Authentic Zakuski Recipe Russia, Europe

The French have hors d’oeuvres, the Spanish have tapas, and the Russians take pride in their zakuski — a wide range of appetizers served before every traditional lunch or dinner, and paired with shots of vodka. Typically, zakuski can be served on a table with guests sitting around it, or presented as a buffet, depending on the occasion. There is no set rules on what zakuski should contain — most commonly, Russian hosts will bring everything they have to the table. Bread — white, rye or a mixture of rye and wheat — is most commonly served fresh, or toasted and paired with butter. Then, there is an assortment of cheeses and charcuterie – cold cuts, hams, chicken rolls, liver and tongue pâtés and aspics. Fish is usually served cured or brined, and often includes herring, salmon, eel, and fresh caviar. Dumplings, pancakes and savory pies — such as pelmeni, pirozhki, pampushki, kulebyaka and ... Read more