Belarus

Country - The geographical location of Belarus made it a genuine “melting pot” for many of the national cuisines of its neighbors. Russian influences from the north and Ukrainian influences in the south of the country were joined by the strong tendencies to cook like the western neighbors – Poland. The culinary development of the country is quite superficial as the larger neighbors constantly shadowed it. There are a few mentions of traditional Belarusian dishes such as the Belaviezha forest fried aurochs or baked Goose with green peppers, dishes mentioned in different sources starting from the 15th century. The geographical changes that Belarus went through are also noticeable in the way the Belarusian cuisine is presented. The influence that the Lithuanian domination had on the country in the 15th century is still persistent today. On a national scale, the abolition of serfdom in 1861 meant that there were less differences between the way the large masses and the country’s elite ate. Very few Western European influences were seen in the traditional Belarusian cuisine, but dishes containing potatoes (prepared in similar ways to the German cuisine) or those containing pasta and noodles are present today.

A lot of place in the diet of the Belarusians belongs to meat and meat products. Pork and salted Pork fat are considered nationa ldishes, similar to many of the surrounding countries. One of the people's proverbs says: "There is no fish more tasty than Tench, as well as there is no meat better than Pork". The salted Pork fat is used slightly smoked and seasoned with onions and garlic. Dishes prepared from meat are usually served together with potatoes or vegetables such as carrot, cabbage, black radish, peas, etc. It is characteristic that many vegetable and meat dishes are prepared in special stoneware pots. One of the most famous holiday dishes is called Pyachysta – a delicious stew that is considered by many Belarusian chefs one of the main dishes of Belarus. The geographical location of the country favored outside influences, but it is hard to differentiate distinct cuisine styles. Copyright Recipes Wiki