Hearty Belarusian Recipes

Belarusian cuisine is something of an unknown entity here in the US, but it’s certainly worth finding out about! From fresh spring salads to hearty stuffed pancakes, it encompasses a world of delightfully tasty foods suited for all seasons. Today, we’re going to be sharing with you some great recipe ideas and a little knowledge about Belarusian cuisine to get you in the mood for our upcoming Belarusian Weeks Weekly Specials. Make sure you head in-store to grab some great deals and some in-store tastings at selected locations.

Zrazy – Belarusian stuffed beef rolls

If you’re looking for something to serve at a dinner party, this should certainly be the centerpiece! These melt-in-the-mouth beef rolls stuffed with mushrooms are delicious, and what’s more, right now we have beef top blade steak as part of our weekly specials, letting you make this Belarusian classic for less! Just ask our skilled butchers to slice it extra thinly for you when you are at the meat counter.

Recipe

Ingredients: 1 lb. thinly sliced beef top blade steak, 1 oz. dried porcini mushrooms, ½ an onion, 2 hard-boiled eggs – peeled, ½ cup breadcrumbs, sliced pickles, 2-4 tbsp. pork fat, salt, pepper, a little flour.

Method:

• Start by soaking the mushrooms in 1 cup of water for about 2 hours, then take them out of the water and slice them. Make sure you keep the water for broth!

• Fry the mushrooms and onions together in a frying pan and then add the breadcrumbs and fry for another 3 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Place the steak slices between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound using a meat mallet (a rolling pin can also work) until it is quite thin. Remove from the wrap and season well with salt and pepper.
• Lay out the steak slices, and on each one, add a few pieces of sliced pickle, the onion and mushroom filling, and ¼ of a boiled egg.
• Roll the meat slices up and then secure them with a skewer or toothpick.

• Fry them in the pork fat over high heat in a pot until all sides are seared, and then pour in the water retained from the mushrooms. Place a lid on the pot, turn the heat down to low, and cook for 30 minutes.
• Once done, remove the rolls and thicken the sauce using a little flour. Add the rolls back to the pot and cook for a further 15 minutes on low heat.
• Remove the skewers or toothpicks before serving.

Draniki – Belarusian meat stuffed pancakes

Belarusians really do like their potatoes, but they are much more creative than simply making fries or mashed potatoes! This recipe is one of the best potato recipes you’re ever going to find. It includes a potato pancake stuffed with ground chicken fried until crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. Right now, we have some great deals on ground chicken at NetCost Market as part of our Weekly Specials, so it’s worth heading instore now to pick up a great offer!

Recipe

Ingredients: 1 ½ lb. large potatoes – peeled, 1 medium onion, 1 large egg, 3 tbsp. flour, 1 tbsp. sour cream, 1 tsp. salt, ½ tsp black pepper, olive oil, ½ lb ground chicken.

Method:

• Grate the potatoes on the star grater. This should create a mushy type of paste.  If any extra liquid is sitting at the top, use a spoon to remove it.
• Grate the onion into the same bowl, but reserve 1 tbsp. for the meat mixture.
• Add the egg, flour, sour cream, 1 tbsp. salt, ½ tbsp black pepper, then stir well.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the ground chicken, 1 tbsp. reserved onion, and a little salt and pepper. Mix well and then form 15 small patties.
• Get a large non-stick pan going on medium heat. Add 3 tbsp. olive oil. Once this is hot, add 1 tbsp. potato mixture and flatten it out. Top this with a meat patty and then cover with another 1 tbsp. potato mixture. Cook for about 4 minutes, and then flip and cook the other side for about 4 minutes. Repeat until you have used all the batter and patties.
• Double-check that the middle is hot enough and is cooked thoroughly before serving.

• Serve with sour cream.

Belarusian baked apples with honey

This simple yet delectable dessert is a real favorite in Belarus. It can be made at short notice and is really a great addition if you want to have a Belarusian dinner party! Luckily for you, we have apples—both Cortland and Cameo apples—as part of our weekly specials. We also have the wonderful USDA Organic Approved Buzz Bloom Organic Honey at a great price!

Recipe

Ingredients: 4 Cortland or Cameo apples, 1 cup honey, 2 tbsps. powdered sugar.

Method:

• Hollow out the core of each apple using an apple corer or a knife—make sure you leave the rest of the apple whole. It’s important not to core out the apple right to the bottom so it acts as a kind of cup.

• Pour ¼ cup honey into the hole of each apple.
• Bake on a parchment-lined baking tray for 1 hour at 350F, then leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving!

Belarus is home to some amazing, hearty dishes that we rarely experience here in the US. However, it’s our mission here at NetCost Market to bring you the best food from around the world, which is why we’re currently celebrating Belarusian cuisine as part of our Belarusian Weeks Weekly Specials! Make sure you head down to your local NetCost Market to take advantage of these great deals while they’re on!