Meat Solyanka Soup
Description
Hearty and aromatic soup. Preparing classic solyanka with broth according to all the rules takes too long. The cost of such a dish is also not cheap. How to feed your family deliciously and more affordably? Serve with herbs and sour cream.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Solyanka soup is usually made with meat broth. Now I'll show you how to prepare a dish that's just as tasty, rich, and filling, even without broth, and with much less time and effort. This recipe is simple, and you're sure to enjoy it. Many people don't particularly like solyanka because of the large chunks of pickled cucumbers. We'll solve that problem right now. First, peel the pickled cucumbers. Then grate the cucumber flesh on a coarse grater.
- 2
Step 2
Cut various types of smoked meats into small strips. If the pieces are too long, you can cut them in half. The more smoked meats you use, the better. Often, housewives prepare this soup after big feasts and banquets, when small leftovers of sausages and other meat products remain. All of these are perfect for making this soup.
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Step 3
Place the pickled cucumbers into a bowl. Pour water over them. Put them on the stove to boil separately. Cucumbers take the longest to cook. The salty brine prevents other ingredients from cooking properly, so we cook the cucumbers separately.
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Step 4
Peel the potatoes and chop them finely. Usually, solyanka is made without potatoes, but our version is not quite a traditional solyanka—we will add potatoes. If you're against it, skip this step. Pour water over the potatoes and put them on to boil (since we are preparing a regular soup).
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Step 5
Sauté chopped onion in vegetable oil.
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Step 6
Add the sliced meat. Stir and fry everything together for about 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- 7
Step 7
Add tomato juice and tomato paste. We include both ingredients because the tomato paste gives the soup thickness and a vibrant color, while the tomato juice provides a natural, unique flavor that diluted tomato paste cannot replicate.
- 8
Step 8
Mix. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. While simmering, add sugar to taste (to reduce acidity), a little salt, and spices to taste.
- 9
Step 9
Turn off the meat sauté. Let it wait until the potato broth is ready. Meanwhile, chop the herbs and garlic.
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Step 10
Transfer the tomato-meat sauté to a saucepan with boiling potato broth. Mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the separately boiled cucumbers together with their cooking water. Cook for another 10 minutes. Add the chopped fresh herbs at the very end of cooking.
- 11
Step 11
Serve the meat solyanka soup in bowls. Add sour cream, a slice of lemon, olives or capers (to taste) to each bowl and serve.