Traditional Russian New Year Foods & Recipes

In Russian culture, New Year (Новый год) is the biggest celebration—even more important than Christmas. The feast is legendary, with dishes families prepare together over several days.

The Must-Have Dishes

Olivier Salad (Оливье)

No Russian New Year table is complete without Olivier. Stores sell out of ingredients every December.

Ingredients:

• Boiled potatoes and carrots, diced
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Pickles (cornichons or dill)
• Bologna or boiled chicken
• Green peas
• Generous mayonnaise

Tips for authentic Olivier:

• Use Russian mayonnaise (richer than American)
• Cut everything into small, uniform cubes
• Make it the day before so flavors meld
• Serve cold

Herring Under a Fur Coat (Селёдка под шубой)

This layered salad is as beautiful as it is delicious. The "fur coat" refers to colorful vegetable layers.

Layers (bottom to top):

1. Salted herring, chopped
2. Boiled potatoes, grated + mayo
3. Carrots, grated + mayo
4. Hard-boiled eggs, grated + mayo
5. Beets, grated + mayo on top

Result: Stunning purple-topped salad revealing beautiful layers when sliced.

Meat Aspic (Холодец)

Savory jelly from pork or beef broth with meat pieces suspended inside. Served cold with mustard and horseradish.

Making it: Broth simmers for hours (often overnight) until naturally gelatinous.

Caviar on Blini

Red salmon caviar on buckwheat pancakes with sour cream—the ultimate luxury.

Tip: Spread butter on warm blini first. The warmth releases caviar's flavor.

The Celebration Timeline

December 31st:

• 11:55 PM — Watch President's New Year address
• 11:59 PM — Kremlin clock chimes count down
• Midnight — Champagne toast, fireworks, wishes

Traditional ritual: Write your wish on paper, burn it, drop ashes in champagne, drink before the clock stops chiming.

Other Traditional Items

• Champagne — Russian sparkling wine
• Tangerines — The scent is synonymous with Russian New Year
• Pickled vegetables — Cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms
• Cold cuts — Kolbasa, smoked fish, pâté

Movie Tradition

Every Russian family watches "The Irony of Fate" (1975 romantic comedy) on New Year's Eve. It's like "It's a Wonderful Life" for Americans.

Where to Shop for New Year

At Kalinka Euro Market, we stock everything for authentic Russian New Year:

Deli counter:

• Pre-made Olivier salad
• Herring under fur coat
• Traditional salads

Seafood:

• Salted herring
• Red caviar
• Smoked fish

Produce & dairy:

• Fresh beets, carrots, potatoes
• Russian mayonnaise
• Smetana

Beverages:

• Russian champagne
• Kompot

Pre-order holiday salads! Call at least 48 hours in advance.

Visit us: 📍 813 W Main St UNIT 112, Battle Ground, WA 98604 📞 (360) 666-6919 🕐 Open daily 10am–8pm