Belarus' festive season is once again upon us, with families preparing for New Year's Eve by stockpiling their favorite holiday foods. Amid rising prices, the necessity of traditional dishes like salad Olivier, herring under fur coat, and champagne remain unchanged. A detailed cost analysis reveals how much families can expect to spend this year compared to last, and the results are sobering.
According to the analysis conducted by Tochka.by, the cost of preparing the quintessential Belarusian New Year's table has increased. Taking the classic Soviet recipe for salad Olivier as the basis, the traditional ingredients are:
- 4 potatoes (about 0.5 kg)
- 1 carrot (about 120 grams)
- 4 eggs
- 400 grams of Doctor sausage
- 1 can of green peas
- 300 grams of pickled cucumbers
- 3–4 tablespoons of mayonnaise (about 120 grams)
Price checks for these ingredients show noteworthy increases. A can of green peas can cost anywhere from Br1.34 to Br1.87, with four potatoes priced at Br0.56 and one carrot at Br0.21. A dozen eggs are on the market starting at Br3.59, which means four eggs will set you back roughly Br1.40. The Doctor sausage is currently priced at Br4.47 for 400 grams, and mayonnaise starts at Br1.41. Pickled cucumbers can be found at about Br4.72 per 500 grams, with the quantity required for this recipe totaling around Br2.80.
Overall, making this classic dish will cost about Br12.19, compared to Br14.47 last year, indicating some fluctuation but not as drastic as anticipated.
The next recipe on the list is the beloved herring under fur coat. For 4–6 servings, one requires:
- 500 grams of salted herring fillet
- 500 grams of carrots
- 500 grams of beets
- 500 grams of potatoes
- 200 grams of onions
- 200 grams of mayonnaise
- 2 eggs
- Green onions for garnish
The price for one kilogram of beets starts at Br1.03, meaning half a kilogram is about Br0.52. Carrots and potatoes are similarly priced at Br0.53 and Br0.56 respectively. The cheapest herring fillet costs around Br3.60 for 220 grams, meaning at least two packs (about Br7.20) or a larger 500-gram pack for Br7.94 is necessary. Mayonnaise and eggs, together with green onions, add up to less than Br1.40 apiece.
After totaling all necessary ingredients, the minimum cost of preparing the herring under fur coat is approximately Br14.07, which indicates another increase from last year's total of Br11.25.
For the main course, options include boiled potatoes at Br1.06 per kilogram, alongside seasonal favorites, roasted chicken and pork chops. A standard chicken of roughly 1.5 kg will cost about Br7.62, and pork at approximately Br16.64 per kilogram adds to the final tally.
Now bringing the total cost of main dishes, including the pork and chicken along with potatoes, the calculation nears Br26.71, which is slightly lower than last year's total of Br28.40.
For the luxurious treat of buttered bread topped with red caviar, prices have been steep. A jar of salmon caviar starts at Br19.99 for 105 grams, with baguettes at Br0.89 and butter starting from Br5.22. Total costs for making these indulgent snacks come to Br27.01, compared to Br18.83 the previous year.
Moving on, families can choose to mix cheeses and cold cuts, each determined by personal preferences. An estimated budget of around Br28 suffices for these additions. Seasonal vegetables continue to pose challenges—current prices for cucumbers sit at Br8.79 per kilogram and tomatoes at Br10.99—making careful budgeting necessary.
The drinks selections begin with the necessary bubbly; inexpensive sparkling wine retails around Br10, and juices start approximately at Br3.70. The total for drinks listed is around Br16.57 compared to last year's Br13.68.
No New Year’s Eve table is complete without mandarins! The current price per kilogram is at least Br7.29. To top it off, families might want to grab some small cakes or desserts, which typically start at around Br17, rounding up the average dessert budget to about Br24.29, considerably up from last year's cost of Br17.38.
When all is added together, here's the bottom line for creating this year's minimalist yet festive New Year's table:
- Salad Olivier: Br12.19
- Herring under fur coat: Br14.07
- Hot dish (pork, chicken, potatoes): Br26.71
- Red caviar sandwiches: Br27.01
- Vegetable and cheese platters: Br74.73
- Drinks: Br16.57
- Fruits and dessert: Br24.29
This totals to at least Br195.57 for the table, which reflects just how significantly prices have risen from last year’s total of Br179.01.
This price hike is somewhat expected as previous years reveal similar trends. Families budget and adjust costs according to individual financial capacities, keeping the holiday traditions alive.
