Solyanka (Russian Mixed Meat Soup)

Method

1. Cut the ham, smoked sausage and frankfurters into thin strips about 3–4 cm long. Halve the onion and slice it thinly. Cut the pickles into thin strips too; if the skins are tough, peel them first. Halve the olives. Having everything cut before you start makes the rest go smoothly.

2. Pour the stock into a 18 cm pot, add the bay leaf and bring it to the boil over high heat; this takes about 7 min.

   Add in this stepBeef stock 650 mlBay leaf 1

   high heat

3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a 20 cm frying pan over medium heat and cook the onion for 5 min, stirring now and then, until soft and light golden.

   Add in this stepSunflower oil 1 tbspOnion 1

   medium heat

4. Add the pickles and tomato paste to the onion, turn to medium-low heat and cook for 3 min, stirring, until the paste darkens slightly and smells sweet rather than raw. This takes the harsh edge off the pickles.

   Add in this stepBrined dill pickles (salt-fermented, not sweet) 2Tomato paste 1½ tbsp

   medium-low heat

5. Add the ham, smoked sausage and frankfurters to the boiling stock. Lower to medium heat and simmer for 5 min so the smoked meats flavour the broth.

   Add in this stepCooked ham 80 gSmoked sausage (firm, kielbasa-style) 80 gFrankfurters 1

   medium heat

6. Stir the onion and pickle mixture into the pot with the pickle brine, olives and capers. Simmer gently on medium-low heat for 8 min: small bubbles only, no hard boil. Remove the bay leaf, add pepper, then taste. The meats, pickles and capers are already salty, so add salt only if it still needs it.

   Add in this stepPickle brine 60 mlPitted black or green olives 10Capers 2 tspBlack pepper to tasteSalt to taste

   medium-low heat

7. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let the soup rest for 10 min so the flavours come together.

8. Ladle into bowls, put a lemon slice on each, add a spoonful of sour cream and scatter with dill. Squeeze the lemon into the soup as you eat.

   Add in this stepThin lemon slices 2Sour cream 2 tbspFresh dill, chopped 2 tbsp