happy you shared elements of your culture with me and my readers.

Okay, readers, I am closing this series for real now. [laughs] Look forward to my next post, because I will do a conclusion for this series and share details of the next series I’m going to do.