🧑‍🍳RecipesRussian Recipes for a Grand Russian Orthodox Easter Feast

Easter is a significant holiday in Russia, celebrated with a grand feast that includes traditional dishes like Paskha, Kulich, and more. These dishes are not only delicious but also rich in history and cultural significance. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best Russian recipes for a grand Russian Orthodox Easter feast.

1. Paskha

Paskha is a traditional Russian Easter dessert made with cottage cheese, butter, sugar, and dried fruits. It is usually shaped like a pyramid and decorated with almonds and candied fruits. Paskha is served with Kulich, a sweet bread that is also a staple of the Russian Easter feast.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of cottage cheese
• 1 cup of unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1/2 cup of chopped candied fruits
• 1/2 cup of slivered almonds
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cottage cheese until smooth.
2. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the butter mixture to the cottage cheese and mix well.
4. Stir in the sour cream, raisins, candied fruits, almonds, vanilla extract, and salt.
5. Line a Paskha mold with cheesecloth and fill it with the mixture.
6. Fold the cheesecloth over the top of the mixture and place a weight on top.
7. Refrigerate overnight.
8. Unmold the Paskha onto a serving plate and decorate with almonds and candied fruits.

2. Kulich

Kulich is a sweet bread that is similar to Italian panettone. It is usually baked in a tall cylindrical shape and decorated with icing and colorful sprinkles. Kulich is often served with Paskha and is an essential part of the Russian Easter feast.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of warm milk
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1/2 cup of chopped candied fruits
• 1/2 cup of slivered almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon of grated lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon of grated orange zest

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla extract.
2. Add the eggs and beat until well combined.
3. Gradually add the flour, raisins, candied fruits, almonds, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, lemon zest, and orange zest.
4. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
5. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
7. Grease a Kulich mold and fill it with the dough.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Let the Kulich cool and decorate with icing and sprinkles.

3. Shashlik

Shashlik is a popular Russian dish that is often served during the Easter feast. It is a type of kebab that is made with marinated meat and grilled to perfection. Shashlik is usually served with vegetables and a side of rice or potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of lamb or beef
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup of soy sauce
• 1/4 cup of honey
• 1/4 cup of Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Cut the meat into 1-inch cubes and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, soy sauce, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin, coriander, and garlic powder.
3. Add the meat to the marinade and toss to coat.
4. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
5. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
6. Thread the meat onto skewers and grill for 10-12 minutes or until cooked to your liking.
7. Serve with vegetables and a side of rice or potatoes.

ChefGPT

If you want to cook these traditional Russian recipes for your Easter feast but don't know where to start, ChefGPT can help. ChefGPT is an AI-powered recipe creation tool that can generate personalized recipes based on your preferences and dietary restrictions. With ChefGPT, you can easily create delicious and authentic Russian dishes like Paskha, Kulich, and Shashlik. Try ChefGPT today and impress your guests with a grand Russian Orthodox Easter feast.