Solyanka Soup (Солянка): A Hearty Russian Classic with a Tangy Twist 🇷🇺

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Atsuko
Solyanka Solyanka soup lemon parsely sour cream bread olives
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Atsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontières

Solyanka (Солянка) is a traditional Russian soup known for its hearty texture and the tangy flavor of pickled cucumbers. With roots in Eastern European home cooking, this warming, flavor-packed soup has long been a favorite during the cold season.❤️ There are many variations across Russia, but this simple homemade version keeps the ingredients accessible while preserving Solyanka’s signature depth and balance. If you’re looking for a comforting, flavorful soup to warm you up on a chilly day, Solyanka is a wonderful choice. Let’s get started.✨
Expense
💵💵
Preparation
60 mins
Baking time
Rest Time

Ingredients

Cooking time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:

For 4 people

  • 1 Onion
  • 400–500ml of Tomato purée or canned tomatoes
  • 100g of Pickles
  • About 16 Olives
  • 400g of Sausages (e.g., wieners)
  • 200g of Coarsely ground sausage
  • About 2 teaspoons of Bouillon (beef bouillon recommended)
  • 600ml of Water
  • 1 tablespoon of Butter
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1 Lemon
  • Parsley (to taste)
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Sugar (to taste)
  • Pepper (to taste)
  • Sour cream (to taste)
How to make it:

1/ Preparing the Pickles: ​​​​​​​​​​Cut the pickles into 1 cm cubes. Place them in a small pot with water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15–20 minutes. Drain the pickles using a colander and set aside.

Solyanka pickles in hot water

Solyanka pickles in a colander

2/ Sautéing the Onion Base: Finely chop the onion. Heat butter in a large pot, add the chopped onion, and sauté until softened.

Solyanka chopped onion and butter in a pot

3/ Building the Tomato Base: Once the onions are tender, add the tomato purée (or canned tomatoes) and mix well. Add the bay leaves, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

Solyanka onion tomato puree bay leaves in a pot

4/ Preparing the Sausages: Cut the sausages into small cubes and set aside.

Solyanka cut sausages

5/ Making the Stock: In a small pot, heat 600ml of water and dissolve the bouillon to make the stock. Add this to the tomato base in the large pot.

Solyanka beef bouillon in hot water

Solyanka onion tomato puree beef bouillon soup

6/ Combining and Simmering: Add the diced sausages and cooked pickles to the pot. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then taste the soup and adjust the flavor with salt and sugar as needed.

Solyanka onion tomato puree beef bouillon soup sausages pickles

7/ Serving the Solyanka: Serve the soup in bowls, topped with olives and lemon slices. Add parsley and sour cream to taste for an extra layer of flavor. Enjoy!

Solyanka solyanka soup lemon sour cream olives parsely

🌟Tips for Making the Perfect Solyanka🌟

⭐️ Experiment with the meat: This recipe uses sausage and wieners, but feel free to try ham, beef, pork, or even leftovers. Customize it to your liking!

⭐️ Pick your tomato base: Canned tomatoes give a lighter taste, while purée adds richness. Choose based on your mood!

⭐️ Tame the tang: Boiling the pickles briefly mellows their acidity, balancing the soup’s flavors.

⭐️ Add sour cream: Stirring in sour cream makes the soup creamy and adds a new dimension of flavor. Highly recommended!

⭐️ Serve with bread: Pair it with your favorite bread to soak up every flavorful bite.

🩷 Behind the Story:
I first discovered Solyanka at a Russian restaurant, thanks to a recommendation from Russian friends. 😊 Its unforgettable balance of savory and tangy flavors captivated me from the first spoonful. Inspired, I recreated it at home, and it quickly became a winter favorite for my family.

It has become such a beloved dish in our home that even our eldest daughter. now living on her own, often makes it herself. 😄 That’s how comforting and satisfying this soup truly is.

Comforting, flavorful, and irresistibly unique, Solyanka is now a staple at our table, a dish that always brings warmth and joy. Try it for yourself, and you might just find your new favorite soup!

Umami Sans Frontières – Copyrights 2026
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Written byAtsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontières

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