If you go to look around in a military ration destined to the Specnaz (спецназ), the most formidable and prepared special Russian bodies, we come across different dishes. One of these is quite unique: brain pate.
How much Specnaz they are sent to mountainous areas and need the nourishment necessary to tackle climbing and forced marches at high altitudes, the single ration to get more than 5000 calories delivered to them in a sealed package the size of an old laptop, contains the following: 60g of sugar, 5 chocolate bars, apricot and walnut flavored bars, apple jelly, minced sausage, beef porridge, beef goulash with potatoes, pepper, 5 packs of craker, chocolate and hazelnut spread, 3 packs of muesli, one of pork liver pâté and one of 'brain'.
The ration is supplied with tablets to purify water, instant coffee and tea, a cherry-flavored drink and vitamins. Contains a small plastic 'tip' (with which a specnaz could easily kill you), 3 spoons and antiseptic wipes.
One hundred grams of pork brains, a food rich in phosphorus and potassium, provide about 127 calories (0% carbohydrates, 34,6% protein, 65,4% fat) and, according to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, "that's exactly what what it takes ".
(Read also: "Italians do eat better")
(photo: Russian Fed. MoD archive)
