Solyanka is a savory and spicy stew commonly eaten in Russia and Ukraine, made with meat, fish, or mushrooms, and flavored with lemon. It is often served with smetana and can include olives or pickles.
Solyanka is a savory and spicy stew eaten mostly in Russia and Ukraine. This soupy, stew-like dish usually contains meat, fish, or mushrooms. While all three types are dishes called solyanka, each is unique. The vegetables in this dish usually include cabbage or sauerkraut, tomatoes and onions, but can also contain olives or pickles. Solyanka is commonly flavored with lemon zest or lemon juice and is often found served with a slice of fresh lemon on the side.
The most popular variety of this dish in Ukraine, meat solyanka usually contains cooked beef, chicken or pork, sometimes in the form of ham or sausage. To prepare this type of solyanka, vegetables and meat are cut into small pieces, mixed with herbs and added to cream heated in a saucepan. The broth is then added to the pot, which is allowed to warm slowly before serving the dish, usually in a bowl. This dish is often served with a high-fat sour cream known as smetana.
While Ukrainian versions of this dish often contain meat from land animals, most fish solyankas are eaten in Russia. The most common types of fish used in a solyanka fish are trout, sturgeon and salmon, but it can also be prepared with a mixture of multiple types of fish. Crayfish, a small crustacean similar to lobster, can also be used in this soup. Usually, this dish is flavored with a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving.
The solyanka mushroom is noticeably different from the fish and meat versions. It’s made by building layers of buttered breadcrumbs and sauteed tomato paste and cabbage with mushrooms, then cooking the dish. Since it’s made with carefully constructed layers of sautéed cabbage and mushrooms, the mushroom variety is somewhat similar to a flaky lasagna sans cheese.
Some variations on this dish include fish. Mushroom solyankas are commonly garnished with mushrooms and green olives. While not the traditional way to make the mushroom version of this dish, some cooks prepare solyanka in the meat or fish style, but use mushrooms instead of meat or fish as the main ingredient. To keep it a vegetarian dish, mushroom solyanka is usually made with vegetable or mushroom broth.
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