Solyanka (Russian Sour and Savory Meat Soup)
Local name: Солянка
In short: A bold Russian soup of mixed meats, smoked sausage, pickles, olives and lemon in a tomato broth: sour, salty, smoky and warming. It takes about 2 h 15 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 50 min
- Total
- 2 h 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 310 kcal
Solyanka is a thick, sour and salty soup that sits between a broth and a stew. It combines several kinds of meat, usually beef, ham and smoked sausage, with salted pickles, olives, capers and tomato, then gets a final squeeze of lemon. In Russia it has a reputation as the restorative soup after a long feast, and it is easy to make at home from leftover cold cuts. A lemon slice and a spoon of sour cream finish each bowl.
Instructions
- Put the beef, halved onion, bay leaves, peppercorns and salt in a large pot with the cold water. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam, then simmer gently for 1 hour 15 minutes until tender. Lift out the beef, dice it and strain the broth.
- Heat the oil in the pot. Cook the chopped onion for 6 minutes until soft, then stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes until it darkens.
- Add the sausage and ham and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until lightly browned.
- Add the diced pickles and the brine and cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the strained broth, bring to a simmer and add the diced beef. Cook gently for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the olives, capers and garlic and cook for 5 minutes more. Taste: the soup should be sour, savory and a little salty, so add more brine if it needs it.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with a lemon slice, dill and a spoonful of sour cream.
Tips
- Use any cooked meats you have: roast chicken, cooked pork or frankfurter-style sausages. Aim for at least three kinds so the flavor stays layered.
- Taste before adding any more salt. The brine, olives, capers and cured meats are all salty, so adjust the seasoning only at the end.
Questions and answers
What does solyanka taste like?
It is sour, salty and smoky at the same time, with a tomato richness underneath. The pickles and brine give the sourness, and the cured meats add depth.
Is solyanka a soup or a stew?
It is a thick soup with lots of solid pieces, so many people eat it as a meal in a bowl. Add more broth if you prefer something lighter.
Can I make a fish version of solyanka?
Yes. Fish solyanka uses fish stock and pieces of salmon or white fish with the same pickles, olives and capers. It is a separate dish, often served at festive meals.
How long does it take to make Solyanka (Russian Sour and Savory Meat Soup)?
About 2 h 15 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Solyanka (Russian Sour and Savory Meat Soup)?
About 310 kcal per serving, with 24 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 310 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 1500 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
