Rasstegai () is a type of Russian pirog with a hole in the top.
History and etymology The dish was very popular in Tsarist Russia. In rasstegai the filling is not hidden in the dough, and in Russian means "unfastened" pies.Похлёбкин В. В. Расстегаи // Кулинарный словарь. — М.: Э, 2015. — С. 309—310. — 456 с.
Another version: in Moscow, in the gypsy choir, the beautiful Katya sang very well the Russian song "Sarafanchik-rasstegaychik"; in honor of Katya, rasstegai became a very popular meal in taverns in Moscow.Пыляев М. Старый Петербург. — СПб., 1887
Fillings The filling usually contains fish, but may also contain meat, liver, rice or mushrooms. The hole of rasstegai is used to add broth to the stuffing.
In literature The dish is mentioned in Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls and Vladimir Gilyarovsky's Moscow and the Muscovites.Леонид Зданович. Кулинарный словарь, Расстегай. Москва: Вече, 2001, (Leonid Zdanovich. Culinary dictionary, "Rasstegai". Moscow: Veche, 2001; in Russian)Rasstegai: The pie proudly served by Moscow innkeepers. Russia Beyond
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