So you’re a vegan in Russia for the World Cup? Don’t worry! Russia is a great place to be a vegan! Veganism is gaining popularity and there are many vegan and vegetarian restaurants not only in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, but also in more distant cities, such as Volgograd. But, there is much more to vegan Russia than vegan restaurants. Let me share with you five tips to make your visit a little easier and a little more delicious…!
Me, on Red Square
1. Postnaya Yeda (постная еда) = religious food
Russian Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion in Russia. Why is this good for you as a vegan? Orthodox Christianity features many “fasting” days throughout the year, but fasting doesn’t mean abstaining from food entirely, it means staying away from animal products! With the exception of fish, most fasting food is vegan – no eggs, no dairy. How can you use this to your advantage? Whereas the word “vegan” is very new to the Russian psyche and really only well known among the younger generations, the magic words “postnaya yeda” (fasting food) are well known in restaurants, cafeterias, and grocery stores across the country. Even if there is nothing vegan on the menu, inquiring about the possibility of fasting food in a Russian restaurant is a near guarantee for finding a vegan meal. Added bonus, people really seem to respect you for your food choices, since they associate eschewing animal products with religious virtue.
2. Honesty and Directness
Russians are incredibly honest and direct with their opinions, which nearly always comes across as rude to Americans. Use this to your advantage! It is in your best interest, and not at all rude, to tell your host bluntly that you are a vegan and explain that you don’t eat animal products. Your host will not be offended. He or she will accept this new fact as a challenge. Russians highly value hospitality, and your host will amaze you when he or she suddenly whips up a fruit salad to go with your tea, or maybe even a whole meal of plant-based creativity. Which leads me to my next point…
My favorite meal with my host family: sour cabbage and fried potatoes
3. Potatoes and Mushrooms
If you don’t like potatoes and mushrooms, there are certainly other foods available in Russia, but if you do like potatoes and mushrooms, then Russia is your destination! After you explain that you don’t eat animal products, the next question is very often “But, do you eat mushrooms?” And, if you do, then your host will be very pleased. Russians have a culture of foraging for mushrooms in the woods and Russian cuisine includes many dishes centered around mushrooms. Potatoes, being another cultural favorite, naturally go together with their fungal counterpart to form vegan dishes. Whether it is a delicious mushroom soup with potatoes in it, yummy dumplings with a potato-mushroom filling, or a rich and greasy skillet of fried potatoes and mushrooms, this food combination is bound to please!
Fried potatoes and mushrooms
4. Georgian Cuisine
Venture beyond the vegetarian restaurants and typical Russian cuisine to explore the exciting vegan options within Georgian food! Georgian food is very popular in Russia, and even most small cities have at least one Georgian restaurant. Ask your server about the ingredients and dishes at your particular restaurant, but popular dishes include – a spiced red bean soup, fresh bread served with pastes made from nuts, garlic, and vegetables, and zucchini or eggplant stuffed with the same garlic-nut pastes. Don’t forget the Georgian wine!
5. Torte Napoleon
My final recommendation is that you embrace your sweet tooth. One very popular cake in Russia is the torte Napoleon, or, as the French call it, mille-feuille. This cake of many layers held together by cream is not always vegan, but it has become a vegan favorite in vegetarian restaurants throughout Russia. Nearly every vegetarian restaurant I visited within and outside of Moscow featured a vegan torte Napoleon on their menu. Coconut cream tastily replaces the dairy cream. I made it my personal quest to find the best vegan torte Napoleon in Russia, and I will tell you (shhh!) it’s at Cafe Avocado on Tverskaya in Moscow! Bon appetite, or as the Russians say, “priyatnova appetite”!
Napoleon Cake at Avocado
Potato-Mushroom Vareniki at Avocado
About the author: Julie Ammons just returned from spending most of the past two years in Russia on exchange programs learning Russian and Teaching English. She enjoys connecting with people across cultures through food and cooking together. Follow her travels through pictures of food on Instagram @veganmissoula
