Cuisine of Commander Islands facts for kids

Pirog, a traditional fish pie

Yukola, a type of dried fish

The food of the Commander Islands is a mix of traditional Russian cuisine and the cooking styles of the Aleut people, who live on these islands. People on the Commander Islands eat a lot of fish, seafood, and mushrooms. They also use meat from sea animals like seals and whales, and wild game. Vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots were brought to the islands by Russian settlers.

Delicious Dishes of the Commander Islands

Here are some common and tasty dishes you might find:

Fishy Favorites

• Fish snack (Russian: рыбная закуска) - This dish has pieces of fish mixed with vegetables like onions, peas, and bell peppers. It's flavored with vinegar, salt, and pepper.
• Fish pie (Russian: пирог рыбный) - This is a delicious pie, called a pirog. It's made with dough, fish, onions, and either potatoes or rice inside.
• Yukola [ru] (Russian: юкола) - Yukola is a type of dried fish. It's a traditional way to preserve fish.
• Cod frikadeller (Russian: котлеты из трески) - These are pan-fried patties, or cutlets, made from minced (finely chopped) cod fish.

Snail Dishes

• Chimigin (Russian: чимигин) - This is a traditional Aleut dish. It's made from boiled snails.

Seal Meat Dishes

• Tachi (Russian: тачи) - Tachi is roasted meat taken from the shoulder blade of a northern fur seal.
• Salted flippers (Russian: соленые ласты) - These are the flippers of a harbor seal or fur seal, preserved in a salty liquid called pickle.