The King of Russian Salmon Pies

April 14, 2019 9:00 PM

Kulebyaka is a type of Russian pirog usually filled with salmon or sturgeon, rice or buckwheat, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, onions, and dill. The pie is baked in a pastry shell, usually of brioche or puff pastry.

The dish was so popular in Russia in the early part of the 20th century that Escoffier included recipes for it in his Complete Guide to the Art of Modern Cookery.
A classic Kulebyaka features several fillings, often a mixture of some white fish and rice for the top and bottom layers with fillets of sturgeon or salmon between.
It is also made with simpler, vegetarian fillings like cabbage or potatoes.
Enjoyed with a glass of Kvass.

posted by growabrain (11 comments total)

Well this looks about a million times better than my own attempt based on just a description. Большо́е спаси́бо!
posted by XMLicious at 10:46 PM on April 14, 2019

I knew I’d seen this before but under a different name but was drawing a blank. For anyone else having the same reaction: coulibiac. Presumably via French.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:50 AM on April 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

I'm making this. Will try this week.
posted by Telf at 12:50 AM on April 15, 2019

One of my proudest moments as a cook/baker was producing a kulebyaka. I read Anya von Bremzen's memoir Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking and became as obsessed as she and her mother were with tasting it. It's magnificent.
posted by skybluepink at 2:56 AM on April 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

Well, I know what I want this year instead of a birthday cake.
posted by Tiny Bungalow at 2:59 AM on April 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Is it ok to link to a picture of my kulebyaka? Because I took a picture of my kulebyaka. That's how proud I was of it.
posted by skybluepink at 6:14 AM on April 15, 2019 [13 favorites]

There is a lengthy cultural relationship between Russia and France that includes cuisine. For example, service à la russe describes a dinner served in multiple courses as opposed to service à la française, which is served all at once. This is all a lead-in to the fact that this dish is known in French cuisine as well, under the name Coulibiac . Here is a nice video of Michel and Alain Roux making one together.
posted by slkinsey at 6:58 AM on April 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

I used to make a thousand or so salmon rolls for a chateau themed restaurant, the recipe was similar to this and they were great. I will make one of these, but use grilled salmon, and make the puff pastry into a large fish with scales. The rolls I made were about 2.5 inch squares.
posted by Oyéah at 8:19 AM on April 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

Here is a nice video of Michel and Alain Roux making one together.
It's a nice video, but Alain is really dry
posted by mumimor at 8:38 AM on April 15, 2019

Made me think of the herring pie from Kiki's Delivery Service.
posted by Harald74 at 4:28 AM on April 16, 2019 [1 favorite]

The episode of Anthony Bourdain where he waits while a Babushka prepares one for him is a worthwhile watch.
posted by Cosine at 11:57 AM on April 16, 2019