Soljanka

This is one of the dishes I grew up with. A hearty Soup made with various kinds of meats, peppers and Pickled Cucumbers in a  sweet, sour and tangy Tomato Broth. Originally Soljanka came from Russia and was made with just Fish and Pickled Cucumbers and their Pickling Brine. Sounds disgusting I know. But it has since been lovingly adopted by the East Germans and turned into a delicious Soup. 

Ingredients:

300g of cooked, cured and smoked meats (chorizo, bacon, smoked pork sausage, salami)

1 onion 

3 cloves garlic 

1 large chilli 

1 red pepper 

1 yellow pepper 

1 pickled cucumber + 100ml of the pickling liquid

500ml chicken stock

1 bayleaf

3 all spice berries

12 peppercorns

1 dollop of Tomato Paste

Cut all the meat and veggies into thin strips.

Stirfry in a little oil for about 5 minutes

Add a spoonful of tomato paste and stir some more. Cover with stock and the liquid from the pickled cucumber.

Make a little muslin bag for the whole spices if you don't want them floating around in your soup bowl :-) and add that as well.

Put on a lid and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve with a lemon slice topped with a dollop soured cream and some toast or a crusty bread roll.