Solyanka is a rich and hearty soup that is popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. It's made with cured meats, green Gordal olives, pickles, veggies, and a flavorful beef broth. The unusual ingredients blend together perfectly to create a soup that is irresistible.
To serve: lemon slices, fresh dill, sour cream, extra Gordal or Manzanilla olives
Instructions
Add the bacon to a large soup pot over medium heat. Cook until the bacon has started to crisp and much of the fat is released. Add the kielbasa and salami and continue to cook until the bacon is crispy and the meat has browned. Remove the meat from the pot using a slotted spoon then drain all but 2 tablespoons of the oil from the pot.
Add the onion to the pot and cook until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and cook until both begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
1 medium onion, 1 stalk celery, 1 large carrot
Push the veggies to the side of the pot then add the tomato paste. Spread it out a little then let it caramelize for 3 minutes. Add the paprika and allspice and mix everything together.
Add the bay leaves, Gordal olives, pickles, beef bone broth, pickle juice, and the cooked meat to the pot and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste the soup and add salt if needed - there are a lot of salty flavors in this so you probably won't add extra salt. Remove the bay leaves.
2 bay leaves, 1 cup Gordal olives, 3 pickles, 6 cups beef bone broth, ¼ cup pickle juice
Serve the soup topped with a slice of lemon, some fresh dill, a spoonful of sour cream, and a few extra Gordal olives.
To serve: lemon slices, fresh dill, sour cream, extra Gordal or Manzanilla olives
Notes
Solyanka is typically made with three types of meat, but the specific types of meat vary widely. Any kind of sausage, smoked or cured meat, or even leftover chicken or beef will work. See the blog post for more ideas!