Meal in the forest

Signature dishes

I arrived in Russia on an early winter day in 2016. At that time, my first impression of Russian cuisine was that there were many different types of salads, served at every meal.

Russian salad is made from easy-to-find ingredients such as eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, and pickles. All combined with special sauces. It is the combination of fresh vegetables and the rich flavor of the sauce that creates the attractive and unique flavor of Russian salad.

Salads are always accompanied by a grilled dish. This is a culinary duo that Russians love very much. For nearly 8 years in Russia, it seems like every summer I go to the forest for a picnic with my friends.

To this day, I still cannot forget the delicious shashlik grilled meat served under the birch forests.

Later I learned that shashlik is an old dish with a typical flavor of Russian cuisine. The meat used is common meat such as pork, chicken, lamb, and beef.

Meat marinades vary greatly depending on taste, and can include spices, herbs, and dried fruits. For me, a marinade with salt, lemon, mayonnaise, and onions is all it takes to make a delicious shashlik!

My Russian friend Lisa also told me that each Russian family has their own recipe for marinating meat. Shashlik is usually grilled over charcoal, and during the grilling process, diluted beer is poured over it to help the meat become more tender and flavorful. Side dishes are usually pickled cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and lettuce…

Amazing experience

Perhaps the most special thing that makes shashlik a dish with a special place in the hearts of Russians and those who have been attached to Russia is the experience of this dish. It is the reunion, joy and warmth.

When summer comes, the whole city of Moscow is lit up with warm sunshine. The sun rises at 4am and sets at 9pm, which is also the time when we have picnics in the woods. The city allows barbecues in certain places in those woods.

Everyone went together to buy meat, cut and marinate it, prepare all the ingredients and vegetables to eat with it. Everyone sat around the charcoal stove, sharing each piece of tender, sweet grilled meat with lively conversation and joyful laughter.

Or there were afternoons when school ended early, friends would call each other to go grilling meat. Not having enough time to buy meat to marinate, the group would go to the nearby Perekrestok store to buy pre-marinated meat, charcoal, vegetables and then go into the forest together. Although the meat was pre-marinated, it was just as delicious as if they had made it themselves. So the group had a lovely picnic under the forest canopy.

Everyone took a piece of meat that had just been grilled, put it in a lettuce leaf and dipped it in ketchup to feel the rich sweetness of the meat permeate the tip of their tongue. They added a piece of pickled cucumber and cherry tomato and admired the deliciousness.

While eating, everyone told each other about their studies, research, life, and how they missed their hometown and loved ones. Then the group cleaned up together and went to the Moscow River to watch the sunset...

But my most rewarding experience was when I got to grill meat at the dacha (a type of vacation home in the suburbs). Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the group enjoyed the atmosphere of the Russian countryside.

The meat is skewered and grilled in front of the house. Afterwards, everyone chats and enjoys shashlik in a peaceful wooden house on the outskirts of Moscow.

For me, shashlik is not only a delicious, nutritious and tasty dish. It is also a beautiful memory that is always engraved in my memory of the days living in the land of the White Birch. And I always tell someone when they intend to come to Russia, that "if you come to Russia, you must definitely go to the forest to grill shashlik together".

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/bua-an-trong-rung-3138997.html