How to Have a Great Russian Christmas Dinner

Celebrating Christmas the Russian way is a little different the way you might be used to celebrating it in the US. There are different traditions, including different types of food served at the dinner table on Christmas.

As a tradition on Christmas in Russia, many people fast for days sometime up to 39 days or until January 6^th which is Christmas Eve. The first star in the evening sky appears which begins the Christmas celebration. After Christmas begins, most traditions support having a 12 course supper to honor all of the twelve apostles which is fish, borsch, stuffed cabbage, dried fruit and many other items. Usually hay is spread on the floors and tables to entice the horse feed and grow over the next coming year. The typical Christmas meal consists of goose and pig.

Here are 3 great Russian recipes that are typically found on the dinner table Christmas Day:

Christmas Piglet - A traditional Christmas Dinner Entrée

Here's what you'll need:

1 Piglet

¼ cup of water

1 stick of butter (melted)

1 cup of sour cream

4 tbs of salt

½ cup of olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Step 1: Clean the piglet and dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: generously apply the salt inside of the piglet, and then place the piglet on a baking sheet (back up).

Step 3: Brush the sides with olive oil and sour cream

Step 4: pour the melted butter and water on the sheet and bake.

Step 5: Cook for an hour and a half or until the piglet's skin is golden brown. Pour the juice from the pan on top of the piglet regularly as it cooks.

Russian Blinis - These are a type of tasty pancake

You'll Need:

1 cup of flour

2 eggs

1 tbs of sugar

½ tsp of salt

3 tbs of vegetable oil

2 ½ cups of milk

1 tsp of cinnamon

Step 1: Beat the eggs, salt, sugar and cinnamon together and then pour in the milk.

Step 2: Add in the flour and mix thoroughly.

Step 3: Add the oil and stir again.

Step 4: Grease a frying pan with butter and then pour the mixture into the pan and cook each for a few seconds on both sides.

You can serve these with butter, or sour cream.

Christmas Sochivo - This is great Christmas bread

You'll need:

3 ½ cups of pre-made dough found in the freezer section of the grocery store

¼ cup of honey

1 cup of poppy seeds

1 cup of walnuts

2 tsps of salt

Step 1: Separate the dough into small pieces and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until brown.

Step 2: drizzle honey over the top of the bread Step 3: sprinkle the poppy seeds, salt and walnuts over the top