A small dictionary of Russian street food
There are a lot of things I love about Russia, but I’m definitely obsessed with food.
If you’re planning to visit St.Petersburg (or Russia in general), mentally prepare yourself: you’ll gain some weight! It is impossible to resist delicious – and very affordable – street food while walking around the city.
So, here are some words I’m pretty sure you’ll use a lot during your stay in Russia. Because it doesn’t matter if you are Italian, Swedish or American: you’ll fall in love with Russian street food!
Сосиска в тесте (Sosiska v teste – Sausage in dough)
A sausage wrapped in dough – this simple, delicious snack is definitely my favourite one! It’s quite small and can be eaten in two or three bites. You can find it basically everywhere – there are plenty of kiosks in the streets where you can buy a sausage in dough for about 40 rubles.
Пирожки (Pirozhki – Mini pies)
Sweet or salted, pirozhki are probably the most popular Russian street food. These baked dough buns are usually stuffed with meat, rice, mushrooms, vegetables and the list just goes on! I suggest you to try пирожок с капустой (pirozhok s kapustoi – cabbage pie) — it will be worth it! Sweet pies are stuffed with fruit, jam or cottage cheese. You can buy pirozhki for about 25 rubles each.
Чебурек (Cheburek)
This mouth-watering deep-fried dough turnover is stuffed with different fillings (cheese, meat, onion, mushrooms, fish etc). Chebureki are very popular in Russia, you can find them at the kiosks in the streets or, if you prefer, you can seat in special cafés called чебуречная. They are a little more expensive than pirozhki or sosiski v teste, but you won’t regret it!
Горячая кукуруза (Goryachaya kukuruza – Hot corncob)
In St.Petersburg’s kiosks one can find a lot of snacks, but corncob is definitely one of the more unexpected! People selling corncobs can be found all over the city, you won’t be able to resist the smell! If you ate too many pirozhki and want to stay light, nothing’s better than a corncob on a stick!
Пышки (Pyshki)
These traditional St.Petersburg donuts, fried and coated in sugar, are lighter and crispier than the ones you are used to. And cheaper! If you want to feel the atmosphere of the soviet time, eat these delicious donuts at Pyshki, a café situated on Bolshaya Konyushennaya street, 25 in the very center of the city, near Nevsky prospekt metro.
Ватрушка (Vatrushka)
Perfect for breakfast or for a satisfying snack, this round sweet bun will not disappoint you! You can find vatrushki with different fillings such as cottage cheese, condensed milk, jam or fruit puree. I definitely suggest you to try ватрушка с творогом (vatrushka s tvorogom – vatrushka with cottage cheese) baked with sugar (about 30 rubles).
So here they are – 6 mouth-watering snacks you’ll fall in love with! I hope you found this small dictionary useful and that you’ll have the chance to taste Russian delicious food soon!
