Well, I can’t think of a cuisine more different from Indian than Russian. Welcome to February, flying in fast and 180° from what we were cooking in January! But, isn’t that what’s so amazing about food? Have I mentioned how much I really love food? The eating, learning and connecting. I’m so excited to continue this delve into different cuisines, already so fun studying about each cuisines own spin and strengths.

KOREISKAYA

https://www.olgasflavorfactory.com/recipes/appetizers/russian-carrot-salad-koreiskaya-morkovka/

KASHA

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/74870/kasha/

BORODINSKY BREAD

https://feed-your-sole.com/borodinsky-bread-russian-rye-bread/

WINTER SALAD

https://vikalinka.com/winter-salad/

SYYNIKI

https://vikalinka.com/russian-sweet-cheese-fritters-syrniki/

BEEF STROGANOFF WITH GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/beef-stroganoff/

https://vikalinka.com/garlic-mashed-potatoes/

MIMOSA SALAD

https://natashaskitchen.com/mimosa-salad-layered-tuna-salad/#jump-to-recipe

BLINI

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/260537/easy-blini-russian-pancake/

TOFU REUBEN

https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pastrami-spiced-tofu-reuben

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES

https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/walnut-cardamom-snowballs/

KOTLETY

https://www.mydeliciousmeals.com/recipe/russian-meat-patties-kotlety

KASHA

https://www.babaganosh.org/buckwheat-kasha-with-mushrooms/

COULIBIAC

https://www.linsfood.com/coulibiac/#tasty-recipes-27783

ANNUSHKA CAKE

https://www.loveonthetable.com/annushka-russian-cake-recipe-low-carb/

BORSCHT

https://momsdish.com/recipe/55/russian-red-borscht-recipe#jump-to-recipe

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

https://www.azgrabaplate.com/unstuffed-skillet-cabbage-rolls/

ZAPEKANKA

https://www.rbth.com/russian-kitchen/333415-zapekanka-healthy-breakfast-recipe/amp

RUSSIAN HONEY CAKE

https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/10/russian-honey-cake/

PELMENI

https://realrussia.co.uk/Blog/a-taste-of-russia-pelmeni-1272

Russia was exciting because two of the most elaborate and impressive dishes I’ve ever made happened here. Can you guess? If you guessed Salmon Coulibiac and Russian Honey Cake you are the winner winner. So much fun and although the cake looks a bit distasterous on the outside, seeing the layers on the inside was just amazing!

One of my most favorite cuisines, but also one of the most mysterious to me. I really enjoyed jumping in with both feet. I learned so much about the spices, the blending of flavors and of course, all of the taste testing! I shocked myself at the end of the month when I reflected back and realized I cooked 22 new recipes! I couldn’t have done it without the help from our local Indian grocer, Vishnu. The joyful collaboration with my #1 favorite, foodie friend and her mom. And just coincidentally some well timed podcasts that referenced Indian cooking, namely “Home Cooking” http://homecooking.show with Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway.

And without further ado and in no particular order, what I cooked in January!

SHRIKHAND
https://pipingpotcurry.com/shrikhand/

UPMA
https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/upma-savoury-south-indian-breakfast-recipe-made-with-semolina/

PUDLA
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-pudla-indian-chickpea-crepes-recipes-from-the-kitchn-199998

SABUDANA KHICHDI
https://pipingpotcurry.com/sabudana-khichdi/

VEGETABLE KORMA
https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/creamy-indian-vegetable-korma/

ALOO BROCCOLI SABZI
https://www.archanaskitchen.com/stir-fried-potatoes-with-broccoli-recipe-aloo-broccoli-sabzi

ALOO MATAR
https://www.veganricha.com/aloo-matar-easy-pea-potato-curry-vegan/

KAJU KATLI
https://www.cookwithmanali.com/kaju-katli/

ACHARI MUSHROOMS

https://www.hookedonheat.com/a-is-for-achari-mushroom/

CHANA MASALA
https://www.today.com/recipes/chana-masala-garbanzo-curry-recipe-t205390

AIR FRYER CAULIFLOWER

https://pipingpotcurry.com/air-fryer-cauliflower/

CARROT SOUP
https://pipingpotcurry.com/instant-pot-carrot-soup/#wprm-recipe-container-13799

VEGETABLE PAKORA
https://www.veganricha.com/mixed-vegetable-pakora/

CUCUMBER SALAD
https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2020/02/cucumber-salad-mustard-oil-dressing.html

MANGO LASSI
https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/how-to-make-a-mango-lassi/

VEGETABLE BIRYANI
https://pipingpotcurry.com/instant-pot-vegetable-biryani/

SAAG PANEER
https://www.101cookbooks.com/saag-paneer-recipe/

CABBAGE PEAS STIR FRY
https://pipingpotcurry.com/cabbage-peas-stir-fry-pressure-cooker/#wprm-recipe-container-2739

MANGO PIE
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019974-mango-pie

CHANA ALOO
https://www.cookwithmanali.com/easy-chana-aloo/#wprm-recipe-container-38357

MASOOR DAL TADKA
https://www.thecuriouschickpea.com/masoor-dal-tadka/

OATS KHEER

https://pipingpotcurry.com/oats-kheer/

The one helpful hint I could give anyone beginning to cook Indian food is to have all the ingredients out and ready to go! This can be a fast paced cooking adventure and things happen very quickly!

It’s been awhile my dear food blog! The writing and posting may have taken a break, but never fear, the cooking and eating has not. One of the highlights of traveling is trying all the different local foods. I could use many more words to elaborate on traveling highlights, but that may just make me sad since there is no travel in the foreseeable future. But, enough of that! Lets focus on what we can do! How about dedicating each month of 2021 to a different country and focus on cooking food from there. A bit of a way to stay connected, learn and try new things and have some fun!

My expectation is to post a link to each of the recipes I’ve cooked throughout the month. A way to share what I’ve done, in the hope it inspires others and a bit of a selfish reason so I can have all the recipes in one place for me to refer back to also. A win-win 🙂

Christmas dinner. Maybe because it’s so soon after Thanksgiving, but I just can’t get too excited about the traditional American meal. And since I always love to try new things and I have this horrible predisposition to attack new recipes the day of big events….why not make all new recipes for Christmas dinner? My 17 year old daughter has always been intrigued by Sarajevo. She knows quite a bit about this capital and from choosing Bosnia and Herzegovina for a school project. So this ended up being the cuisine we picked for Christmas, a family Bosnian Christmas dinner! 

Linked below are the recipes I followed.

Sataras
https://food52.com/recipes/32853-sataras

Kifle
My daughter made these and they turned out absolutely delicious!
https://bakingwithsibella.com/category/traditional-bosnian/

Chocolate Rum Bars
Yes, please!
https://www.all-thats-jas.com/chocolate-rum-bars/

Pita Sa Krompirom (Potato Pies)
There was a bit of a snafu with the phyllo dough. Yes, operator error. Points to self! My brother in law came to rescue and we improvised a bit, still tasty and even better the next day with eggs (second picture 😉)
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/potato-pies-pita-sa-krompirom

Sarma (Cabbage Rolls)
Hands down the best cabbage rolls I’ve ever had!
https://www.all-thats-jas.com/bosnian-cabbage-rolls-sarma/

Djuvec Rice
https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Bosnian-Djuvec-Rice-9289701#directions

Gluhwein
Maybe not officially Bosnian, but really enjoyed this mulled wine my sister-in-law made!
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-german-gluhwein-238371

What cuisine should next Christmas be?