Estonian cuisine is famous for its simplicity and authenticity, and comes from the Scandinavian countries, Russia and Germany. The basis is certainly fresh, local ingredients, such as fish, game, and seasonal vegetables, offering countless flavors that reflect the rich history and cultural diversity of the country.
FISHES
The most frequently consumed foods include fish (perch, sprat, zander, cod , flounder, herring), Fish are served in various ways, Estonians cook fish soups. It contains large amounts of pieces of fish meat, potatoes and vegetables, and is thickened with bread and is very rich. Baked cod is an excellent choice for the main course. For a snack or appetizer, you cannot miss herring – salted herring, which tastes best with dark bread. And when it comes to combining bread and fish, be sure to choose a sandwich with sprat, egg and onion.
MEAT
Estonians did not always eat meat, but the gradual economic development and improvement of life resulted in the consumption of animal products gradually increasing throughout the 20th century. The most popular holiday dish is a slice of roasted pork in sauce, served with potatoes and, for example, fried sauerkraut. Eastern inspirations can also be seen in soups, especially the popular solyanka with lots of different vegetables, meats and sausages. Since Estonians like cabbage very much, aromatic, long-cooked cabbage soup is very popular. Cabbage and potatoes are also an addition to black pudding fried in lard.
PICKLED FOOD
Pickled and fermented foods are very common in Estonia. Cucumbers, cabbage, mushrooms, garlic and other vegetables are pickled. And also marinates sprats, herring, etc Interestingly, 20 percent all the food Estonians consume comes from home gardens and orchards (or from relatives or friends). Planting crops and then harvesting crops is a great pleasure for Estonians, and then comes the pickling process.
National Dishes of Estonian Cuisine That You Must Try:
- Silgusoust (Baltic herring with cream and bacon)
- Mulgikapsad (dish of sauerkraut, barley, bacon, potatoes and onion)
- Kiluvõileib (sandwich: rye bread with pickled sprat, sometimes also served with boiled egg, mayonnaise and herbs)
