Golubtsi
Contrary to popular belief, Golubtsi are not an old Russian dish, but a fairly modern one that especially gained popularity during the Soviet period. Some of the ingredients, including rice and tomato paste, were not among the crops that were historically grown in Russia. In fact, the modern form of Golubtsi came into being in the 19th century. This dish replaced an earlier similar recipe called “galushki” which used buckwheat, millet or barley instead of rice. Today, that recipe has been forgotten, and “galushki” refers to a different dish.