Healthy Russian Recipes

Muddling is is a traditional bartending technique where herbs and/or fruit are crushed, releasing their full flavor into a cocktail. Here we muddle blueberries and ginger with sugar and lemon to add another dimension to our take on a bellini.

Working on this makeover of a classic Russian Tea Cake made Bridget Klein feel closer to her late sister, Gina, because they are “a great match for her personality: delicate and refined, pretty to look at, and yet a definite character that inspires adoration and loyalty.” Gina's middle name, Sarah, means “princess,” in Hebrew; hence the name of these confections. Klein's mom “swore these cookies couldn't be made without butter,” she says, “until she tasted them.” Klein continues: “Gina was a traditionalist, too, but I think I might have been able to fool her with these.”

Potatoes mashed with sautéed onions and sauerkraut makes a flavorful filling in these yummy pierogi. We used whole-wheat pastry flour for added fiber and substituted extra-virgin olive oil for margarine or butter. Pierogi freeze beautifully, so make a large batch if you like.

When you are craving a creamy chicken dish, try this streamlined version of a Hungarian classic. Instead of egg noodles, serve it over Steamed Vegetable Ribbons.

Precooked baby beets make this healthy vegetable side dish come together in a flash. If horseradish is too spicy for your taste, try stirring in chopped dill pickles instead.

For a nonalcoholic version, omit the applejack and schnapps and add 2 tablespoons cinnamon-flavored syrup, such as Torani brand.

Cheesy mashed potato filling enclosed in a tender dumpling dough, potato pierogis are the ultimate in comfort food. And because this recipe uses wonton wrappers rather than homemade dumpling dough, they take much less time to make.

Caviar lovers agree that the best presentations are the simplest.

Pork tenderloin is great for grilling. It is flavorful, tender and has half the fat of pork chops.

Simmer antioxidant-rich cherries in a quick pan sauce spiked with whiskey and cranberry juice; it's luscious on turkey tenderloin (a lean but flavorful, quick-cooking cut you might have overlooked in the poultry case). Make it a meal: Serve with egg noodles.

The grains of rice disappear into the yogurt as it's simmered and stirred, thickening the soup and giving it substance. Serve warm or chilled, depending on the weather.

Inspired by the Linzertorte, a buttery Austrian confection, these raspberry-filled cookies are a pretty addition to your holiday cookie platter.

Try this summertime spread on crackers with cream cheese or as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken.

Even people who think they don't like beets love this vibrantly colored, vegetable-packed borscht soup recipe, inspired by the legendary borscht soup served at New York's Russian Tea Room. Plenty of mushrooms, cabbage and carrots along with a judicious amount of beef make this healthy borscht recipe special.

Try these caviar-topped baked potatoes alongside roasted salmon and steamed broccoli.

This Cherry Vanilla version of a blintz is filled with Greek Yogurt instead of the traditional cheese filling.

Paprika, caraway and cayenne add intense flavor to this turkey kielbasa and potato hash.

This crispy, savory vegetable pancake recipe is the perfect appetizer for a dinner party or creative side dish to serve alongside a roast. Skip the pancetta to make these a hearty vegetarian main dish.

Topped with caviar, these deviled eggs become a sophisticated appetizer for any fete.