Why Okroshka deserves more attention

Okroshka rarely gets the international recognition it deserves. The rich and dairy-forward complexity is genuine, not simple, and the technique involved in using salted herring correctly takes real skill.

Russian New Year table is the most important annual food event, laden with Olivier salad, herring under fur coat, and other Soviet-era staples. I encountered it first in a traditional Russian stolovaya canteen and that context helped me understand it properly. vodka is the natural accompaniment and the combination makes the case for the dish. If you haven't explored this cuisine seriously, Okroshka is the dish to start with.