Recipe: Solyanka (soup)/ солянка

One of the culinary delights in Russia is the range of soups and this one is one of my favourites. It's meaty and rich... and delicious.

 

 Here's a recipe (in near industrial quantities)...



Ingredients

500g beef [I used diced this time, but it's better to boil one larger piece]

4 kidneys

300g tongue

300g sausage

4 salted cucumbers

3 tomatoes

1 medium-large onion [I used 2 small]

2 tbsp tomato puree

6 capers and 12 pitted olives

sunflower oil

herbs

1 lemon

bay

salt, pepper

3½ litres water

100g Smetana

*****

How

• soak the kidneys, changing the water regularly
• simmer the beef for the bouillon; when cooked, remove the beef
• lightly fry onions

 

• add the tomatoes until they cook down a little

• add tom puree; add some of the bouillon; stew for 3-5 mins; add the finely chopped cucumbers and stew for another 10mins

 

• add these to the bouillon

• chop the (soaked) kidneys; gently fry the kidneys

• thinly slice the cooked meats (beef, sausage etc)

 

• add to the vegetables in bouillon; also, capers, seasoning, herbs; cook on a low heat for 5-10mins

• shortly before serving, add olives, slices of (peeled) lemon and herbs

• add Smetana when serving