ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Belarus
Five dishes to try in Belarus, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Belarus
Draniki Дранікі
Fried pancakes of grated potato.
How to have it: The national dish; eaten hot with sour cream (smetana).
Kalduny Калдуны
Potato or dough dumplings stuffed with minced meat.
How to have it: Served with sour cream or a sauce of fried onion and bacon.
Potato babka Бабка
Baked grated potato with bacon and onion.
How to have it: Comfort food in Belarusian restaurants, served in a clay pot with sour cream.
Kholodnik Халаднік
Cold pink beetroot soup with kefir, cucumber, dill and egg.
How to have it: A summer dish; often served with a hot boiled potato on the side.
Kvass Квас
Slightly sour fermented drink made from rye bread.
How to have it: Sold from street barrels in summer; very low in alcohol.
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Questions
What food is Belarus famous for?
Draniki (fried pancakes of grated potato) comes first on our list, followed by Kalduny, Potato babka, Kholodnik and Kvass.
What is the national dish of Belarus?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Belarus is Draniki: fried pancakes of grated potato. The national dish; eaten hot with sour cream (smetana).
Which dishes in Belarus are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Draniki, Kholodnik and Kvass. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Belarus?
Kvass: slightly sour fermented drink made from rye bread.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.