Russian food doesn’t exactly top the popularity charts, and that’s really sad because this huge country has so much to offer other than vodka and caviar.
Here is a list of 18 Russian dishes you should definitely try if you find yourself in Moscow.
5. Shashlik
What is it: A kind of shesh kebab made over an open fire. You can use any kind of meat, though Russians prefer pork. The marinade ingredients vary from region to region as well, ranging from red wine to vinegar to pomegranate juice.
What does it taste like: You can’t go wrong with grilled chunks of meat. Russia loves its shashlik and you can’t walk two blocks in Moscow without coming across a shashlychnaya – tiny restaurants that specialize in shashlik. Traditional Russian shashlik is made over a wood fire with herb leaves often tossed in to enhance the flavor.