Russian Monday: Top 8 Russian Appetizers for New Year's Eve Celebration

New Year in Russia is considered to be a family holiday, but many choose to have their New Year’s party in clubs or restaurants, or while being away on exotic beach vacations, or in the country setting with the company of friends. However, most often, it is still celebrated at home at the festive table.

Richness of Russian holiday table has always been impressive for imagination of the foreigner. Variety of smoked fish and caviar, jellied meats and cold cuts, salads, homemade pickled vegetables and mushrooms – appetizers are practically countless. Unfortunately, with time, certain common appetizers such as sturgeon caviar became delicacies and often are out of reach for many. However, this has not affected richness of the festive table – smoked meats, sausages, hams and pates have taken their place on the menu. Traditional New Year’s salads are “Olivie”, “Mimoza” and “Herring under fur coat”. Wide variety of salads is a must –  with meat, with mushrooms, with fresh veggies. Salads are usually served in large bowls rather than as individual portions. Pickled vegetables and mushrooms are all-time favorites. It can be pickled cabbage, dilled and pickled cucumbers and tomatoes, smoked and salted fish, stuffed eggs, mini pirogies and patties with non-sweet staffing etc. Appetizers of the Russian festive table fit perfectly with traditional vodka that comes in variety of brands and types, but other alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic drinks also complement Russian New Year festive table very well.

• Buttery Potatoes with Garlic & Fresh Herbs
• Salad "Olivier" - Potato Salad
• "Kulebyaka" - Authentic Russian Pie with Salmon, Rice & Mushrooms
• "Riba pod Marinadom" - Pan Fried Fish with Warm Carrot Sauce "Marinade"

• Chicken Liver Pâté With Red Wine & Cranberry Jelly
• “Volovan s Gribamy” - Vol-au-vents with Creamy Mushroom & Shrimp Filling
• "Blinis" - Savory Buckwheat Pancakes
• "Pirozhki" - Baked Stuffed Pies

May each day of the New Year bring you pleasant surprises like the curled petals of a flower that spread sweet fragrance slowly as it unfolds layer by layer.

Still Life with Purple Flowers by Yelena Strokin (prints are available for sale)