Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 12 servings (8-inch round cake) Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes (includes cooling and chilling) Quick Ingredients Cocoa sponge: 4 large eggs; 150 g sugar; 120 g all-purpose flour; 30 g Dutch cocoa; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 120 ml […]
Rustic Zharkoye Beef and Potato Stew
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 6 servings Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes Quick Ingredients 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes 2 lb (900 g) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, 1.5-inch chunks 3 medium carrots, peeled, 1/2-inch rounds 2 medium yellow onions, […]
Bright Vinegret Beet and Potato Salad
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 8 servings (about 1 cup each) Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes (includes 2 hours chilling) Quick Ingredients 3 medium beets (about 1.3 lb / 600 g) 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 lb / 450 g) 3 medium […]
Smoky-Tangy Solyanka Soup with Cured Meats
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 6 servings (about 2.5 quarts) Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes Quick Ingredients 8 oz smoked kielbasa (halved, sliced), 6 oz smoked ham (diced), 4 oz thick-cut bacon (chopped) 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp unsalted butter 1 large yellow onion (about […]
Cozy Rassolnik Soup with Pickles, Barley, and Dill
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 6 servings (about 10 cups) Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 55 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Quick Ingredients 1.5 lb (680 g) bone-in chicken thighs 8 cups (1.9 L) water 2 bay leaves + 8 black peppercorns 1.5 tsp kosher salt, divided 1 tbsp olive oil + […]
Buckwheat Pilaf with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 4 as a main (6 as a side) Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 55 minutes Quick Ingredients 1 1/2 cups (270 g) buckwheat groats (kasha) 3 cups (720 ml) low-sodium vegetable broth or water 2 medium yellow onions (about 450 g), thinly sliced 1 lb […]
Refreshing Okroshka: Chilled Kefir or Kvass Soup
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 6 servings Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (includes chilling) Quick Ingredients 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 lb / 450 g) 4 large eggs 2 cups (300 g) finely diced cucumbers 1 cup (120 g) finely diced radishes 8 oz […]
Classic Ukha: Crystal-Clear Russian Fish Soup
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Quick Ingredients 1.5 liters (6 cups) cold water 1 medium onion, halved (well-washed; leave skins on for color) 1 small carrot (about 100 g), sliced 8 whole black peppercorns 1 bay leaf 1 1/4 tsp kosher […]
Golden Kulebyaka Salmon Pie with Rice and Dill
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 8 servings Prep Time: 45 minutes (active) Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes (includes rising, proofing, and cooling) Quick Ingredients All-purpose flour 3 1/4 cups (390 g) Active dry yeast 2 1/4 tsp (7 g) Warm whole milk 1 cup (240 ml), 105–110°F/40–43°C Granulated sugar 1 […]
Ultra-Juicy Pozharskie Chicken Cutlets with Pan Juices
Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR) Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 40 minutes (includes 15 minutes chilling) Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes Quick Ingredients 700 g (1.5 lb) ground chicken 3 slices white bread (crusts off) + 120 ml (1/2 cup) warm whole milk 85 g (6 Tbsp) very cold unsalted butter, […]









