Belarusian Food Recipes

Belarusian food recipes are very much related to those of other northern and eastern European countries. Common ingredients are root vegetables (like rutabagas and potatoes), pork and dairy products. Rye bread is very appreciated, so is vodka made from wheat or rye.

Some History
The history of Belarus is intertwined with Eastern Europe's, foremost Russia's. Hunter-gatherers had by the 5th milennium BC created simple agricultural societies. By the 6th century BC Slavic tribes had established themselves in the region. In the centuries following, several waves of invasions from among other Huns, Mongols and Vikings (aka Varanguians) occured. The latter arrived in the 9th century and are by many considered to be the founders of the first Russian state. The area has since then been part of or occupied by Lithuania, Russia, Poland and Germany. Only after the First World War was the Republic of Belarus founded, then as a socialist state soon to be absorbed into the USSR. The population suffered immensely during the 2nd World War, it was almost completely pillaged and destroyed. In 1994 they became a completely independent republic called Belarus, this after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Much debated Alexander Lukashenko have with a firm hand controlled the country ever since then, he is by many considered a communist style dictator.

Belarusian Cuisine And Some Typical Dishes
Belarusian food recipes reflect the country's history. Always on the outskirts of Europe bordering to Asia it has received influences from Central and Northern Europe, in particular from Russia. The fare is rustic and based on root vegetables (like beetroots, cabbage and in particular potatoes), barley, rye, pork, beef, chicken and dairy products. The many lakes and rivers have always provided plenty of fish; carp and zander are common species. Polish, German and Lithuanian cuisines have many similarities to the Belarusian. During the USSR period it changed a lot and was adapted to what was available in the stores. Today it has slowly moved towards a cuisine more in tune with its roots, however a lot of the traditional cuisine is sadly lost. Here are some typical dishes:

Kalduny A kind of ravioli.
Machanka A pork stew that you eat with pancakes.
Draniki Potato pancakes.
Zrazy Slices of beef made in to sausage form filled with vegetables, potatoes and mushrooms (can vary).
Borscht Creamy and with cabbage, beetroot and meat.
Bliny Traditional pancakes mostly made with buckwheat.
Kissel Jellied fruit drink.
Harelka Belarusian vodka, sometimes flavoured.
Kasha Porridge that can be made from buckwheat. Also used to refer to a kind of breakfast cereal.

Submitted Belarusian Food Recipes
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