Russian Christmas Food Ideas for a Holiday Feast

The holidays bring about a season of celebration, unity, and of course, food. Unlike the United States that celebrates Christmas on December 25, Russians celebrate Christmas on January 7 due to the Orthodox Christian observance of the Julian Calendar.

While the dates are different, one thing remains the same: a feast of incredible cuisine. If you are looking for recipes to put together a delightful Russian holiday dinner, here are some of the most traditional and festive Russian Christmas food.

Russian Christmas traditions

It should be noted that the following dishes are a combination of savory and sweet flavors with meat and meatless options. For those who follow the Orthodox religion, fasting 40 days before Christmas and refraining from meat, dairy, and egg consumption is a common practice. Depending on your personal and religious values, not all dishes listed will apply to each person’s preferences. However, each dish can easily be modified to fit your specific liking with the right ingredients!

Savory Russian Christmas dishes

A selection of appetizers, salads, and main courses for a Russian Christmas dinner.

1. Olivier salad

Named after Belgian chef Lucien Olivier, who first created the dish in the 1860s, the Olivier Salad is a staple among Russian Christmas food. Olivier salad doesn’t look like your typical salad filled with leafy greens but instead is a creamy combination of potatoes, eggs, pickles, peas, carrots, boiled meat, and apples.

2. Pirozhki (stuffed buns)

These savory pastries are a must at every Russian table on Christmas. Pirozhkis are stuffed buns made with pastry dough that is flaky and golden on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. Fillings are classically made from savory meats (typically beef). For those abstaining from meat, pirozhkis can easily be made with vegetarian options include mushrooms, mashed potatoes, or cabbage. Pirozhkis can also double as sweet desserts instead of savory bites. Alternative sweet ingredients like cherries, apricots, apples, and other fruits can be used to create delectably sweet fillings.

3. Deviled eggs

This tangy twist on hard-boiled eggs is a familiar favorite. Deviled eggs are eggs that have been hard-boiled and sliced in half. The yolks are taken out and combined with mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, spices (like cayenne pepper and paprika), and meats or cheese (optional). The mixture is whipped together to create a fluffy, zesty concoction and then spooned back into the egg white halves for tasty bites.

4. Dried mushroom soup

During its peak season, fresh mushrooms are gathered and dried so they can be utilized during the winter months. Because of their deep flavor and meaty texture, dried mushrooms, or in particular, dried mushroom soup, is a common addition to a Russian Christmas dinner.

5. Kulebyaka (Russian salmon pie)

 Kulebyaka was first invented in the 1800s to replace meat during Russian Orthodox fasting. This flaky salmon pie mimics a turnover and has an outer shell made from crisp puff pastry. Inside you’ll find a hearty filling of salmon, butter, eggs, rice or buckwheat, onions, mushrooms, and dill.

6. Pagach (stuffed bread rolls)

A bread roll filled with potatoes and cabbage commonly served with honey and grated garlic as a dipping sauce.

7. Pelmeni (Russian meat dumplings)

Pelmeni (also referred to as peljmeni) are Russian meat dumplings. Most commonly, pelmeni are filled with a flavorful mixture of ground beef, pork, or lamb wrapped in a thin layer of steamed dough. Alternatively, meatless fillings can include a vegetable medley of cabbage, potatoes, mushrooms, or sauerkraut.

8. Golubtsi (Russian cabbage rolls)

Comforting cabbage rolls stuffed with ground beef, pork, veggies, and rice and baked in the oven covered in a creamy tomato sauce.

9. Sauerkraut soup (Kapusnyak)

Sauerkraut soup, also known as kapusnyak, is a popular soup for those that are fasting and observing meatless meals. The depth of flavor in the broth can be achieved by using dried mushrooms as a vegetarian option, but if you are looking for a meat option, you can use smoked pork.

10. Blini (Russian crepes)

Blini, thin Russian crepes, are traditionally made with wheat or buckwheat flour and can be made savory or sweet depending on the ingredients of the filling.

11. Tefteli (Russian meatballs)

For those not fasting and giving up meat for the holidays, tefteli, or Russian meatballs, are a homey and comforting classic.

Sweet Russian Christmas Dishes

Tasty Russian drinks and treats for dessert, or whenever!

12. Kutya/Sochivo

Kutya (sometimes called sochivo) is a ceremonial sweet grain dish that symbolizes unity and is often eaten around the Christmas holiday in Russia. Kutya is a pudding-like dessert made with wheat berries, poppy seeds, nuts, and dried fruit, which is then sweetened with honey.

13. Pryaniki (Russian spice cookies)

Also known as honey bread, pryaniki are Russian spice cookies that have been around since the 9^th century. The spiced ingredients include ginger, nutmeg, anise, cloves, cinnamon, or pepper. Pryaniki are best served with tea or the traditional Russian Christmas drink, sbiten.

14. Sbiten

A sweet and spicy honey-based drink perfect for warming up cold winter nights. Serve with pryaniki (Russian spice cookies) as a tasty complement. 

15. Kiev Cake

A classic Slavic cake with heavenly layers of cashew or hazelnut meringue and Russian buttercream.

16. Nalivka

An alcoholic beverage made with figs, dates, cinnamon, walnuts, cardamom, and lemon peel that has been steeped in sugar and cognac. Nalivka is usually made weeks before the holidays and gifted to friends and family.

17. Kolyadki (Russian Christmas cookies)

These Russian Christmas cookies are made from rye flour and stuffed with curd cheese. Traditionally, these cookies are given as tokens of appreciation to traveling Christmas carolers.

18. Apple Sharlotka (Russian apple cake)

Soft and airy, this Russian Apple Cake is a classic and balances the harmonious blend of subtle sweetness from the cake and tartness from the apples.

19. Gribochky (Russian mushroom cookies)

Contrary to the name, these cookies aren’t made with mushrooms but are molded to look like little red mushrooms growing in the forest.

20. Vzvar (“boil up”)

Vzvar, which translates into “boil up,” is a fruit compote served at the start of a Russian Christmas dinner to toast to new beginnings. The traditional recipe is a fragrant blend of assorted dried fruits (e.g., apples, pears, prunes, sour cherries, currants, raisins, raspberries, or gooseberries) that has been mixed with honey, spices (optional), and boiled in water.

Start your holiday grocery shopping

If you plan on making Russian Christmas food for the holidays, it’s best to get a head start on all your holiday grocery shopping. While you could hop from store to store and attempt to gather those harder-to-find ingredients, you could save time by browsing Instacart. With your grocery list checked off, all you have to do is focus on cooking up a magical Russian Christmas dinner.

Instacart

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