Russian dressed herring in shuba-coat or Olivier salads are complex dishes that most Soviet and today Russian families make for special events, like New Year's. Back during the Soviet days, there were also simple recipes that people used for their daily meals and as quick-to-make treats for guests.
Fried potatoes
Potatoes, some salt and a frying pan — delicious fried potatoes could help out in cases when there was not a very good selection of products in the fridge. It was simply enough to peel potatoes, cut them into cubes or slice them and fry them in vegetable oil under a lid for about ten minutes. Many preferred to add some onions, garlic to the dish and then sprinkle it on top with parsley and dill.
Pelmeni with vinegar
In today's Russia, few people make the renowned dish at home. Most prefer to buy frozen pelmeni in packages and just boil them for a few minutes before eating. Nowadays, pelmeni are served with sour cream, mayonnaise, ketchup and other sauces. In Soviet times, many preferred to have them with vinegar, perhaps because this dressing was quite cheap and could be easily found in almost every store.
Tinned stew meat with a side dish
Tinned stew meat was one of the most popular products in the Soviet years. Almost every Soviet had tins of stew meat in their kitchen cupboards. People would eat it at home, take it along on hikes, etc. The finished meat was served with various side dishes. For example, one could mix a tin of stewed meat with onions and carrots and add it to rice, pasta, buckwheat, or mashed potatoes.
Fried eggs with sausage
Bologna sausage is still commonly known in Russia as doctor's sausage. A couple of slices of doctor's sausage always makes delicious fried eggs. This is probably one of the most popular breakfast dishes in Russia today.
Sandwiches with smoked cheese
Smoked cheese can be found in any supermarket today. It does not enjoy great popularity today, but during the times of the USSR it was a hit. One could grate a block of smoked cheese and mix it with chopped ingredients whatever was at hand: boiled eggs, onions, garlic, pepper. This paste would then be spread on a slice of bread to make a sandwich.