World Culture Tour: Russia part 3 - Solyanka

Solyanka, soljanka, or solianka all equal the same thing: Russian meat soup. Why are they spelled differently? I’m not sure, I just know that spelling has been a tricky thing while virtually visiting Russia.

Backwards letters. Swapped out letters.

They’re spelling and alphabet is a bit different.

However, it could be because the Eastern Block that once was USSR includes many countries. Solyanka apparently originated in Ukraine and became a Russian staple. So, possibly, the different spellings are 1 from Ukraine, another from Russia, and the 3rd from who knows where.

Another oddity about this recipe, it’s known by some as the Russian soup that cures hangovers! Too much Russian vodka? Eat some Solyanka soup, apparently.

On to the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 lb Beef, cut up steak, roast, your choice.

• A couple links of smoked sausage, chopped.

• 1 cup diced ham

• 2 Potatoes, chopped

• 1 diced Tomato

• 2 oz chopped Mushrooms

• 3 small dill pickles, chopped.

• 1/4 cup dill pickle juice

• 1 onion, chopped.

• 1 carrot, chopped.

• 3 Tbsp Tomato Paste

• 2 quarts beef stock.

• 1.5 Tbsp flour

• Black olives, optional.

• Lemon slices, for taste and garnish.

• Salt and Pepper, each “to taste”

• Sour Cream

Directions

1. Cook the meat.

2. Chop all veggies while your meat is cooking.

3. Fry veggies for 5 minutes with the tomato paste, stir in the flour.

4. Add meat and veggies to large pot.

5. Pour in beef stock.

6. Pour in pickle juice.

7. Cook 30 minutes on low heat.

8. Before serving, add some black olives (optional…my kids do NOT like these) and serve with slice of lemon and spoonful of sour cream.